Rs 500 penalty for throwing garbage: DCM Parameshwar
Bengaluru, November 2: Considering the garbage issue seriously in the city, the state government has planned to increase the penalty being imposed on those who dump garbage wherever they want from Rs 100 to Rs 500 and it would be implemented strictly, said Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Urban Development Minister Dr G Parameshwar.
Speaking to reporters after holding an officials meeting on waste disposal at BBMP office at Malleshwaram here on Thursday, he said that garbage black spots were being generated in the city as people dump the waste haphazardly. In order to contain such practice, the government has decided to increase the penalty from Rs 100 to Rs 500. It was also decided to appoint an ex-serviceman for each ward to keep a vigil on such practices in black spots and slap fine, he said.
As the garbage menace was increasing in the city, the court has also directed the government to take suitable action and the government would welcome it. Currently, the waste disposal was under control. As of now, the city has 13 million population with 29 lakh houses. Out of which, 5 lakh were commercial setups. Total 5700 tonnes waste including 4200 tonnes from houses and 1500 tonnes from hotels, Kalyana Mantapas and others, was being generated every day. Total 4213 auto tippers were collecting the waste from door-steps. The BBMP has 566 compactors vehicles, 8 mechanical sweepers, 18500 civic workers, 166 solid waste management units and dry waste collection centres and 11 bio methanation plants for waste management, he said.
All compactor vehicles were GPS enabled and it was planning to install GPS to auto tippers. While calling tenders for purchasing new vehicles, it would be included in the tender that the contractors have to manage the tippers and compactors. Tender would also be called for purchasing mechanized sweeping machines. The existing Bellalli quarry would be closed within three months. Alternative to this, terrafarm at Doddaballapur would be started shortly. It was also discussed to open Ullalli, Marenahalli and Bagalur quarries, he said.
He has directed the authorities to start generation power from waste within next six months. The power generation centre set up by the BESCOM near Bidadi would open shortly. Assistant engineers would be appointed for managing the solid waste in each zone in the BBMP and the senior health officers would be given responsibility in each Assembly constituency. The health officers and other officers appointed on contract basis would be continued, the DCM said.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
