Cauvery: Karnataka files petition before CWMA seeking review
deputy CM expresses respite with increase in inflow
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said the state has filed a petition before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) seeking a review of its order on the release of river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
CWMA on Friday asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu till October 15, despite the state stating that there is not enough water.
State Water Resources Minister Shivakumar, however said the inflow of water to reservoirs in the Cauvery basin increasing to 15,000 cusecs, is a sign of respite.
"On Saturday afternoon itself we filed a petition before the Management Authority (CWMA) seeking a review, following the suggestions given by senior former Judges including M N Venkatachalaiah (Former Chief Justice of India)," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Meanwhile, I have got a report this morning -- I'm checking two to three times a day -- today inflow is 15,000 cusecs. It is good news for now."
Farmers and people of the region (Cauvery basin) should pray to rain Gods, he said, adding that,"If such inflow continues, there won't be much trouble, as we have released water to state's farmers for crops and seepage water is flowing."
Shivakumar further said, "Recent rains in Bengaluru and areas below KRS dam like -- Mandya, Kollegala, Hanuru among others are also getting registered (as part of flow towards TN). So in the last three-four days there is a record regarding flow up to 6,500 cusecs (towards TN) despite us not releasing water from KRS, so if there are more rains, it will strengthen us."
He, however maintained that the legal fight that is necessary will continue.
Karnataka has been maintaining that it is not in a position to release water, taking into account its own need for drinking water and irrigation for standing crops in the Cauvery basin areas, as there has been water scarcity due to deficit monsoon rains.
Farmers and pro Kannada organsiations have been protesting in various parts of the state against releasing water to Tamil Nadu and two bandhs were called in a week -- in Bengaluru on September 26, and statewide on September 29 -- in this regard.
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'Low-quality' catheters supplied to West Bengal govt hospitals at high price, probe ordered
Kolkata (PTI): The West Bengal health department has launched a probe into the supplies of allegedly low-quality and locally made catheters at a high price to several government hospitals, posing a risk to the lives of patients undergoing treatment in these facilities, officials said.
Such central venous catheters (CVCs) were allegedly supplied to at least five medical colleges and hospitals in the state, defying allocation of international standard-compliant CVCs, they said.
The distribution company, which has been accused of supplying these catheters to government hospitals, admitted to the fault but placed the blame on its employees.
"We started checking stocks some time back and found these locally made CVCs in my hospital store. These catheters are of low quality as compared to those allocated by the state. We have informed the state health department," a senior official of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital told PTI.
Low-quality catheters were also found in the stores of other hospitals, which indicates "possible involvement of insiders in the scam", a health department official said.
The low-quality CVCs were supplied by a distributor in the Hatibagan area in the northern part of Kolkata for the last three to four months, he said.
"Such kinds of local CVCs are priced around Rs 1,500 but the distributor took Rs 4,177 for each device," the official said.
A CVC is a thin and flexible tube that is inserted into a vein to allow for the administration of fluids, blood, and other treatment. It's also clinically called a central line catheter.
"An initial probe revealed that the distribution company Prakash Surgical had supplied the low-quality and locally manufactured catheters to several government hospitals instead of the CVCs of the government-designated international company.
"All the units will be tested and a proper investigation is on to find out who benefited from these supplies," the health department official said.
The distribution company blamed its employees for the supply of inferior quality catheters.
"I was sick for a few months. Some employees of the organisation made this mistake. We are taking back all those units that have gone to the hospitals. It's all about misunderstanding," an official of the distribution company told PTI.
According to another state health department official, a complaint was lodged with the police in this connection.
Asked about how many patients were affected by the usage of such low-quality CVCs, the official said, "The probe would also try to find that out".
According to sources in the health department, some of the staff of the hospitals' equipment receiving departments and some local officials of international organisations might be involved in the alleged irregularities.
