New Delhi: The Karnataka government has informed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests that it has identified 508 acres of land in Hassan and Tumakuru districts to take up afforestation for the ambitious Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project.

The state has informed the Centre that the identified land for afforestation is located in Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumakuru district, and Belur and Arasikere taluks in Hassan district, as reported by Deccan Herald on Tuesday. The state has submitted these locations to the Union Ministry as part of its compliance with environmental guidelines for the project.

Earlier, the Union Ministry had expressed concerns over the suitability of the lands initially identified by the state for afforestation, deeming them inappropriate for the intended purpose. The ministry had pointed out that the Yettinahole project could cause damage to the forested areas of the Western Ghats, which are ecologically sensitive, and further opined that the state has to identify proper lands to tale up forestry activities.

The main canal of the Yettinahole project passes through a forest area. Therefore, the state has to approach the ministry for its permission.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has informed the ministry that it has complied with all the concerns raised by it.

An official from the State Water Resources Department told DH that the state remains optimistic about the timely completion of the Yettinahole project, which is expected to be finished by March 2027. The state is also awaiting necessary approvals from the Ministry of Railways and the National Highways Authority for the construction of remaining canals.

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Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised his Bihar counterpart over the niqab incident and said that Nitish Kumar might be slowly revealing his true nature.

"Nitish Kumar, who was once considered a secular leader, may be slowly showing his true colours," Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

Abdullah said Kumar removing the face veil of a Muslim woman doctor was wrong and cannot be justified by any means.

"We have seen this kind of incident here several years ago. Have you forgotten how Mehbooba Mufti removed the burqa of a legitimate voter inside a polling station? That act was wrong, and this act (of Kumar) is also wrong.

"If the (Bihar) chief minister did not want to hand over the order to her (Muslim woman), they could have kept her aside. However, to humiliate her like this is totally wrong," the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.

Kumar stirred a huge controversy after he removed the face veil of a Muslim woman at a function earlier this week.