BJP makes Ayodhya a political issue: H.S. Doreswamy
Bengaluru, September 30: “The BJP leaders have converted the Ayodhya dispute as a political issue to gain political mileage. If they have real concerns over the feelings of the people, they would have developed Ayodhya. But the BJP has gained political advantage due to Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue instead of developing the Ayodhya city”, said freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy.
Speaking at a photo exhibition on the present situation of Ayodhya, organized by the photographer Sudhir Shetty near Metro Station on M.G. Road in the city on Sunday, Doreswamy said that BJP people do not want Rama. They just require communal clash in the name of Rama. They have made a big mistake by demolishing the Babri Masjid, he regretted.
As Ayodhya was in dispute, it was lagging behind in development. Though the people there were living together harmoniously, the outsiders had disturbed the situation. So, Ayodhya city had become a centre of dispute. Both BJP and RSS have gained the political mileage by making it a dispute instead of developing the city. Even today, they were trying to get the political benefit instead of developing the city, he alleged.
Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said that Ayodhya people do not have incongruity among themselves. They have been living together. It was better to leave the issue to the locals to solve it. The recent Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya issue was a welcoming note. But it would not solve the problem completely, he said.
It was not sure that the people would have harmony even after Supreme Court order on the issue. So, the locals should sit together and find an eternal solution to the problem. Interestingly the intervention of the outsiders was more in the issue. Because of the political interests, the issue was blown out of proportion. It was not possible to solve everything just with the Supreme Court verdict, he stressed.
Photographer Sudhir Shetty has exposed the reality and present situation of Ayodhya and Ram Janma Bhoomi. The locals would not require this dispute. In the name of dispute, the development works have taken a back seat. The Hindus and Muslims of Ayodhya want to solve the problem amicably. But the political leaders have been trying to keep this issue alive for their benefit. This was effectively exposed in the exhibition through photos.
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Nearly 700 km of Karnataka rivers polluted; cities, towns depend on contaminated water
Shivamogga: A total of 693.75 of river stretches across Karnataka are polluted, and water from several of these rivers is being supplied to towns and cities, the State government informed the Legislative Assembly.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Monday, replying to an unstarred question by Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra during the winter session in Belagavi, Forest, Environment and Biodiversity Minister Eshwar Khandre said rivers are classified into five categories, P1 to P5, based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, with P1 being the most polluted.
He reportedly said untreated domestic wastewater from urban and rural areas is the main reason for river pollution. Arkavati, Lakshana Teertha, Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Tunga, Cauvery, Kabini, Kagina, Krishna, Shimsha, Bheema and Netravati are the polluted rivers and so far, 112 polluted drainages along these rivers have been identified.
Khandre explained that rivers are classified into five pollution categories P1 to P5. The Arkavati River has been placed in the P1 category, while no rivers fall under P2 and P3. Tungabhadra, Bhadra and Shimsha are categorised under P4, and eight other rivers fall under P5.
Khandre allegedly said domestic wastewater from municipalities, towns and villages along riverbeds is being discharged into at least 17 rivers, identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is the primary cause of river pollution.
According to the report, the minister said drinking water is being supplied from polluted rivers in districts such as Mandya, Ramanagara, Vijayapura and Shivamogga. In parts of Uttara Kannada, Ballari, Vijayanagara and Bagalkot, local bodies are also drawing water from polluted river sources.
In 2022-23, CPCB identified South Pinakini, Aghanashini, Sharavathi and Gangavali rivers too as polluted. But wrote to CPCB, stating that these rivers are not polluted and sought their removal from the list. An action plan is being prepared for the South Pinakini River, he said.
On remedial measures, Khandre reportedly said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is setting up sewage treatment plants as per the directions of National Green Tribunal.
As per the report, under 12 river rejuvenation plans, the state generates 817.31 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. While 41 STPs with a capacity of 614.1 MLD are operational, 203.21 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
Work is underway to establish 19 STPs with a capacity of 248.91 MLD, while 39 more STPs with a combined capacity of 357.92 MLD are in the planning stage. Progress is being monitored and reported regularly to the NGT and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The minister reportedly said the state government gave its approval for underground drainage works worth Rs 535.56 crore in 2021 for 24 cities/towns besides Rs 523.80 crore for nine UGD projects.
