Portfolio allocation to 17 new ministers on Sunday: CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru, Aug 24: The allocation of portfolios to 17 newly inducted ministers into his cabinet in Karnataka will take place after his return from New Delhi on Sunday, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Saturday.
Yediyurappa cited death of BJP stalwart and former finance minister Arun Jaitley, and his travel to Delhi on Sunday to pay his last respects to the departed leader as the reasons for the delay.
"I have had discussion with Amit Shah (BJP president).
Today I had to send the list (of portfolios) to the Governor.
As Arun Jaitley passed away, this was not the right time.
Tomorrow after coming from Delhi I will do it..everything is clear, there are no issues," Yediyurappa told reporters here.
Yediyurappa had earlier said allocation of portfolios will be done by Saturday post noon.
"I have had one-and-half hour long discussion with our national president and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding political developments in the state and other things.
By second half of the day who should be given what portfolio in the cabinet, will be finalised," he had told reporters here late last night after returning from Delhi .
Having a tight rope to walk by pacifying the disgruntled MLAs who missed out on Cabinet berth, coupled with allocation of portfolios to new ministers, Yediyurappa had left for Delhi on Thursday to consult BJP central leadership to deal with the situation.
Some disqualified former legislators of the Congress and JDS who helped bring down the coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy reportedly are also piling pressure on Yediyurappa, seeking their pound of flesh and plum portfolios.
Amid all this, talks of having Deputy Chief Ministers and one more round of cabinet expansion soon to induct couple of disgruntled MLAs has gained momentum in BJP circles, party sources said, adding that "However, there is still no final decision on this."
On his return from Delhi, several Ministers including V Somanna and Suresh Kumar met Yediyurappa and held discussions on Saturday.
Independent MLA H Nagesh expressed hope about getting Energy portfolio.
"I will do good job if given power (Energy) department as I have worked in the sector and have experience.
I hope I will get good portfolio..," he told reporters.
More than three weeks after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister, Yediyurappa expanded his cabinet last Tuesday, inducting 17 Ministers.
Though the expansion brought an end the nearly month long wait for the cabinet to take shape, it led to some heartburn in a section of the party as several MLAs continued to make no secret of their displeasure after missing the bus.
With several MLAs openly expressing displeasure over being left out, Yediyurappa has been making attempts to douse the embers, by reaching out to them.
The Chief Minister on Saturday too tried to pacify eight time Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti, around whom several disgruntled MLAs are reportedly rallying.
According to reports Katti has expressed his displeasure to Yediyurappa during the meeting, about induction of former legislator Laxman Savadi, who is neither a member of the Assembly not the Council, being made the Minister, allegedly in Savadis presence.
Kattis telephonic conversation with Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday night, which both of them termed as causal friendly conversation, had led to speculation about the former's next political move.
Another BJP MLA from Honnali M P Renukacharya too continued his attack on Savadi without naming him, but said, he will remain loyal to Yediyurappa and the party.
Yediyurappa has kept 16 Minister posts vacant to accommodate some more BJP members and from among those 17 disqualified former legislators who helped him come to power.
Meanwhile, few disqualified MLAs, who were in Delhi to meet lawyers representing them in the Supreme Court, where their plea challenging disqualification was pending, are returning to Bengaluru, sources said.
According to reports, they had expressed keenness to meet BJP's central leadership on their political future, but that did not happen.
The then assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar had disqualified 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs under the anti-defection law, which they have challenged in the Supreme Court.
On getting relief from the apex court, some of them would be inducted into the cabinet as per the arrangement agreed upon, BJP sources said, noting that Yediyurappa has kept 16 berths still vacant.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Trekking without nature guide won't be allowed; Karnataka forest minister releases SOP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said that trekking will no longer be permitted on any approved trekking routes under the forest department, without a certified nature guide equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies.
Speaking after releasing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for the safety of trekkers, he said that there will be one local nature guide for every 10 trekkers. A maximum of 150 trekkers will be allowed per batch on any trekking route.
According to him, online registration for trekking is mandatory. Even if a single individual registers for a particular day, a guide will still be provided, and trekking without a guide will not be allowed.
He said the SOP was introduced following recent incidents, including a woman from Kerala who went missing for three days in the forests during a trek at Tadiandamol hill in Kodagu, and a minor girl who went missing and was later found dead near Manikyadhara in Chikkamagaluru, which is outside forest jurisdiction.
In a statement, the Khandre's office said that nature guides will be mandatorily equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies on all trekking routes. "Additionally, a mobile app containing trekking route maps will be installed on trekkers' phones. This will help locate trekkers if they lose their way", it said.
As per the SOP, before the trek begins, trekkers will be briefed about the distance, duration, and local conditions.
"Instructions on how to respond if wildlife is encountered will also be provided. Loud devices, sharp metal objects, weapons, and campfires are strictly prohibited on trekking routes," it said.
The SOP further stated that separate toilets for men and women and drinking water facilities will be provided at base camps.
Directional arrow markings will guide trekkers along the route, and rest points will be created along the way, it said.
Citing the SOP, the statement said that nature guides must ensure that no trekker moves ahead of them or is left behind. Headcounts must be conducted at base camps and rest points.
"Guides must communicate with the base camp via walkie-talkie every 30 minutes. If there is no communication within an hour of the trek starting, base camp staff will contact the guide to confirm safety," it said.
The SOP states that minors must carry a consent letter from their parents or guardians, and senior citizens must provide a fitness certificate confirming their physical capability to undertake trekking. To be able to respond to unexpected health issues, trekkers and guides must carry a first aid kit.
However, flash photography, single-use plastics, and carry bags are prohibited and trekkers must bring back their waste and dispose of it only at base camps, as per SOP.
It further said that all trekking routes under the forest department will be integrated into the official website (https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in/) to enable advance booking of tickets.
