The Hindu : Karnataka News : From the Districts

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Friday, Dec 31, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

From the Districts

Membership drive by parishat

Madikeri Dec. 30. The Kodagu Kannada Sahitya Parishat will embark on a membership drive and increase endowments in a year, the newly elected president of the organisation, T.P. Ramesh, said here on Thursday. Mr. Ramesh told presspersons that 270 people have enrolled as members of the parishat in the three taluks of the district. It will be increased to 1,000 by December next. The Education Department is being requested to discuss enrolling of Kannada teachers in educational institutions as members. A meeting will be convened by the department on the issue soon. Mr. Ramesh said the president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat State unit, Chandrashekar Patil, will visit Kodagu soon to discuss according prominence to Kannada with the district administration.

Rs. 4 crores for water supply

KOLAR DEC. 30. The State Government has released Rs. 4 crores to tide over drinking water shortage in the district, said the Deputy Commissioner, G.N. Nayak. At a press conference here at Sidlagatta on Wednesday, he said though there is acute drinking water scarcity in some parts of the district, there is no room for concern as the district administration has made arrangements to meet any eventuality. He said the district administration has recommended to the State Government to declare all taluks in the district drought hit. Also an action plan with an outlay of Rs. 16 crores for rural areas and Rs. 3.5 crores for urban areas have been forwarded to Government, seeking financial assistance. As many as 98 villages in the district are facing acute drinking water shortage and the authorities concerned are supplying water to these villages in tankers. Four towns in the district are also facing water shortage.

Ore smuggling racket busted

BELLARY DEC. 30. The Sandur Police have said that a racket in transporting of iron ore using fake permits has been unearthed. Based on a complaint from Mysore Minerals Ltd., a State Government undertaking, that iron ore is being transported in its name using fake permits, they took up an investigation and traced the culprits, the police added. The police said the fake permits were printed in Hospet. The police, besides raiding the press, has also taken 11 persons into custody.

Online banking system

KOLAR DEC. 30. Corporation Bank is contemplating setting up an online banking system in its branch here, said N.R. Sait, Assistant General Manager of the bank, on Wednesday. At a customers' meeting at Chikkahasala village, he said over 355 branches in the country have the system. He called upon employees to discharge their duties promptly and dedicate themselves to the uplift of the poor. The bank staff will visit villages to ascertain the problems faced by the rural masses. Ibrahim Padubidri, Assistant General Manager of NABARD, underlined the importance of prompt repayment of loans. In view of the prevailing drought situation in Kolar district, the Reserve Bank of India has instructed banks to lend more to agricultural sector.

Hostellers stage protest

TUMKUR DEC. 30. Fifty girls living in a pre-matric hostel in Gubbi town staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Department of Social Welfare (which runs the hostel) here on Thursday. They were protesting against what they described as scarcity of water, poor quality food, and lack of other facilities in the hostel run by the department. When the officials concerned did not come out to hear their grievances, the students locked up the office. S.R. Srinivas, Gubbi MLA, who came to the spot, tasted the food provided to the girls and found it "very bad.'' Mr. Srinivas said he is convinced that there are serious lapses on the part of the officials. The MLA promised the students that he will take up the issue with the Government. Shashidhar, Social Welfare Officer, who reached the spot, told The Hindu that he has recommended action against the hostel superintendent for lapses in her duties. She will be suspended from service by the Chief Executive Officer of the Tumkur Zilla Panchayat, he said.

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