Sharavathi power project will destroy protected monuments, say activists: Report
Bengaluru: Environmental and heritage conservation activists have raised serious concerns ahead of the upcoming public hearing for the proposed Sharavathi pumped storage power project, warning that the project could lead to the destruction of protected historical monuments located within the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque (LTM) Sanctuary.
The Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) pumped storage project seeks to generate power by pumping water from Talakalale reservoir (upstream) and Gerusoppa reservoir (downstream). The project requires 133.81 acres of forest land and involves felling of over 16,000 trees.
Shivamogga-based history enthusiast Ajay Kumar B.S. wrote to the government stating that the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) deliberately overlooks the existence of the monuments, as reported by Deccan Herald on Monday.
According to Kumar, the monuments listed by by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the project site — Chaturmukha Basadi, Vardhaman Swami Temple, inscriptions, and the Virbhadra Temple — are historically significant and date back to the 16th century, during the reign of Rani Chennabhairadevi.
“She is the longest reigning queen in Indian history. She also fought the Portuguese who gave her the title ‘Rainha de Pimenta’ that translates into ‘The Queen of Pepper’ as her kingdom was known for exporting spices to European and Arab countries,” DH quoted him as saying.
He further emphasised that the project area, as demarcated in KPCL’s maps, lies within forests that were once part of the Gerusoppa kingdom, which served as Rani Chennabhairadevi’s capital.
In a letter addressed to senior officials in the Forest Department, Kumar criticised the EIA report for failing to include any mention of the ASI-protected monuments. “These matters should have been covered by the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report, which essentially denies the existence of the monuments. The KPCL cannot go ahead with the project this way,” Kumar wrote.
Adding to the controversy, KPCL reportedly responded “no” to a query from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) regarding whether the project has “any impact on anthropological or archaeological sites or any important site featuring in the vicinity of the proposed site”.
Meanwhile, the public hearing is slated for the project in Shivamogga on Tuesday and in Uttara Kannada on Thursday.
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.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
