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Water given to TN under distress formula, need rest for drinking, Karnataka tells SC
New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) Karnataka on Monday told the Supreme Court that it has already released the Cauvery water that Tamil Nadu was entitled to under the “distress formula” due to deficient rainfall and needed remaining water for drinking purposes in Bengalauru and the areas falling under its part of the Cauvery basin.
In view of this, it was not required to make any more releases, said Karnataka in an affidavit in response to the top court asking it on the last date of hearing on May 3 as to how much of the 4TMC of water it can release to Tamil Nadu as per the mandate of the tribunal award.
Noting that Central government has not framed for scheme for implementing its February 16 judgment, the top court in the last hearing on May 3 had asked the Karnataka “… Karnataka will release water as per Tribunal award. You will release 4 TMC of water. Please see how much water can be released by end of May.”
Karnataka counsel V.N.Raghupati told IANS that Tamil Nadu has already been given water they were entitled to under the distress formula and that Tamil Nadu has been given more water then it was entitled to in a distress year.
He said the state had said that whatever water was remaining was required for drinking purposes in Bengalauru and areas falling under Cauvery basin falling in Karnataka.
However, Tamil Nadu in its response has contended that Karnataka had enough water to release 4TMC of water to cover the shortfall of 1.4 TMC for April and the allocation of 2.4 TMC for May this year.
Asserting that Karnataka was acting as judge in its own cause and failing to comply with the tribunal award as affirmed by the top court by its February 16 judgement, Tamil Nadu, in its response filed with the top court registry, said: “Karnataka has 19.834 TMC ft. of water as on May 4 in its four reservoirs” and the storage in “Mettur Dam is 9.502 TMC ft. (the utilizable storage being only 4.502 TMC ft)”.
Thus, Karnataka “is in a better position and can easily spare the 4 TMC ft” even after meeting the requirement of drinking water supply for May, that is 1.6 TMC ft, it said, seeking direction to Karnataka to “make good the shortfalls” and release 4 TMC ft. of water forthwith.
The Centre in the last hearing of the matter on May 3 had sought 10 days time saying that scheme for the implementation of tribunal award as affirmed by the top court with slight modification was before the cabinet awaiting decision as the Prime Minister and other ministers were campaigning in Karnataka – a stand which Tamil Nadu flayed as “brazen partisanship”.
The matter is coming up for hearing on Tuesday.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.