After the ore scam, it seems now it is the turn of granite quarrying. Reports
of late suggest that there had been widespread irregularities even in granite quarrying and
export.
Traces of some unidentified persons digging a well shaped pit near a
Nagabana at Kalai in Machina village have been found, with rumours doing the rounds
that some people had dug up the place in search for some treasure.
The heavy rains that has been lashing Dakshina Kannada and Udupi
districts since the past couple of days, has resulted in water logging at several places
while also intensifying the problem of sea erosion. At least four houses have collapsed in
various parts of the district.
It has been eight years since the Brahmavar Sugar Factory, once the backbone
of sugarcane growers of Udupi, was closed. Since then, the government residential
quarters of the factory staff, lies abandoned.
Sea erosion has intensified in Bada Ermal of Uchila gram panchayat limits with reports revealing that two houses close by the shore facing fears of being washed away by the huge tidal waves.
The AMR Hydel Project at Shambhur in Bantwal, has already hit hard
several farmers in the vicinity who are struggling to secure compensation from the
company. One such farmer who is also visually impaired, is today fighting for justice as
the lurings of the company had not only created a rift in his family, but also harmed his
land in the process.
An expert committee led by renowned environmentalist Madhav Gadgil
would shortly be touring the Western Ghat areas in order to study the likely impact of the
several electricity generation and tourism related projects that are proposed to be set up
in the region. The constitution of the committee gains significance in view of the several
complaints made by environmentalists that the proposed projects would destroy the rich
bio-diversity of the Western Ghats resulting in a major ecological imbalance.
The house is crumbled with no proper doors and windows, and is ready to
collapse any moment. It lacks all amenities, including a kitchen; nor are its occupants
healthy. Four of the youngsters in this family are mentally deranged and prefer to be in
their birth suits most of the time. They shun clothes even if offered some clothes. The
mother of these has herself lost her mental balance tired of treating her children for the
past 30 years. This is the heart-rending story of a family residing at Kallagudde Kepu
Muli Majal near Kadaba.
The stretch of the National Highway 17 from Kota to Padubidri is in a
dangerous state with its large potholes, posing a constant threat to motorists. Interestingly
this stretch of the NH had been bituminized just two months ago after the Save NH 17
Action Committee had resorted to protest.
In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that the Lanco Company
of the Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (erstwhileNagarjuna) has written to the Union
Government seeking permission to generate an additional 1300 mw of power at the
same place where it has presently set up a 1200 mw plant at Ellur despite stiff opposition
from locals.