State Gets Into Healing Act
October 16th, 2008 by admin | Comments Off | Filed in Dance, Luxury, Repair, SystemState gets into healing act
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: From luxurious, resort-type spas to traditional therapy centres, Karnataka is today offering an interesting array of wellness centres that are banking on the power of India’s traditional knowledge of healing. Handled by experienced practitioners, these treatments also claim to come with a guaranteed feature - the total absence of side effects of any kind. Treatments range from stress management and rejuvenating therapies to full-fledged programmes to deal with a number of ailments like asthma, hypertension and diabetes.
So successful are these centres that the Ayurvedic spas alone are said to be earning a revenue of over Rs 4 crore for the department of tourism. Cashing in on this, the department is promoting them in a big way featuring Ayurveda prominently on the Karnataka Tourism website. Bengaluru and other cities in the state have now several Ayurvedic centres that are especially popular among high-end tourists and foreigners. Bengaluru is home to some of India’s most well known centres for Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga, homeopathy, siddha, unani and holistic treatments.
Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa School of Yoga which has been gaining popularity worldwide, personally conducts yoga sessions in Mysore, which too offers all other sorts of natural therapies steeped in Indian tradition. “Ayurveda is catching on in Karnataka rapidly. We have been seeing a good number of tourists opting for Ayurvedic spas and treatment. Ayurvedic solutions, which are often not available in popular Western medicine, have begun attracting celebrities and tourists. We are promoting Ayurvedic treatment at centres which are affiliated with Karnataka tourism and are registered on our official website,” says the director of Karnataka Tourism, K. Viswanathan Reddy.
Ayurveda/ Holistic Treatment Centres in Bengaluru and Mysore:
Ayurvedagram Heritage, Wellness Centre Ayurveda: 080- 65651090, 91, 94
Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre:
0821 2473437, 2473263
Institute of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences:
080-23717777
Prajna Kuteera:
0821 22542069/2343069
Soukya International Holistic Health Centre:
080-27945001
Angsana Oasis Spa And Resort:
080-28468898
Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre:
022- 2402211
Packaging for common man
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The numerous Ayurvedic centres in Bengaluru and Mysore cater mainly to the elite. The high cost of treatment at these centres is obviously intended for international tourists and high-end customers. The department of tourism is, however, now planning to make them accessible to the middle class through more reasonably priced packages.It claims that the centres affiliated to it offer authentic Ayurvedic treatment, which tourists and others can rely on. The stress buster packages at some of these centres are gaining popularity not only among tourists but also among corporate firms who send staff to them in groups.
“We have seen a spurt in the number of tourists visiting our centre for the special body care therapy we call stress buster. “Our therapies are from Kerala. We cure diseases and do rejuvenation with the help of trained therapists and quality medicines,” says the managing director of Chirayu Ayurvedic Health and Rejuvenation Centre, Dr. Gopal Krishnan. “More foreigners than locals are interested in these packages. We are now planning to open a branch in Mysore where Ayurveda is booming,” he adds.
Other owners of ayurvedic centres too say that foreigners constitute 70 per cent of their clientele and the remaining are high-end customers from within the country. The treatment is offered in various packages at some of these centres. For instance Ayurvedagram Heritage offers both long term and short term packages. “The short term package is for a day, while the long term packages varies from 7 days to 21 days. We do spinal treatment, joint treatment, hair loss and weight loss therapies, and so on. Besides the treatment we provide accommodation and food,” explains Vinay, the centre’s executive.
The cost of the packages varies from Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 80, 000, something which the ordinary tourist cannot obviously afford. If the government does offer more reasonable packages as promised, the costs could come down, throwing open the luxury of Indian tradition in a new avatar to the man on the street.
Mysore ‘Shobha yatra’ ends without hiccups
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: She did it with such enthusiasm and verve that the Dasara festival and the procession was nicknamed ‘Shobha yatra’. It is to the credit of minister Shobha Karandlaje, in charge of Mysore, that the Dasara festival went off smoothly and attracted a record crowd. As compared to the previous year, there were fewer foreign tourists but the audience present were appreciative of the colourful nine-day festival.
