Jokatte: Houses are facing threat as hills tumbling down
►High tension wires also posing threat ►Residents vacating their houses during nights
Mangaluru, September 2: In recent days, a hill near Jokatte on the border of Kenjaru gram panchayat and Thokuru 62 is collapsing. As a result, four-five houses nearby the hill are facing the threat. Meanwhile, the KPTCL has erected a high tension power line tower on the same hill and the collapse of the tower cannot be ruled out if the hill tumbled down. Because of this fear, the residents have been staying in their relatives houses during nights. But neither the district administration nor the elected representatives took it seriously, people alleged.
A big hill is situated just beside the railway track at Jokatte. The high tension power line which pases to MRPL from Kavoor passed on the same hill and a tower is also situated on the hill. Though there is a retention wall in the bottom of the hill, the hill is slowing sliding down due to which, the retention wall developed a crack. This has created panic among people in the nearby houses.
The high tension wire passed on a private school and if the tower collapsed, the wires would fall on the school building inviting danger. The KPTCL is playing with the life of the students, the local people alleged.
“A 110 kv power line is passed through this tower from Kavoor to MRPL. We came to know about the problem just two days before. Suddenly, we disconnected the power and planning for alternative arrangement. Besides repairing the towers, we will also erect new towers if needed. But it will take minimum 47 days. We will see to it that the local people will not get any trouble”.
-Anil, KPTCL officer, Mangaluru
“People have been finding it difficult to live there for the last few days. We have informed the officials concerned. Based on that, the officers have disconnected the power and started their work after Thursday afternoon. The authorities should find solution to the problem as early as possible”.
-Muneer Katipalla, DYFI state president
“Heavy rain has been lashing the region for the last couple of days due to which, the hill is sliding. We are in the danger situation. If the hill is collapsed further, then we will have further problem. Women, children and aged people are there. Where shall we take them?”
-Abdul Kareem, resident
“We will not in a position to stay at home regularly. We can spend day time, but it is difficult to assume what will happen during night. We have informed the KPTCL and gram panchayat authorities about this issue. But nothing is done”.
-Abdul Khadar, Jokatte
“Literally, we are counting our days. We cannot stay in our homes during nights. So, we are going to our relatives houses to sleep. None of the authorities have responded to our problems so far. Neither the officials nor the elected representatives turned towards it”.
Abubakar Bava, resident
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
