Bengaluru: Sending a strong message against environmental violations in rural areas, the Karnataka govt on Friday directed officials to initiate criminal proceedings against those polluting lakes, rivers, reservoirs and other water bodies by dumping hazardous medical, biomedical and electronic waste.The directive came from rural development and panchayat raj minister Eshwar Khandre during a surprise inspection of Yantaganahalli gram panchayat in Nelamangala taluk of Bengaluru Rural district. During the visit, villagers alleged that medical waste was being illegally dumped into the village lake, contaminating the water body and posing a threat to public health.Taking serious note of the complaint, Khandre immediately directed taluk panchayat officials to conduct a thorough investigation and register police cases against those responsible. During the inspection, officials discovered heaps of biomedical waste in a canal leading to the village lake, including used syringes, medicine vials, discarded bandages, expired drug capsules, hospital mattresses, gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits.The minister’s surprise visit soon evolved into a comprehensive review of grassroots governance as residents raised a series of civic and administrative grievances. Expressing concern over delays in service delivery, Khandre directed officials to dispose of all pending 11B applications, for regularisation of properties, within 15 days.
Karnataka RDPR minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday made a surprise visit to the Yantaganahalli Gram Panchayat in Nelamangala taluk of Bengaluru Rural district. He directed the Taluk Panchayat officials to initiate criminal action against those polluting rural water bodies
Inspecting attendance records at the gram panchayat office, the minister warned officials against absenteeism and delays in reporting for duty. He stressed that govt staff must maintain punctuality, adopt a citizen-friendly approach and ensure that villagers are not forced to make repeated visits to govt offices for routine services.Responding to complaints regarding delays in issuing e-property records, Khandre said technical issues, if any, should be immediately escalated to higher authorities. Where documentation is complete, he directed officials to issue certificates within the prescribed time frame without unnecessary delays.The minister later visited the Hanchipura RO drinking water unit, where he personally reviewed water quality and the functioning of the facility. Emphasising public health and safety, he instructed officials to replace purification membranes periodically and conduct regular water quality tests to ensure the supply of safe drinking water to residents.Khandre also paid an unannounced visit to an anganwadi centre and inspected the quality of food being served to children. He directed panchayat and taluk officials to ensure adequate water supply in toilets and maintain high standards of hygiene and sanitation, stressing that the health and well-being of children and villagers must remain a top priority.