Initially there were hiccups as an over enthusiastic Ms Karandlaje wanted the BJP’s first Dasara to be different. She wanted elephant Balarama, carrying the 750 kg golden howdah, to head the procession. The organisers patiently explained to her the tradition. The king, when atop the elephant as in earlier times, does not look like one, if his coterie, animals, music and other pageantry followed him. Or the ambience, euphoria and suspense would be missing if the elephant comes first.
Moreover, the crowd after seeing the decorated elephant, the main attraction of the procession, may lose interest in the pageant. Wiser counsel prevailed and Ms Karandlaje allowed tradition to prevail. The services of the mahouts who worked as daily wage workers were regularised. It was a long pending demand and it took a bold Ms Karandlaje to take some simple decisions.
Interestingly, the elephants who arrived from the forest to participate in the royal sojourn, received royal treatment for a fortnight and promptly gained weight by about 40 kg. Considering that they were accustomed to a daily 30 km walk, it is understandable. For the first time, Balarama carrying the howdah, was made to wait for 14 minutes as it waited for Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to shower flowers, which marks the beginning of the procession. For some reason, Mr Yeddyurappa arrived late.
Srikantadutta Wodeyar too could not make it to this ritual, as being diabetic, he was advised medical attention and rest after a nail stuck into his leg. But it was a huge relief as a prophesy went off without any major fallout. An astrologer had predicted that the presence of a white crow would portend bad times for the Mysore royalty. After the white crow was sighted at the nearby Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, people expected the worst. It was just a nail and he had to miss the finale of the nine-day celebrations.
Jealousy motive: Cops
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: Govardhan Murthy was jealous of actor Vinod as he was engaged to a girl who had turned him down, according to the police investigating the murder of the actor at the Rose Heritage Farmhouse near Bagalur. The two men argued over the girl when they met at the party at the farmhouse on October 6 and the quarrel ended with Govardhan shooting Vinod dead, the police said. Vinod was all set to marry his childhood sweetheart, who was the daughter of a well known doctor in Kammanahalli. The producer had a few years ago wanted to marry the same girl, but her parents had turned him down, police sources said.
The case against the producer is now thought to be watertight with no loopholes to help him go free. “The evidence gathered is strong and the eyewitness statements are intact. There is no chance of the witnesses turning hostile or the police messing up the case,” a senior police officer said.
Deena, Govardhan’s gunman who had earlier confessed to the crime has given a statement in front of the producer and the actor’s family that he was offered big money to shield him. Investigating officers have seized the producer’s passport and some cash from a house in Thrissur. It belongs to Ramani a friend of the mistress of Langda Babu, a close associate of the producer.
“He had told us that he was given the passport in Chennai to apply for a visa to go to America. But when we raided the farmhouse in Thrissur where he had stayed we found the passport and ash of Rs 10,000 in his bag.” ACP B Ramachandrappa said. Murthy, had planned to fly to Dubai where he has an office. The officials took the producer and Langda Babu to the spots they had visited while absconding. Govardhan had escaped in an Innova from the crime scene to Chikkaballapur where he stayed at a guesthouse he owns.
There he asked Langda Babu to drive dow in the Scorpio which he had gifted him. The duo then traveled to Kochi and Thrissur in Kerala. “They had also gone to Chikkaballapur, Shidllaghatta and Mulbagal in Kolar; Vellore in Tamil Nadu; and Guruvayoor, besides Kochi and Thrissur in Kerala.
The team checked all the places they visited as well as the lodges they stayed in. Two other accused, Tripathi and Ramesh, are still at large. We will nab them soon,” Mr Ramachandrappa said. The police has found that Govardhan had another weapon which he had allegedly bought from a dealer in Hassan. He is also reported to have links with gangsters like Korangu, Onte and Sunil.
