BJP misunderstood Rahul Gandhi's statement: Home Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru: Home Minister G. Parameshwara has stated that the BJP has failed to understand the statements made by Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, leading to ongoing confusion among its members.
Speaking to reporters near his residence in Sadashiva Nagar, Parameshwara said that Hinduism promotes unity and peace among all sections of society. He clarified that Gandhi's remarks were directed at those who oppose these principles, indicating the BJP's misinterpretation of his speech.
Addressing the issue of changing the police commissioner in Bangalore, Parameshwara mentioned that he meets the Chief Minister daily to discuss various departmental issues that require attention and decisions. He highlighted the need for constant communication when making government decisions.
ALSO READ: Rules will be formed for transfer of police personnel: Home Minister G. Parameshwara
In response to DK Shivakumar's statement about issuing notices to those making public statements regarding the posts of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Parameshwara explained that it is the party president's responsibility to issue such notices. He stressed that party members, legislators, and ministers should operate within the party's framework, and any deviations would be addressed by the party president and the disciplinary committee.
Regarding the new criminal laws, Parameshwara noted that while some provisions are beneficial, others require debate and revision. He acknowledged that millions of cases will be registered under the new laws, and staff training is underway. He also spoke on the importance of discussing these laws with the central government to address any issues.
Parameshwara also addressed allegations of illegal activities in MUDA by officials, stating that transfers and departmental inquiries are standard procedures. He assured that if any illegality is found, it will be handed over to the police for investigation.
Reacting to H. Vishwanath's allegations against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara said that not all claims made by certain individuals are true and that the facts will be investigated before making any conclusions.
About actor Darshan receiving special treatment in jail, Parameshwara clarified that no special facilities are provided and invited those raising doubts to visit the jail to verify the claims themselves.
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.
Karnataka sees drop in groundwater use, surge in recharge capacity: 2025 report
_vb_86.jpeg)
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has recorded a significant decline in groundwater usage alongside a notable increase in annual recharge capacity, reflecting the impact of sustained water conservation efforts and good rainfall, Minister N S Boseraju said on Wednesday.
Releasing the 2025 Groundwater Assessment Report at Vikas Soudha, he said the gains are the result of good rainfall, focused policy interventions, and large-scale water conservation initiatives implemented over the past two years under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
According to the report, overall groundwater extraction has reduced from 68.44 per cent in 2024 to 66.49 per cent in 2025, indicating more responsible and sustainable usage patterns across the state.
At the same time, annual groundwater recharge capacity has increased from 18.74 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2024 to 19.28 BCM in 2025, while annual extractable groundwater resources rose from 16.88 BCM to 17.41 BCM, the minister’s office said in a statement.
“This simultaneous reduction in usage and increase in recharge reflects our government’s commitment to long-term water sustainability,” the Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology Minister said.
The improvement has been driven largely by the expansion of water conservation structures (WCS) across the state.
Recharge through such structures increased by 29.11 per cent, from 0.81 BCM to 1.04 BCM within a year, the report stated.
Notably, the number of water conservation works has risen sharply from 3.15 lakh in 2024 to 3.94 lakh in 2025, strengthening the state’s groundwater recharge ecosystem.
The report indicates improvement in groundwater status across 11 taluks, with several regions moving to safer categories.
Highlighting these changes, the minister pointed out that Chamarajanagar taluk has improved from "over-exploited" to "critical".
Similarly, taluks including Athani, Channapatna, Molakalmuru, Ranebennur, Savanur, and Shiggaon have successfully transitioned from "semi-critical" to "safe" status.
Domestic groundwater extraction has also declined by 0.58 per cent, dropping from 1,21,731 hectare-metres (ham) in 2024 to 1,21,023 ham in 2025. Officials attribute this to increased reliance on surface water under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Boseraju said that initiatives such as lake rejuvenation, year-round water supply through treated and surface water, sustained public awareness campaigns, and good rainfall have played a key role in reducing over-extraction and enhancing recharge.
“Instead of depending solely on the 120-day monsoon, we are ensuring water availability throughout all 365 days through scientific management. This has strengthened long-term water security for both farmers and urban residents,” he said.
Announcing a major technological step forward in future governance, the minister added, “To further safeguard our resources, we are rolling out the Digital Water Stack (DWS) initiative. Under this framework, we will soon initiate space technology and AI-based satellite surveillance to obtain real-time data for continuous groundwater monitoring.”
_vb_85.jpeg)
_vb_92.jpeg)
_vb_51.jpeg)