Tharoor defends Karnataka govt’s stand on Bengaluru demolition drive
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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday defended the Karnataka government’s demolition drive in Bengaluru, saying that legal procedures were followed and alternative arrangements had been promised to the affected residents.
Speaking to reporters here, Tharoor said the land on which the houses were built belonged to the government.
“First, the land belonged to the government, and people were living there illegally. Second, it was a garbage dump and toxic waste had contaminated the water, so it was not a fit place for people to live,” he said.
Tharoor said notices had been issued to the residents before the demolition.
He said he did not see justice in politically projecting the issue only on the basis that the affected people were poor.
“The government has taken a decision to provide temporary accommodation and has promised permanent housing within five to six months,” he said.
According to Tharoor, since a solution has been found, there is no need to unnecessarily provoke the issue.
“There may be flaws in the shifting process and there can be differences of opinion on how it was done. But a promise has been given to find a solution,” he said.
Referring to court directions against so-called ‘bulldozer’ evictions, Tharoor said all actions must be carried out legally.
“The Karnataka government has done this, adhering to court directions. Notices were given, and in some cases they were issued multiple times before the demolition,” he said.
He added that he had not visited Karnataka and therefore had no right to give a definitive opinion, but said the matter should be understood by keeping all these facts in mind.
On the BJP’s victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which falls under his parliamentary constituency, Tharoor said he would raise certain related issues within the party.
He acknowledged that the BJP had worked for the victory and recalled that the party had gained an upper hand in Thiruvananthapuram city during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well.
“I had pointed this out then itself as a warning signal. There may have been shortcomings in taking our message to the voters, and we could not bring about any major changes in the last one-and-a-half years, which resulted in people continuing to vote for the BJP,” he said.
Tharoor said that after 45 years of LDF rule, people were desperate for a change and he had wanted leadership under former MLA K S Sabarinathan to come to power.
“But people chose another party. The desire for change must be taken into account,” he said.
He also said voter turnout in the local body elections was higher compared to previous polls as people were dissatisfied with the functioning of the corporation.
Responding to CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam’s remark that he was “half BJP”, Tharoor said he had heard such allegations many times before.
“People do not have the patience to read what I write or post on social media. They form opinions just by seeing headlines. If they read what I actually write, they will realise such criticisms are baseless,” he said.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
