Panel finds Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) and private builders responsible for 11,000 acres of lake land encroachment
According to the Lakebed Encroachment Committee, nearly 11,000 acres of lake area from 1545 lakes in both urban and rural districts of Bengaluru have been encroached. Of this, a third of Bengaluru lakes have been encroached upon by state-owned BDA and the others two-thirds by private builders and developers. A show-cause notice has also been sent to the encroachers and their responses are sought till January 31, 2016.
3,228 farmers in Maharashtra committed suicide in 2015
Maharashtra has recorded 3,228 farmer suicides in 2015 bringing the suicide count to 20,504 since 2001. Data shows Vidarbha as the worst hit followed by Marathwada. Also, the death toll recorded is the highest since 2001, which indicates that the variious measures taken up by the Government have failed to tackle the agricultutre crisis in the state.
Water charges revised for Bangaloreans
The Karnataka government has approved the proposal of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for an upward revision of water charges for apartments and commercial complexes in the city. The charges have been increased by nearly 70% for individual residential buildings while they have been doubled for apartments and commercial complexes. The new charges will be applicable after a month, following the final notification. Along with this, the BWSSB has also been empowered to penalise unauthorised connections.
JICA to help India clean Mula Mutha river
India has signed a loan agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to clean the Mula Mutha river in Pune by January 2022. Under this agreement, the agency will provide financial assistance of Rs 1000 crore for the construction of 11 new sewage treatment plants (STPs). The project will also include the installation of centralised monitoring systems for STPs functioning, construction of 24 units of community toilets and GIS mapping of sewerage facilities.
Gujarat's reservoirs are running dry with just 24% capacity
The level of usable water in the state's 202 reservoirs is at a 10-year low at just 24% of its capacity. This indicates that the state's reservoirs will be exhausted in another five months if the water is used only for drinking purposes. Erratic monsoon and poor water management by authorities is to be blamed for this.
This is a roundup of important news updates from January 12 - 18, 2016. Also read last week's policy matters update.
Lead image source: Sumetee Pahwa Gajjar