Nature activists oppose Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project in Western Ghat sanctuary limits
Bengaluru: Environmental activists have expressed concern regarding the impact of the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project in the Lion Tailed Macaque (LTM) Sanctuary over the Western Ghats and have written an open letter to the state government, asking why it was in a hurry to implement the project.
Twelve activists and conservationists have written to the government under the banner of ‘Vrushalaksha Andolana’, challenging the stance of the state Forest and Environment Department as regards the project, reports Deccan Herald. The group points out that the project will negatively impact the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats and states that it will launch a movement to spread awareness about the matter among the people.
Anant Hegade Ashisar of the Andolana said that the Forest Department has approved and recommended the project to the Union Environment Ministry. Further, the government has given the tender to implement the project, but the matter has not been brought to the notice of the farmers, fishermen and residents in the Western Ghat areas.
The 2,000MW project, which has been proposed by the KPCL, requires 378 acres (153 hectares), including about 126 acres (52.62 hectares) of forest land spread over Honnavar, Shivamogga Wildlife and Sagar divisions. Within the forest land, 97 acres are the part of the LTM sanctuary.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
