Ajit Pawar reinstated as Maharashtra deputy CM, despite being involved in a multi-crore irrigation scam - Roundup of the week's news (December 10 – 16, 2012)

Ajit Pawar reinstated as deputy CM of Maharashtra  

Ajit Pawar reinstated as deputy Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, in spite of his name figuring in a multi-crore irrigation scam during his tenure as the state’s water resources minister from 1999 to 2009. Resenting the reinstatement of Ajit Pawar, the opposition boycott tea session hosted by the Chief Minister.

Water-level in the Krishnaraja Sagar plummeting steeply

Water-level in the KRS reservoir, the lifeline for Cauvery basin districts, may reach “dead storage level” before year end. Once water level falls below this , it will be difficult to ensure drinking water supply to various cities,say officers.

Rivers turning into dumpyards

Beas river has gradually become a dustbin, sewerage and a corpse-yard for residents of Kullu. Tonnes of garbage lying on the river banks and sewerage lines of houses open into the water stream directly, increasing levels of river pollution. Poorna river, passing through Tripunithura, too becomes a  dumpyard of organic, toilet and slaughter house wastes. Also release of ash water and other wastes from Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) into the Brahmani river in Odisha ends up severely polluting the river too.

Cabinet passes proposals

Cabinet gives green signal to fast track projects above Rs 1,000 crore and also clears bill making consent of 80% of land owners mandatory in the purchase of land for private projects. The land acquisition bill sets a benchmark for rates of land acquired in urban and rural areas. It also approves a committee that will shorten red tape and look to frame timelines for administrative and regulatory clearances.

Permission required before digging in Bangalore

Karnataka government notifies that permission is required from the water board before drilling any new borewell or open well to use groundwater in city's limits.This precipitates a digging frenzy not due to drought situation or any sudden water crisis, but is simply a panic reaction to this impending law that tightens screws on rampant borewell digging.