Minister NS Boseraju instructs stringent measures against unscientific silt removal in lakes
Bengaluru, Jan 11: Karnataka Minister N S Boseraju on Thursday raised concerns over "unscientific removal" of silt in lakes under the jurisdiction of the state's minor irrigation department and directed officials to immediately take stringent action to put an end to it.
The Minister for Minor Irrigation, and Science and Technology said this "indiscriminate" silt-lifting is contributing to lake suffocation, water scarcity, and financial losses to the government.
Highlighting the detrimental effects of "unscientific" silt removal, he said: "The improper extraction of silt, exceeding specified limits in some cases, not only results in financial losses to the government but also contributes to water depletion in lakes, leading to severe water shortages,".
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Boseraju also emphasised its adverse impact on groundwater levels.
The Minister instructed the Secretary of the department to issue strict directives to Superintending Engineers of all Circles and Executive Engineers of all Divisions.
"These directives aim to prompt strict legal action against any activities involving the unscientific lifting of silt, with the goal of safeguarding the state's water resources and preventing further environmental damage," he added.
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Delhi records high of 32.7 deg C; AQI remains 'moderate'
New Delhi (PTI): The maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 32.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 20.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the average for the season, while the relative humidity stood at 46 per cent at 5.30 pm, the IMD said.
The weather department has forecast a partly cloudy sky for Monday with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 34 and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The air quality remained 'moderate' at 4 pm, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 134, a slight drop from Saturday’s 137, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
