The Hindu : Karnataka News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Briefly

Toddy tappers' plea to Govt.

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE SEPT. 14. The Federation of State Toddy Tappers has urged the Government to withdraw its order prohibiting toddy tapping and announce an alternative programme to protect traditional toddy tapers.

The president of the Federation, E. Ramakrishnaiah, told presspersons here today that the decision prohibiting toddy tapping in Gulbarga and Raichur districts had left over 1.5 lakh persons in the lurch.

About 3.5 lakh people depending on toddy-tapping professionals had become unemployed. The Government should realise the seriousness of the situation and announce an alternative programme, he added.

A matrimonial meet of the Arya Ediga Billava community would be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, on September 21 in Bangalore.

A website providing comprehensive information about the community and other details such as employment opportunities would also be launched on the occasion.

Though the total population of the community in the State, including the 24 sub-castes, was over 55 lakhs, it was yet to get proper political representation, he added.

Customs Dept. optimistic

By Our Staff Correspondent

Belgaum Sept. 14. The Office of the Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise, Mysore Zone, covering the Commissionerates of Mysore, Mangalore and Belgaum (except Bangalore), is hopeful of achieving its target this year too in spite of the Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram's directive to achieve 25 per cent additional revenue over the preceding year's target. The Chief Commissioner, G.K. Pillai, told presspersons here on Tuesday that the zonal target for the current financial year was set at Rs. 3,715 crores. Last year, the zone had surpassed the target by 3 per cent as against the target of Rs. 2,880 crores. He was here in connection with the commissioning of north Karnataka's first Inland Container Depot at Desur scheduled for tomorrow. The Commissioner of Belgaum and in-charge of the Mysore Commissionerate, P. Balu, and the Commissioner of Mangalore Commissionerate, P. Karthikeyan, were present.

Polls to 34 CMCs stayed

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Sept. 14. The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the election to the post of president and vice-president of 34 city municipal councils (CMCs) in the State. This order followed a petition by Sadananda Mahabaleshwara Naik, a councillor of Karwar CMC. The petitioner had challenged the validity of the September 1, 2004 notification of the State Government prescribing reservation for the post of president and vice-president of Karwar CMC. The petitioner contended that the notification was illegal and arbitrary and it violated Sec. 52 of the Karnataka Municipal Council (KMC) Act. Justice D.V. Shylendra Kumar stayed the notification for all the 34 CMCs that would go to polls to elect its president and vice-president.

Ilkal violence: arrested get bail

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR SEPT. 14. The District Sessions Court, Bagalkot, on Tuesday granted bail to all 179 persons arrested in connection with Ilkal violence case. Pronouncing the order in the packed courtroom, the District Sessions Judge, S.T. Kudasomannavar, ordered the release of the arrested on personal surety. Those 123 persons accused in the violence case filed by police were told to give a personal surety bond worth Rs. 15,000 each, and others, who were arrested on the complaint lodged by the math authorities, were told to pledge a personal surety bond of Rs. 10,000 each. Sources said the release order might be executed only by tomorrow as all the arrested had been lodged in Bellary Jail and some time was needed to complete the formalities. Ilkal town had witnessed widespread violence due to differences between two groups of devotees on the question of enthroning a successor to the senior seer, Mahantha Swami. A section of devotees, especially those from Chittargi, where the "moola peetha" is situated, and some other villages opposed the senior seer selecting Siddarama Swami as his successor. Notwithstanding their opposition, the installation ritual was held in Ilkal amid tight security on Sunday.

Congress doctored photos: BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE SEPT. 14. The Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, B.S. Yediyurappa, has accused the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, B. Janardhana Poojary, of directing a party leader from Belgaum district to doctor photographs and video clippings to portray the Bharatiya Janata Party as a political party which was insulting the national flag. At the behest of Mr. Poojary, the Congress stage-managed an incident to bring a bad name to the BJP with regard to the national flag, Mr. Yediyurappa alleged at a press conference today. What was shown by television channels and the pictures carried in newspapers making out that some BJP workers were playing cards on the national flag in a railway compartment were in fact the handiwork of a Congress leader from Belgaum District, Shankar Munavalli. He had been instructed to do so by Mr.Poojary, Mr. Yediyurappa alleged.