Massive hunt for naxals
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: A police team assisted by Bannerghatta National Park staff conducted a massive combing operation recently after information that naxals were hiding in the forests. The huge manhunt was carried out in Thali Reserve Forests, which abuts the BNP in south Bengaluru and along the border forest areas of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka after information that a naxal team was hiding inside the forest.
Spread over 104 sq km, the BNP borders the Thali reserve forest and Cauvery Wildlife Division. Park officials confirmed that naxal combing operation was conducted by Tamil Nadu police, but they failed to find anyone despite a thorough search. District forest officer, Hosur Division, Ganeshan said there have been several instances where police have searched forest areas, but have not found anything concrete.
“The Thali forest begins soon after the BNP boundary adjacent to Terubeedi village. Since there are several human settlements along the BNP and Thali forest area,” Mr Ganeshan said. BNP officials said the Bannerghatta forest is the narrow strip of rocky outcrop which cannot provide any hiding place for naxals. Officials claim frequent movement by elephants found in large numbers here, besides leopards, sloth bears and gaurs, leaves no chance for BNP to be used as a hideout by any anti-social elements.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, top level forest officials held a meeting with home minister V.S. Acharya to take a call on the situation where forests in the state are turning out to be good hideouts for naxals and terrorists. Last year, a terrorist hideout and training camp was busted by the state police inside the forests of Castle Rock in Halyal forest division.
Rain plays havoc on city traffic
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: It takes just 45 minutes of rain for many parts of the city to be drowned in woes. Water gushed into the houses of nearly 15 families residing on Armstrong road in Bharathinagar after a heavy downpour on Wednesday evening. Though there was no damage, they had to face a lot of inconvenience. Traffic was also affected as several roads were inundated. Worse, the rainfall occurred around 6.30 pm when traffic flow was high because most people were on their way back home from office. Rashi Gulati, a commuter said: “The road towards Dairy Circle flyover was jam-packed. I was stranded in my car for nearly 20 minutes. It was a heavy downpour and it appeared as if everything had come to a standstill.”
Traffic on Sirsi Circle flyover was also affected. Rainfall also hampered repair work on the flyover which was supposed to resume on Wednesday. Traffic police said the BBMP is expected to carry out repair work at night as traffic will be affected only for a short while.
BBMP officials assured that there were no major damages. They also informed that they had not received any complaints of water-logging or trees being uprooted. The HAL airport Met centre recorded 7.6 mm rainfall while in the city’s central part it recorded at 11.6 mm.
KSTDC plans 100 taxis
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The Karnataka State Transport Development Corporation (KSTDC) is all set to operate 100 airport taxis, competing with the private taxi services at the BIA. Unlike its taxi service at the HAL airport, this will not be prepaid.
The Karnataka Taxis will start operating from Thursday at the BIA. The Lenovo cars are fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) and will provide a luxurious and comfortable journey to the passengers, much like the private taxis. “The fare for the KSTDC luxury taxis has been decided by BIAL. It will be Rs 15 per kilometer. The taxis can be called by contacting KSTDC call centers around the city,” KSTDC officials said.
The new taxis have been fitted with a digital meter which will display the distance travelled and total cost. The driver will produce a printed receipt for the passenger by pushing a button installed in the meter. The receipt will show the kilometers travelled and the fare. “This will leave no room for the drivers to exaggerate the fare and cheat commuters. We hope to provide better service to the passengers. The new taxis will be in the luxury taxi queue at BIA and can be booked any time,” explained KSTDC officials.
Varsity’s thumbs up for full attendance
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The Christ-Ohio University has introduced a biometric system to ensure that students don’t get away with bunking classes. Students at the university now need to give their thumb impressions before every class to mark attendance.
The students find the new system is foolproof. They can do nothing to circumvent it. Says Amrapallavi Chouraiya, a final year management student from the college, “Roll-calls and even swiping cards can be managed by proxy. But we can’t cut off our fingers can we? So we have to go in person to give our fingerprint as attendance. There is no getting away with being absent anymore.”
