Former SC judge A M Khanwilkar appointed Lokpal chairperson
New Delhi, Feb 27: Former Supreme Court judge A M Khanwilkar was appointed as the Lokpal chairperson on Tuesday, according to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Justice Khanwilkar retired from the Supreme Court in July 2022.
According to a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President also appointed former high court judges Lingappa Narayana Swamy, Sanjay Yadav and Ritu Raj Awasthi as judicial members of the Lokpal.
Sushil Chandra, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey were appointed as non-judicial members of the anti-corruption ombudsman.
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BBMP issues guidelines for eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations
Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has released new guidelines aimed at ensuring a more environmentally conscious celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi this year.
BBMP Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao chaired a meeting to discuss a complete prohibition on the use of chemical paints, thermocol, and Plaster of Paris (PoP) in idol-making, as reported by Deccan Herald on Thursday. Any idols made from these materials will be confiscated and disposed of in accordance with established regulations.
The meeting emphasised the importance of using eco-friendly Ganesha idols made from natural clay, which are both safer for the environment and easier to immerse.
Strict enforcement and legal action
Criminal cases will be filed against individuals found creating idols using the banned materials. To ensure compliance, nodal officers from BBMP sub-divisions, along with officials from the police, fire, and Bescom departments, will oversee the manufacturing and sale of these idols.
Streamlined permitting process for public installations
For those wishing to set up public Ganesha idols, the BBMP has introduced a streamlined system to simplify the approval process. Citizens will need to apply at the offices of assistant executive engineers, designated as nodal officers, at the sub-divisional level. In an effort to expedite permissions, 75 single-window centres will be set up at these sub-divisional offices, where officers from the BBMP, police, Bescom, and the fire department will be available to grant necessary approvals.
Encouraging sustainable practices during the festival
The BBMP's guidelines also encourage residents to immerse small, eco-friendly idols at home and reuse the residual clay for gardening. Additionally, any wet waste generated during the festival will be processed through BBMP's waste management units, ensuring minimal environmental impact.
