K C Valley Project: JD(S) MLA shows bottle with discoloured water in K'taka Assembly
Bengaluru, Mar 10 (PTI): Demanding tertiary treatment of water under the K C Valley project that pumps treated sewage water from Bengaluru to lakes in drought-prone Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts, JD(S) MLA Samruddhi Manjunath on Tuesday displayed a bottle containing discoloured water in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
He accused the Congress government of supplying impure water to Kolar and Chikkaballapura, and alleged, "You are poisoning our children."
Responding to the MLA during the question hour, Minor Irrigation Minister N S Boseraju said that the project was planned only for secondary treatment to improve groundwater tables.
The groundwater table that had gone to 1,500 feet, has now improved following this project and water is now available at 250-300 feet, he said, adding that the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is regularly giving reports regarding the quality of water.
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Intervening, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda hit out at the JD(S) MLA of playing politics over the issue, and said the Koramangala-Challaghatta (KC) Valley project has been appreciated by UN and World Bank officials.
The IISc, which is the country's premier institution, does test every three months. The government was ready to accept recommendations by any "genuine" scientific institutions, on further improving the project, he said.
Food & Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa, who hails from the region, suggested the government convene a meeting of legislators from Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Bengaluru Rural districts, as well as experts from the IISc, and other institutions involved, aimed at addressing the concerns and to provide clarity.
The project is aimed at filling up tanks with secondary-treated water, he said, clarifying that for drinking water projects, tertiary treatment is required.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