`BJP open minded about Shivappa'

By Our Staff Correspondent

Bidar Sept. 14. The Bharatiya Janata Party is open-minded about re-admitting the former MLA, B.B. Shivappa, into the party, the party national unit secretary and Karnataka in-charge, Ved Prakash Goel, said on Tuesday.

Addressing presspersons here, he said that though he had heard of "Mr. Shivappa's desire to return to the party fold," he had not had an opportunity to meet him. "We will consider it if the idea is put up by him, hold talks and take a decision after consulting our party cadres," Mr. Goel said.

Describing Mr. Shivappa as a very old friend, Mr. Goel said it was unfortunate that he was passing through a bad patch in his political career. Temporary distractions could make people to stray from the path of ideology. But finally, they come back, when the distraction proves futile and their faith in the ideology is reaffirmed, Mr. Goel said.

Student

ends life

DAVANGERE SEPT. 14. A medical student allegedly committed suicide at Taralabalu extension here on Monday.

According to the police, B. Bhagath (26) of Mysore, who was studying in second year MBBS at the JJM Medical College here, hanged himself to death.

The reason for the act is not known, the police have said.

The Vidyanagar Police have registered a case. Investigation is on.

Electrocuted

CHITRADURGA SEPT. 14. A man was electrocuted in H.D. Pura in Holalakere taluk in Chitradurga district on Sunday.

The dead man's name was given as Manjappa (35) of the same village.

According to sources in the Police Department, Manjappa went to the field to retrieve a pig, which was electrocuted on Sunday.

While crossing the fence, which was connected to a live wire, he came in contact with the live wire and was killed on the spot, the sources said.

Invited

Bidar Sept. 14. Applications have been invited for admission to Diploma in Food Safety and Inspection course offered by the Bangalore branch of the All India Institute of Local Self Government.

Students, who have passed Pre-University (Science), Diploma in Sanitary Inspection or Home Science, are eligible for the course.

Those who complete the course can join as food inspectors, food specialists and quality controllers in government and private sectors.

Applications are available at 1/1, 2nd Main, Gandhinagar, Bangalore-09. Details can be had on Ph: 080-22261876 or 09243103323 and on www.aiilsg.net. Applications can be availed of by sending a demand draft of Rs. 150, according to a press release.

Compensation

Bidar Sept. 14. The Bidar district administration has released compensation to 61 additional families that suffered damages in the storm and heavy rain in Bhalki town in May. As many as 300 families were compensated earlier.

According to a press release, the Deputy Commissioner, T.K. Anil Kumar, has released Rs. 32,300 to these families, on the recommendations of the Assistant Commissioner.

A sum of Rs. 2,09,900 has been released as compensation to the 300 families, the release has said.

Appeal

Bidar Sept. 14. The Executive Engineer, Gulbarga Electric Supply Company, Madhukar Rao, has asked consumers to shift power meters to the outer wall of their houses or commercial establishments before September 30, at their own cost.

This will make it easier for the meter readers to carry out their duties, he has said. This will also ensure that they are not put to inconvenience when the houses or shops are locked, he has added.

`Drop Minister'

Bidar Sept. 14. The Bidar Zilla Brahmin Sangha has urged the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to drop the Petroleum Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, from the Union Ministry for making derogatory remarks against the freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar.

In a memorandum submitted through the Deputy Commissioner on Monday, the Sangha also demanded that the Minister seek a public apology for his statements.

Their other demands include government support for talented students from economically weaker sections in the region. The Sanga president, Pandurangrao Kulkarni, the BJP unit vice-president, Naranayrao Mannalli, and Upendra Deshpande, Ramesh Kumar Meenkera and Venkatrao Kulkarni have signed the memorandum.

