Karnataka BJP takes out march to Raj Bhavan, complains to Governor about MUDA scam
Bengaluru, Jul 25: The BJP legislators in Karnataka on Thursday took out a march to Raj Bhavan and met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to complain about the alleged alternative site scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
They also said that the ruling Congress did not allow them to raise the issue in both the Houses.
After the Karnataka legislature session was adjourned sine die, cutting it short by a day, the legislators led by the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka and BJP State president B Y Vijayendra took out a march to Raj Bhavan with placards and posters.
The BJP leaders met Gehlot and handed to him a memorandum giving details of the scam.
ALSO READ: CM accuses opposition of trying to target him personally, tarnish his image over MUDA ''scam''
Later addressing reporters, Ashoka alleged that the ruling Congress did not allow them to speak about the MUDA scam in which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was directly involved.
It is now known to the world that this government is involved in corruption. Never in the history of Karnataka, the ruling party faced such a shame. Scams after scams came to the fore, Ashoka said.
The BJP leader said because of the agitation by the BJP and JD(S) in connection with the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation worth Rs 187 crore, Congress MLA B Nagendra resigned as a minister and is now in jail.
Several officers are also in jail while one more MLA is set to go to jail, he claimed.
About the MUDA scam, Ashoka said when Siddaramaiah was the Deputy Chief Minister in the J H Patel government in the 1990s, the scam took place.
"Siddaramaiah and his supporters have gobbled up over one lakh square feet of land in the MUDA scam under the 50:50 scheme," he alleged.
"The chief minister who had taken an oath of upholding the Constitutional values in the presence of the Governor, is violating the Constitution. I have documents to show that Siddaramaiah was directly involved in it," he said.
The LoP alleged that the BJP legislators were denied permission to raise the issue in both the Houses of the Karnataka legislature.
He said the BJP and its ally JD(S) had sought the resignation of the chief minister.
"When 86,000 people were in the queue for MUDA plots, 14 plots were given to Siddaramaiah’s family," he alleged.
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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.
