Kumaraswamy's meeting with Yediyurappa fuels speculation
Bengaluru: In a surprise development, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy met Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday.
According to sources, Kumaraswamy met Yediyurappa at the CM's home office 'Krishna' for about 15 minutes this evening along with JD(S) Melkote MLA C S Puttaraju.
They are said to have discussed issues pertaining to the constituency represented by the legislator.
The development has raised some eyebrows in political circles as this is the second such meeting between the two after the BJP came to power last year following the collapse of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy.
The two leaders had last met on September 11.
They had then said that the meeting was with regard to the havoc caused by rains in the Dasarahalli constituency represented by JD(S) MLA Manjunath.
The sudden meeting between the two has given rise to speculation about possible political discussions between them, as it has come amid allegations from a section of Congress leaders that Kumaraswamy was going soft on the Yediyurappa-led BJP government.
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Karnataka records 274 springs in first statewide census, majority located in Western Ghats
Hubballi: In its first-ever comprehensive census conducted during 2023-24, Karnataka has identified 274 natural springs across the State with 144 classified as perennial, 114 as seasonal and 16 reported to have dried up.
The enumeration was carried out by the Karnataka Minor Irrigation and Groundwater Development Department in association with the Groundwater Directorate as part of a Union government initiative, according to a Deccan Herald report. Officials were quoted as saying that the nine-month exercise involved field visits to nearly all identified springs. These springs were digitally mapped using a dedicated mobile application.
Belagavi district recorded the highest number of springs at 59, followed by Uttara Kannada with 31, while Chamarajanagar and Kodagu reported 23 each. Dharwad, Ramanagar, Bengaluru Rural, Davangere and Kolar districts have one spring each.
Bendru Teertha in Dakshina Kannada is the only hot spring documented in the State, which is attributed to a distinct hydrological formation. Springs in Talacauvery in Kodagu, Javali in Chikkamagaluru and Ambutheertha in Shivamogga, are the source points of major rivers such as the Cauvery, Hemavathi and Sharavathi.
According to the directorate, springs are natural discharge points where groundwater flows to the surface through openings in the earth’s crust, which occur when the water table intersects with the ground surface or when groundwater is forced out through fractures, faults or permeable rock layers.
The Western Ghats and Malnad regions, covering districts like Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi and Shivamogga, account for a significant share of the springs due to high rainfall and favourable geological conditions.
K B Rajendra, Director of the Groundwater Directorate, was quoted by Deccan Herald as saying that nearly 80 per cent of the springs are located in rural areas. He noted that apart from those associated with religious or historical sites, most springs remain open and lack protective measures.
Noting their vital contributions to drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation, especially in areas with hills and mountains, Rajendra said that these springs help maintain the flow of rivers and streams when the weather is dry, thereby supporting ecological balance and promoting biodiversity.
He added that the census findings would serve as a database for conservation, rejuvenation efforts, groundwater management and long-term water resource planning in the State.