Farm credit

MYSORE Sept. 14. Syndicate bank has lent Rs. 70 crores to the agriculture sector through its 39 branches in the Mysore region during 2004-05. Speaking at a workshop on agriculture for branch managers organised on Monday, the Regional Manager of Syndicate Bank, Mysore region, K.S. Kamath, said the bank proposed to disburse another Rs. 33 crores for agriculture during the year. The total advances from the bank in the region accounted for Rs. 376 crores. The Chief Manager of the bank's Regional Office, K.P. Kini, released a compendium on agriculture finance on the occasion.

Discourse

MYSORE Sept. 14. Head of Vedanta Society of St. Louis, U.S., Srimath Swami Chethanandaji Maharaj, will be speaking on "Sri Ramakrishna and his divine Play'' at Sri Ramakrishna Ashram auditorium on Thursday. According to a press statement from Ramakrishna Ashram President Swami Atmavidananda, a special discount of 10 per cent on Swami Chethanandaji's books will be offered on the day of discourse.

Ends life

DAVANGERE SEPT. 14. A medical student allegedly committed suicide at Taralabalu extension here on Monday.

According to the police, B. Bhagath (26) of Mysore, who was studying in second year MBBS at the JJM Medical College here, hanged himself to death.

The reason for the act is not known, the police have said. The Vidyanagar Police have registered a case. Investigation is on.

New SP

takes over

MANGALORE SEPT. 14. Soumendhu Mukherjee, a 1998 batch IPS officer, took charge as the 123rd Superintendent of Police of Dakshina Kannada district on Tuesday. Prior to this, Mr. Mukherjee was the Superintendent of Police, Uttara Kannada. The post was vacant for one month after Pankaj Kumar Thakur, now the Superintendent of Police, Bellary district, opted for a transfer. The Government, which initially decided to post the Superintendent of Police, Koppal, S. Ravi, to Dakshina Kannada, cancelled the order and transferred Mr. Ravi to Karwar.

Bank's 10th anniversary

MANGALORE SEPT. 14. Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Women's Cooperative Bank Ltd., Mangalore, will celebrate its 10th anniversary on September 20.

The bank president, Sarala B. Kanchan, told presspersons here on Tuesday that the Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Oscar Fernandes, would inaugurate the celebrations at Molahalli Shivarao Memorial Meeting Hall at Kodiyalabail. The bank earned a net profit of Rs. 6.60 lakhs in 2003-04.

New bus

MANGALORE SEPT. 14. The Mangalore division of the Karnataka State Road Transportation Corporation (KSRTC) has introduced its latest ergonomically designed bus on Madikeri-Tirupati route. According to a press release, the bus will leave Madikeri at 8 a.m. and reach Tirupati at 8.15 p.m. via Suntikoppa, Kushalnagar, Periyapatna, Hunsur, Mysore, Mandya, Maddur, Channapatna, Ramanagaram, Bangalore, Kolar, Mulbagal and Chittoor. The bus will leave Tirupati at 4 a.m. and reach Madikeri at 4.15 p.m.

Funds donated

MANGALORE SEPT. 14. The Corporation Bank Chair in Bank Management in the Mangalore University here has said that it is ready to donate Rs. 1.5 lakhs to Mangalore University for organising five lectures on banking.

According to a press release here from the Head of the Department of Economics, Mangalore University, and the coordinator of the Corporation Bank Chair, G.V. Joshi, distinguished economists would deliver these lectures.

Ganeshotsava

MANGALORE SEPT. 14. Sarvajanika Ganesha Seva Samiti, Kotekar, near here, will observe its 33rd Ganeshotsava for three days from this Saturday. The religious rituals will begin at 5.30 a.m. on Saturday. After the chanting of "Lalitha Sahasranama" and "Gana Homa", the Ganesha idol will be consecrated. A Tulu drama will be staged on Saturday evening.

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