Important News - 2025-08-07
07 August 2025
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Festivals (2)
Kerala Govt & TDB to Host Global Ayyappa Sangamam in Sep 2024 as TDB Marks 75 Years
The Kerala Government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) will jointly host the 'Global Ayyappa Sangamam' at Pampa during the third week of September 2024. This event commemorates the 75th anniversary of the TDB and aims to position Sabarimala as an international pilgrimage destination. Approximately 3,000 delegates are expected to participate, offering prayers at the Sabarimala temple and attending a conclave focused on enhancing pilgrim facilities. A reception committee, chaired by the Chief Minister as chief patron, with ministers and officials as members, is being formed for smooth execution. Minister for Devaswoms V.N. Vasavan emphasized the government's commitment to upgrading pilgrim amenities and stated this would be the first in a series of future events.
Kerala PWD Establishes Special Team for Sabarimala Pilgrimage Infrastructure and Safety
In preparation for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season in Kerala, the Public Works Department (PWD) has established a special core team to coordinate infrastructure and safety arrangements. Kerala's Minister for Public Works, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, announced this during a high-level review meeting. The team is led by the PWD Secretary and includes key officials such as the Additional Secretary, KSTP Project Director, KRFB (PMU) Project Director, and Chief Engineers from Roads, Bridges, National Highways, and Design divisions, along with Managing Directors of RICK, Pratheeksha, and Ashwas. Each Chief Engineer has been assigned to oversee preparations in specific districts, while special inspection teams for all districts must submit their reports by August 25, with inspections continuing throughout the pilgrimage for ongoing monitoring. Executive engineers will coordinate district-level activities across all wings. Minister Riyas directed that all pending works, including technical approvals, tendering, and administrative processes, be completed time-bound to ensure roads are fully motorable before the season commences. He ordered immediate safety inspections on accident-prone roads, mandated multilingual signages for pilgrims from various states, clearance of roadside vegetation for pedestrian safety, and functional street lighting and drainage systems. Additionally, rest houses must be fully equipped, and bridge-related works expedited. The meeting included attendees such as Health Minister Veena George, Chief Whip N. Jayaraj, MLAs Mathew T. Thomas, K.U. Jineesh Kumar, Pramod Narayanan, Vazhoor Soman, and Sebastian Kulathunkal, PWD Secretary, Pathanamthitta District Collector, and senior officials.
Defence (1)
Kerala HC Directs CBI Probe into Corruption in Army Housing Towers After Structural Failures
The Kerala High Court, through a Division Bench of Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Harisankar V. Menon, has issued notices to the Central Government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based on a petition demanding a CBI probe into alleged corruption leading to the structural deterioration of Chander Kunj Army towers on Silver Sand Island in Vyttila, Kochi. The petition, filed by retired Army officer Ciby George—an apartment owner—challenges a prior court order dismissing his plea for a CBI investigation and seeks registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Constructed by the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), an entity under the Ministry of Defence, the towers were completed in 2018 but soon exhibited major defects including cracks and leakages. Subsequent expert structural audits uncovered serious irregularities in their construction and repairs. An Army court of enquiry in 2023 identified those responsible for the failures, though the findings were reportedly withheld from the petitioner. Reports from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Chennai and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru later confirmed the structures are unsafe for habitation, recommending immediate evacuation and demolition. The estimated financial loss stands at approximately ₹250 crore, with the petition emphasizing the need for a time-bound investigation to hold accountable those involved in the alleged malpractices.
Politics (1)
ACB Arrests Tribal Welfare Engineer-in-Chief for Accepting ₹25 Lakh Bribe
On Thursday, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Sabbavarapu Srinivas, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Tribal Welfare Department, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹25 lakh from a contractor. Srinivas had demanded ₹5 crore to clear pending bills for developmental works executed in the Srikakulam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, and Parvathipuram Manyam districts. When the contractor from Visakhapatnam expressed inability to pay the full amount, Srinivas agreed to accept an initial sum of ₹25 lakh. Acting on a formal complaint, ACB officers from the Vijayawada Range apprehended him red-handed at his office. Srinivas has a history of corruption allegations, including a disproportionate assets case registered in 2001 and an ongoing trial from a 2014 trap case. He is scheduled to be presented before the ACB Special Court in Vijayawada for legal proceedings.
Elections (2)
ECI's Special Intensive Revision in Bihar Spurs Electoral Concerns in Tamil Nadu
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed approximately 65 lakh (6.5 million) voters from the electoral rolls in Bihar after conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which is a voter list cleanup drive to eliminate duplicate, deceased, or ineligible entries. This action has unexpectedly ignited a political controversy in Tamil Nadu, where regional parties and leaders are expressing concerns that the revision might be part of a broader strategy to reshape electoral demographics and influence future elections. The stir highlights ongoing debates about electoral transparency, voter registration integrity, and the potential inter-state implications of such revisions in India's democratic processes.
