Lakshadweep residents stage "coconut leaves and palm" protest
Kochi: Residents of Lakshadweep on Monday staged "coconut leaves and palm" protest across inhabited islands against the administration's order to levy a fine if coconut palm leaves, shells or trunks were found in and around their dwelling places.
Holding placards which read "introduce mulching" and "stop imposing fine", the islanders, under the banner of Save Lakshadweep Forum (SLF), stood in front of a pile of coconut leaves in the properties urging the administration to withdraw the "anti-people" order.
In their one-hour long protest, the islanders urged the administration to withdraw the decision to impose fine on them and introduce technology to convert the organic materials from the coconuts as compost --a mixture of ingredients used to fertilize and improve the soil.
"Our demand is that the fine imposed on the people should be withdrawn and a proper waste management system should be implemented. Unless the waste management system is implemented there is no genuine right from the side of administration to collect fine on falling of coconut leaves and other palms in their property," Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal P P told P T I.
"Where do the people of islands are expected to do the scientific processing of leaves and palms," he asked.
The Lok Sabha member said an islander cannot afford to have his own scientific processing unit or incinerator and it is the prime duty of the Lakshadweep administration to provide such a facility.
"If such facilities are made available and people are not obeying this, then you can impose the fine. The primary responsibility of the administration should be to ensure the installation of the scientific processing units like incinerators in the island," Faizal said.
In the order issued on June 4 on management of cleanliness and hygiene in the islands in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has said each family of individuals who stay in any premise shall maintain cleanliness with certain standards and hygiene in and around their respective places at all times.
It said tender coconut shells, tree leaves, coconut husks, trunks etc in and around dwelling places/public places must be disposed off scientifically by the landowners without affecting hygiene to the environment.
"No persons is allowed to throw or break or spread coconuts, fruits leftovers, vegetables waste on roads, footpaths, public areas, lagoon, sea and the beaches", it said, prohibiting the disposal by burning of any type of solid waste at roadsides, beaches and in open places.
It said whoever violates or contravenes any of the aforesaid directions shall be liable for punishment with fine as per Schedule 1 of the Lakshadweep Solid Waste Management Bye-Law, 2018 and also be liable to criminal proceedings for offence punishable Under Section 188 IPC (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).
Lakshadweep has been witnessing a series of protests by residents for the past few weeks against Administrator Praful Khoda Patel's decision to implement reform measures in the islands.
The Save Lakshadweep Forum (SLF), a platform of protesters, has alleged that the measures were being implemented without taking people of islands into confidence.
Accusing the administration of going ahead with the "anti-people reform measures" in the islands, the SLF has said they would continue their protest till the administration withdraws such measures in the archipelago.
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BCCI decision to shift IPL finals to Ahmedabad may be due to commercial viability: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwra on Thursday said that the BCCI might have decided to shift the IPL finals venue from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad considering commercial viability.
He clarified that distributing tickets to MLAs has nothing to do with shifting the final match, while asserting that there have been no complaints regarding security or arrangements in Bengaluru.
Ahmedabad will host the IPL final for a second successive season on May 31, replacing the "originally designated" Bengaluru, the BCCI announced on Wednesday while allotting Qualifier 1 to Dharamsala and two other playoff games to New Chandigarh.
"There have been five matches here and there hasn't been even a single complaint regarding security. They (BCCI) have no reservations regarding the arrangements. There have been no complaints about police or administration from the IPL, RCB or KSCA," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Unofficially, what we have learned is that the stadium (Chinnaswamy stadium) here has about 33,000 seats, and of those, about 7,000-8,000 passes or seats are blocked for VIPs, sponsors, RCB, and the teams playing the final match. Only about 25,000 passes will remain."
"Since it will not work out commercially, they might have decided to shift the match to Ahmedabad, which has a one-lakh seat capacity. This discussion has been ongoing since the beginning. While KSCA wanted the match to happen here citing rules that the first and last matches should be held at the reigning champion's home turf, perhaps they (BCCI) made an exception," he added.
Rejecting reports that giving match passes to legislators was the reason behind shifting the match, the home minister said, "This has nothing to do with it. How many passes have been given? What difference will four passes make?"
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also on Wednesday refuted allegations that the IPL final venue was shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad due to the distribution of tickets to MLAs. He said the reason for the shift could be the availability of a larger stadium in Ahmedabad.
Bengaluru was scheduled to host the final going by convention as Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions. Apart from last year, Ahmedabad has previously hosted the IPL finale in 2022 and 2023.
"Bengaluru was originally designated to host the final. However, owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned," the BCCI stated in a press release without specifying the exact requirements in the Karnataka capital.
In March, Shivakumar announced that three free tickets for IPL matches would be provided to each MLA, while two complimentary tickets would be given for international matches, with an option to purchase two more, following discussions with representatives of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, which manages the city's Chinnaswamy stadium. This drew criticism from various sections.
Shivakumar's announcement followed legislators across party lines in the Assembly raising the issue of improper ticket and seating arrangements for them at the city's premier venue. Following this, Speaker U T Khader had asked the government to ensure that every MLA receives four VIP tickets at the stadium during matches.
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