indian's blog

In the 2008 Karnataka assembly there're
a) 42-43 MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly) with criminal records - BJP (25), INC (08), JD[S] (07) and Independents (02).
b) 08 MLAs with murder or attempt to murder cases against them - BJP (03), INC (03) and JD[S] (02).
c) 18.75% of MLAs with criminal cases against them.

The maximum imprisonment for violating the provisions of the 1964 Act was 06 months whereas the 2010 Bill/Act prescribes imprisonment extending up to 07 years. It is this that has made people question the intentions of the State BJP (right wing) government as in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), imprisonment for such long terms is usually meant for crimes of a far more heinous nature.

The latest Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill / Act 2010 virtually equates the killing of a cow with the murder of a human. (It's only the economically weaker sections of the society who consume/eat beef in India.)

An offender may be imprisoned from 01-07 years and fined between Rs. 25,000-50,000 or Rs.1 lakh. Draws the lines - us and them, the beef-eaters and those who don't, the killers (bad ones) and the pious/good ones. Reinforces those lines with the draconian, absolute and brutal police power of the State behind one particular section. Removes any distinction between "cow" and "cattle".

India's anti-corrupt ombudsman Lok Pal must have the powers and the jurisdiction to investigate the PM, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament of the Upper/Lower House independent of government agencies. Legislators' families must declare their personal assets each year.

The following petitions were created in response to the email request made by two sister NGOs Lok Sevak Sangh LSS and Transparency-International India TII. The TII had sent some matter as an email attachment.

More details in brief may please be viewed at the end (conclusion) of the respective petitions.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/enact-undiluted-anti-corrupt-lok-pal-bill

http://www.petitiononline.com/lokpalbl/

Lalbagh will be losing trees for a 'Sentosa' look. It/This is a perfect case of the fence eating the crop.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/71424/lalbagh-lose-trees-sentosa-look.html 

The Horticulture Dept, which shoulders the responsibility of protecting and preserving Lalbagh Gardens, is set to axe the precious green cover in the State's only botanical gardens. In its zeal to emulate Singapore's famous Sentosa Island, the dept will chop off nearly 10 full-grown trees to make way for a musical fountain and a laser show.

However, the department has kept this fact under wraps, fearing protests. Even the Chief Minister / CM has not been informed about the need for cutting the trees for the project. This place is presently covered by nearly 20 trees, and at least 10 of them are planned to be cleared.

Unless tree felling is restricted, our green cover may disappear through greed and ignorance. The GoK enacted the KPTA, 1976, which made permission from the Forest Dept mandatory for felling trees.

According to the Trees Act, trees may only be felled with prior permission of the Forest Dept which has the duty and liability to preserve and protect trees. Anyone (including officials of govt/civic bodies) is subject to criminal prosecution for felling a tree without the required permission.

This requirement of official permission has prevented large scale felling of trees, and has also restrained people and officials from unnecessarily felling trees owing to fear of criminal prosecution. Thus the KPTA thus put a brake on tree felling and helped protect our green cover.

Almost all the 30 species (many major fruit trees) now included for exemption in addition to the earlier 11 constitute the major tree wealth of both rural and urban Karnataka. It'll/It'd devastate bird life and spread pests.

The proposed six-lane corridor is expected to result in chopping of about 150 well-grown trees. The widening entails felling of about 150 trees on both sides of the stretch, besides occupying a good portion of the historic tank. It'll/It'd destroy the beauty of one of the posh localities of the City.

Bangalore is one of the 59 cities to which Ministry of Urban Development or MoUD has sanctioned grants for public transport buses.

This grant is linked to conditional reforms in the transport sector in cities that includes higher taxes on private cars, dedicated funds for public transport, parking policy as a car restrain measure and bus sector reforms.