KFPA Election Candidates Finalized as Sandra Thomas Challenges Nomination Rejection in Court
The Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) has finalized its candidate list for the upcoming elections scheduled for August 14. B. Rakesh and Saji Nanthiyattu are contesting for the position of President, while Listin Stephen, Vinayan, and Kalliyoor Sasi are the candidates for General Secretary. For Vice President, the contenders include Sophia Paul, Anand Kumar, and Sandeep Senan. The last date for withdrawal of nominations was August 7. Earlier, on August 4, the returning officer rejected the nomination papers of producer Sandra Thomas for the posts of President and Treasurer, citing her ineligibility for key office-bearer roles as per the association's criteria. Thomas has denied these allegations, asserting her eligibility under the bylaws, and filed a petition challenging the rejection in the Ernakulam sub-court, with the hearing expected on August 11.
Schemes (3)
KSCSTE's R&D Summit 2025 Highlights Over 70 Scientific Innovations from Kerala Institutions
The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) organized the Research and Development Summit 2025, featuring an exhibition with over 70 innovations from 12 scientific institutions under its purview. Key highlights included 'Aqua Flora-Infuse', a caffeine-free herbal drink made from lotus and Shankupushpam flowers developed by researchers Manjula K.M. and Hareesh V.S. at the Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences; 'Tropical Soil Scent', a bottled fragrance capturing petrichor (the scent of first rain) created by the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute in Palode; an Automated Time-Integrated Rainwater Sampler and Residential Grey Water Treatment Unit from the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM); a probiotic chocolate with prebiotic fibres from the Centre for Excellence in Microbiome; and wellness solutions from the Centre of Excellence in Nutraceuticals. K.P. Sudheer, Executive Vice President of KSCSTE, emphasized the summit's role in showcasing audited, outcome-driven innovations with over 80 technologies and patents in health and agriculture, highlighting their real-world impact. The 'Tropical Soil Scent' was noted as a sustainable fragrance innovation, having been first showcased at the Global Science Fest 2024 in Thonnakkal.
Karnataka Mandates Monthly Village Meetings Near Forests to Tackle Man-Animal Conflicts
Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has mandated forest officials to organize monthly grievance redressal meetings in villages bordering forests to address issues like man-animal conflicts, which have caused crop damage and loss of life. During the Standing Committee meeting of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board, Khandre instructed officers, including Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), and Range Forest Officers (RFO), to personally visit affected villages, resolve complaints, and foster community relations. He cited incidents such as the death of five tigers in M.M. Hills and elephants from illegal electric fences, urging senior officials to conduct field reviews to prevent such tragedies. Additionally, the Minister assessed the proposal to double the railway track from Hosapete to Castle Rock, emphasizing mitigation of biodiversity and wildlife impacts, with plans to finalize it in the next meeting. Khandre also announced that Karnataka's first marine sanctuary, the Mugli-Apsarakonda Marine Sanctuary spanning 5,959 hectares near Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district, will be inaugurated in September 2024, following approvals by the State Cabinet in June 2024 and the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife earlier.
Punargeham Scheme: Kerala CM Hands Over Flats to 332 Fish Worker Families
In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 332 fish worker families received new flats under the Fisheries department's Punargeham rehabilitation project during a ceremony at Muttathara. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan handed over keys to beneficiaries, including Rosy John, whose family lost their home to sea erosion seven years ago and endured temporary accommodations. The families moved into the 'Prathyasha' housing complex, comprising 50 blocks with eight flats each over two floors, each unit costing over ₹20 lakh and featuring a 562-square-foot plinth area with infrastructure like roads, drainage, footpaths, and compound walls. Simultaneously, 16 flats were inaugurated at Unnial, Tanur in Malappuram district. Constructed by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-Operative Society (ULCCS) under the technical oversight of the Harbour Engineering department, the project began in 2023 on eight acres of land from the Department of Dairy Development and had an administrative sanction of ₹81 crore from the State government. Delays occurred due to environmental clearance from the Union government, but CM Vijayan emphasized the state's focus on supporting the fishing community. However, Congress members and residents of the nearby 2018-built 'Pratheeksha' flats protested, citing poor drainage, structural damage, and exclusion of eligible beneficiaries.
Miscellaneous (1)
Dismembered Body Parts Found in Koratagere Village; Police Launch Murder Probe
On Thursday morning, residents of Kolala village in Koratagere, Tumakuru district (part of Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara's constituency), discovered dismembered human body parts packed in plastic covers near a local temple, causing widespread panic. Police promptly secured the scene and recovered four plastic bags containing the remains, which were sent to the district hospital for autopsy. The body parts notably excluded the victim's head. Preliminary investigation suggests the victim was murdered and dismembered elsewhere, with some remains accidentally discarded at the site during disposal. A senior officer indicated that a tattoo pattern on one recovered limb points to the victim possibly being female. Tumakuru District Superintendent of Police Ashok K.V. supervised the inquiry, launching a search for additional body parts. A special police team registered a murder case and is reviewing CCTV footage from surrounding areas while cross-referencing missing persons reports from Tumakuru and nearby regions.
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