Free bus pass for women traveling in government buses: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: In a joint press conference with Shivakumar and other cabinet members, new Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed plans for five guarantees that will be implemented following the next cabinet meeting.
ALSO READ: Bengaluru: State Government issues official order to implement 'Gruhalakshmi' scheme
One of the key initiatives announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is the provision of free bus passes for women residing in Karnataka when traveling on government buses. However, women from other states will not enjoy this privilege. It's important to note that this benefit will not be extended to luxury buses, as clarified by the Chief Minister. Furthermore, the free bus travel scheme will exclusively apply to women who are residents of the state.
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Mercury, cancer-causing pesticide found in Arkavathy river water samples
Bengaluru: Alarming new findings reveal the presence of hazardous substances, including mercury, the banned pesticide DDT, cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and fluoride, in the Arkavathy river. This vital water source, crucial for agriculture and horticulture in Karnataka, has been severely impacted by domestic and industrial pollution.
Recent tests on water and sediment samples collected from the river have exposed the disturbing levels of contamination. The samples were collected by volunteers from Paani Earth, a Bengaluru-based environmental organisation, from three locations: upstream and downstream of the Thippagondanahalli (TG Halli) reservoir, and the Dodda Mudavadi bridge, located 10 km upstream of where the Arkavathy meets the Vrishabhavathi river.
Among the alarming discoveries, DDT contamination was found at shockingly high levels—75 times above the European Union’s water quality standards—at a site 1 km upstream of the TG Halli reservoir, as cited by Deccan Herald on Friday. The analysis also revealed the presence of hexavalent chromium along with mercury and PAHs, harmful hydrocarbons known to cause various health issues, including skin irritation and cancer.
The water and sediment samples were analysed at the International Centre for Clean Water at IIT Madras. These findings underscore the significant gaps in India's water quality monitoring system.
The findings are particularly concerning as they come over two decades after the Karnataka High Court mandated measures to protect the Arkavathy river from pollution. The river, which originates near Nandi Hills, remains vulnerable to contamination until it merges with Vrishabhavathi, a waterbody tainted by Bengaluru’s sewage.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board does not monitor heavy metals or PAHs in the Arkavathy waters, leaving a crucial gap in pollution oversight.
