Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project: K'taka government identifies land for afforestation
New Delhi: The Karnataka government has informed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests that it has identified 508 acres of land in Hassan and Tumakuru districts to take up afforestation for the ambitious Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project.
The state has informed the Centre that the identified land for afforestation is located in Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumakuru district, and Belur and Arasikere taluks in Hassan district, as reported by Deccan Herald on Tuesday. The state has submitted these locations to the Union Ministry as part of its compliance with environmental guidelines for the project.
Earlier, the Union Ministry had expressed concerns over the suitability of the lands initially identified by the state for afforestation, deeming them inappropriate for the intended purpose. The ministry had pointed out that the Yettinahole project could cause damage to the forested areas of the Western Ghats, which are ecologically sensitive, and further opined that the state has to identify proper lands to tale up forestry activities.
The main canal of the Yettinahole project passes through a forest area. Therefore, the state has to approach the ministry for its permission.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has informed the ministry that it has complied with all the concerns raised by it.
An official from the State Water Resources Department told DH that the state remains optimistic about the timely completion of the Yettinahole project, which is expected to be finished by March 2027. The state is also awaiting necessary approvals from the Ministry of Railways and the National Highways Authority for the construction of remaining canals.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
