MUDA scam being politicized to tarnish CM Siddaramaiah's image: Congress legislators
Bengaluru: Congress legislators K M Shivalinge Gowda,P M Narendra Swamy, S M Narayanaswamy addressed a joint press meet in Vidhan Soudha on Thursday to provide clarifications on MUDA scam. They said that BJP and JDS were unnecessarily politicizing MUDA issue as they wanted to tarnish the image of an unblemished political leader. Supporting the move of the CM and the speaker in the assembly session, they released MUDA scam documents that happened during BJP's tenure.
MLA K M Shivalinge Gowda said that BJP-JDS must be taught a lesson for staging the drama. “A legal enquiry has been conducted on the MUDA scam. This is a 20 year old case. So the speaker didn't allow a discussion. Opposition parties have opposed this. They are just trying to make it political. People should know the truth”, he added.
ALSO READ: CM accuses opposition of trying to target him personally, tarnish his image over MUDA ''scam''
“The 3.5 acre plot was first acquired in auction by Ninga Bin Javara in 1935. Documents show that the land was obtained through bidding during British time. Lands were given to anyone who called out at an auction then. Ninga was granted the land in this way. He had three children named Mailarayya, Mallayya and Devaraju. Mailayya is deceased, his wife Puttagowramma is alive now. The 3.15 acre was left for Devaraju”, he explained.
“Devaraju gave the land to Mallikarjuna Swamy, brother-in-law of Siddaramaiah in 2004. Mallikarjuna Swamy gave the land in a gift-deed to Siddaramaiah's wife. MUDA acquired the land and allotted it as sites later. Siddaramaiah's wife questioned the move and demanded for the return of land or the grant of an equivalent plot, in a letter to MUDA. Accordingly, she was granted site in a 50:50 ratio. BJP was in power when the sites were sanctioned”, Shivalinge Gowda said.
MLA Narayanaswamy said that Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy had also filed an application in MUDA and acquired a 21,000 sq. ft. site. “How was the site allotted to him? Sa Ra Mahesh, G T Devegowda also have acquired sites. Why is there no discussion on them? Is it a scam only when Siddaramaiah gets a site? Kumaraswamy had written in the application that he was a resident of Mysuru and he needs a site. Has he started an industry there? How many people has he employed?” he questioned.
“An old issue has been deliberately rekindled. They demand a chance for debate and stage a protest with political malevolence. Siddaramaiah hasn't taken any part in the scam, there is no sign of his in the allotment and the irregularities happened during BJP's tenure. What is the aim of their Mysore Padayatre now? The investigation into the alleged irregularities is already in progress. I don’t know what is the 'noble aim' of BJP padayatra”, Narayanaswamy stated.
MLA Narendraswamy said that the Congress government had already completed one year. “Why didn't they speak about during the last year? This was a 2021 case. Why didn't they open their mouths then? There was even a session during that time. What was the party of the speaker then? Who was the Urban Development Minister? Who was the CM then? Why haven't they demanded any punishment to these people?” he questioned.
MLA Shivalinge Gowda said that the issue was being blown out of the proportionto target the CM. “Please don’t tarnish Siddaramaiah’s image for no reason. The people of the state won’t believe it. They know his character well. If you think you can fix him in the case, please forget it. The site to him was given by you. Please stop the drama. Why did MUDA trespass on the land? Return the 3.15 acres. BJP people themselves allotted the site. Did Siddaramaiah ask you to allot the site in that specific location? If he has done something wrong, then we will accept defeat”, he said.
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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.
