1. Bellandur Lake: NGT Asks Karnataka Govt to Fund Rs 500 Cr Clean-up
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday, 6 December, asked the Karnataka government to keep Rs 500 crore in its escrow account for the implementation of an action plan to clean up the Bellandur lake in Bengaluru.
In its final order, the NGT also directed the state government to pay Rs 50 crore to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to deposit a sum of Rs 25 crore with CPCB.
The NGT is currently hearing a case of fire, pollution and encroachment at the Bellandur lake.
(Source: The Quint)
2. Karnataka Wants Amicable Solution to Mekedatu Issue: DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Minister of Water Resources DK Shivakumar has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, requesting him for a meeting. This comes a day after the government of Tamil Nadu filed a contempt plea in the Supreme Court against the Central Water Commission (CWC) and DK Shivakumar over the Mekedatu reservoir. The CWC had earlier given Karnataka the permission to go ahead with the Detailed Project Report for the Mekedatu project.
Calling river Cauvery a lifeline for the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Shivakumar’s letter reads, “I wish to bring to your notice that the Government of Karnataka desires to have an amicable solution to the issue of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project.
(Source: The News Minute )
3. IISc Gas Explosion: Police Rule out Sabotage
The investigation by the Sadashivnagar police into the blast at Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in which a 32-year-old research intern was killed, has ruled out sabotage.
32-year-old research intern Manoj Kumar died in the blast at IISc's Aerospace Engineering Department’s Laboratory for Hypersonic and Shock Wave Research on Wednesday, 5 December, afternoon.
According to the police, four interns, who were post-graduate MTech students, were conducting an experiment in the lab when the incident occurred. The four men, interning with Superwave Technology Private Limited, were handling pressurised hydrogen, oxygen, helium and nitrogen gases.
(Source: The News Minute)
4. Aero Show: Facelift for Roads Leading to Venue
Several roads linking Yelahanka air base, where the next Aero India show would be held in February 2019, are set to get a facelift.
The state cabinet on Wednesday, 5 December, decided to provide Rs 30 crore for improvement of roads connecting the venue on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said such a measure was being taken to ensure smooth flow of traffic during the big event.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Kodagu Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Development Authority Formed
As announced earlier, the state government has set up the Kodagu Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Development Authority to expedite the reconstruction of the district ravaged by floods and rain during August this year.
The authority, which will be headed by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, will have Revenue Minister RV Deshpande and Minister for Tourism and Sericulture SR Mahesh, who is also Minister in charge of Kodagu district, as vice-presidents.
Minister for Housing UT Khader, Minister for Public Works HD Revanna, and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Krishna Byre Gowda are among the members of the authority along with Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha.
(Source: The Hindu)
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