PIL on conservation of Kempegowda’s fort: Karnataka HC issues notice to state government, ASI
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court has issued notice to the state government as well as the Archaelogical Survey of India (ASI) after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) related to the conservation of fort of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda situated in Magadi.
The petition, filed by Dr. HM Krishnamurthy of Magadi, who is the President of the Kempegowda Development Committee, was heard on Friday by the two-judge divisional bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha.
The bench issued notices to the Kannada and Culture Department, Bengaluru Archaeological Survey Department, Commissioner of the Archaeological Department, Deputy Director of the Department, Magadi Urban Development Authority, Magadi Town Development Council and Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner in relation to the fort conservation, before adjourning the petition.
Senior advocate DR Ravishankar, who represented the petitioner, said that the fort was built in the 17th century by Kempegowda, who was the chief commander in the army of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Commissioner of the Archaeological Department has submitted a report regarding the conservation of the fort. Pictures taken using drones have been presented to understand the condition of the fort. A 30-foot-tall wall has been constructed for conservation of the fort, but a part of the fort wall has been destroyed, nevertheless, the advocate added.
He also hit out at the government for not taking the initiative to work at conservation of the fort wall well before a PIL was filed by a citizen.
The petitioner has asked for conservation of Kempegowda’s fort, the moat of the fort and various sculptures, monuments and a temple constructed by Kempegowda in the fort. The moat has been closed in the east, west and north while in the south, the construction is half-closed by the K-Ship company for widening of the Bengaluru-Kunigal Road, he said.
The petitioner added that the Magadi TMC has permitted roadside vendors to set up stall on three of the moats, which has greatly affected the condition. Referring further to the stalls, Dr. Krishnamurthy has said that the vendors have defaced the wall by driving nails into it.
Maintenance of hygiene is a major problem in the fort, where people now not only answer nature’s calls but also consume liquor, he added.
Dr. Krishnamurthy urged the bench to issue notices to the concerned officials to take measures for the conservation of Kempegowda’s fort.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
