Illegal Mining: Karnataka govt appoints ex-IAS officer Krishna Rao as Recovery Commissioner
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Government has appointed retired IAS officer G V Krishna Rao, former Additional Chief Secretary, as the recovery commissioner to confiscate, forfeit and attach properties derived from illegal mining activities, a government order said.
This appointment is made under The Karnataka Appointment of Recovery Commissioners for Seizure and Confiscation of Property arising from Illegal Mining and Proceeds of Crime Act, 2025, it added.
According to a recent notification issued by the Commerce and Industries Department (Mines), the Act provides for the confiscation, forfeiture, and attachment of properties derived from illegal mining activities, organised crime, and criminal proceeds.
It empowers the State Government to appoint a Recovery Commissioner not below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary, either serving or retired.
In a related order issued recently, the Government fixed the pay and service terms of Krishna Rao. He will receive a monthly salary of Rs 2,95,256 that includes Rs 1,04,006 as basic pay, along with dearness and house rent allowances calculated on his last drawn pay of Rs 2,25,000.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
