Kerala's waste continues to threaten Karnataka environment, six trucks carrying waste seized
Bengaluru: Despite repeated alerts over the past five years, trucks from Kerala continue to illegally carry tonnes of solid waste, including toxic materials, into Karnataka, posing a serious environmental threat. This ongoing issue has prompted the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to formally write to its counterpart in the neighbouring state.
On Monday, six trucks carrying tonnes of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials from Kerala were seized near the Mulehole check post in Gundlupet, as reported by Deccan Herald.
A complaint by KSPCB’s regional environment officer, Umashankar P.K., led to the registration of an FIR against seven individuals, including the drivers of the six trucks. The seizure came after the Gundlupet police found the vehicles transporting waste without proper documents and permits.
KSPCB member secretary H.C. Balachandra stressed the seriousness of the issue and raised the matter with the Pollution Control Board (PCB) in Kerala. He noted the dumping of solid waste in the border areas is illegal. He added that despite writing to the local authorities as well as the Kerala PCB, they are seeing violations.
The Board had earlier written to the deputy commissioners in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar which share the border with Kerala’s Wayanad region. Activist Sadanand H. Math told DH that trucks enter from Wayanad without any checks. He mentioned that there is a need for joint patrolling at key checkposts, such as Mulehole (Chamarajanagar) and Bavali (Mysuru district). He also called for more officers on the Karnataka side to monitor and check the menace of garbage-carrying trucks.
Math noted that waste dumping not only pollutes the environment, but poses a threat to wildlife in the protected areas of Bandipur-Nagarahole and BRT tiger reserves.
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AIMIM wins Malegaon Central seat by 162 votes
Malegaon (Maharashtra), Nov 23: In a closely contested election, Mohammad Ismail Abdul Khalique of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has retained the Malegaon Central assembly seat, winning by a razor-thin margin of 162 votes.
This victory in the north Maharashtra constituency marks a significant turnaround for Khalique, who previously enjoyed a commanding lead in the 2019 elections, winning by over one lakh votes.
Khalique, an Islamic scholar, received a total of 1,09,653 votes this time, narrowly defeating his nearest rival, Asif Shaikh Rasheed of the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra party, who got 1,09,491 votes.
There were a total of 13 candidates contesting in this Muslim dominated constituency. Barring Khalique and Rasheed, two other candidates -- Shaan-e-Hind Nihal Ahmed of Samajwadi Party and Ejaz Baig Aziz Baig managed below 10,000 votes. Other remaining candidates were below 1,000 votes.
This election marks Khalique's third term as an MLA. He initially represented the Malegaon Central seat in 2009 as a member of the Jan Surajya Shakti party.
However, Khalique faced a setback in the 2014 elections when he contested under the banner of the Nationalist Congress Party and lost.
His return to the assembly in 2019 under the AIMIM banner solidified his political presence, and despite the significantly reduced margin this year, he has once again emerged victorious.
The results highlight the competitive nature of the Malegaon Central constituency and underscore Khalique's resilience in maintaining his position amidst changing political dynamics.