Another student Priscilla D’ Souza, says, “There is a tight control on the attendance as the process has to be repeated before each class. Also, you cannot simply give your fingerprint and run away from attending class because there are CCTV cameras in classrooms watching you.” Other colleges have come up with different ways to keep a check on their students. The M. S. Ramaiah College has an online student tracking system, the password of which has been given to all the parents. “They can log in every week to check the status of their child’s attendance. We also periodically display the attendance chart every week on our college notice board,” says Dr S. Kumar of the college. He adds that M S Ramaiah too is planning to introduce the biometric system to mark attendance in all the 17 medical education departments soon.
While such strict monitoring might be new to students, teachers have been used to it for a long time in some colleges. Says Father Abraham, vice principal of Christ University, “We do not have the biometric system for students yet. But teachers here have been following the system for a long time now.”
8 bars closed, 16 arrested
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The Peenya police cracked the whip against eight bars and wine shops for violating operational norms. Local MLA S. Muniraju was out on an inspection on complaints over garbage collection. During the inspection at around 7 am, several bars and wine shops had already started functioning, whereas according to norms they should open only by 10 am. The police immediately shut down the joints and took about 16 people into custody, including the bar and wine shop owners.
The shops are in Bagalkunte, Dasarahalli, Jalahalli cross, Mallasandra and Pipeline road area. The Peenya police said the bar and wine shop owners were given strict instructions not to violate operational norms and deadlines. However, the shop owners openly violated the rules. They had been receiving complaints from the public on the nuisance they had to face as the bars and wine shops opened early.
Footpaths pose a challengeBy Chandrashekar G
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: For the physically challenged Hutchins Road is a nightmare. Mr S.T. Venkatesh, who is physically challenged and uses a tricycle to get around, finds the road impossible to negotiate most of the time. A student of an institute run by the Association of People with Disability (APD) in the area, Mr Venkatesh is doing an Advanced Diploma in Computer Application. Other students like him studying at the institute have an equally harrowing time on the road, which is filled with potholes and sees speeding traffic most days.
“Walking on Hutchins Road is a Herculean task even for able people due to the lack of a footpath here and poor maintenance of the road. The BBMP should have been sympathetic at least to the physically challenged who use it everyday,” says Mr Venkatesh. He points out that students of the institute need to go round to the nearby shops to buy stationery and they find going down Hutchins Road an uphill task. Those who use crutches find it more difficult in the absence of a footpath, he says.
“The BBMP has not provided a footpath here although it knows there is an institution for physically challenged in the area,” he regrets. According to him most physically challenged students don’t dare venture out due to the unevenness of the road. “Its condition deteriorates further as it progresses, making is next to impossible for challenged people to negotiate it,” he rues.
Indiscriminate parking of autorickshaws and other private vehicles has further narrowed the road, he adds.Indiscriminate dumping of garbage is another problem here. Repeated complaints to the authorities have not helped. APD sometimes pays to have the garbage cleared. A BBMP engineer says tenders have been invited for filling potholes and asphalting the road. Dumping of garbage will be stopped, assure BBMP officials.
Rail line hits dead-end
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: Work on doubling the Bengaluru-Mysore rail line has hit a dead-end with the state Archaeological department yet to take a decision on relocating Tipu Sultan’s armoury. For the past few months, South Western Railway has been trying to negotiate with the state archaeological department to relocate the armoury which is in way of carrying out doubling work at Srirangapatna station.
“At the rate things are going, the project may after all get frozen,” SWR chief administration officer (Construction) Vijay Kumaran who is overseeing the project says that the project has more or less hit a dead end.
The department, which had earlier agreed to relocate the armoury, has now written to SWR stating that it is against shifting the monument. “The one km stretch at the island where a bridge is proposed to be built is very crucial. The matter is now with the principal secretary, infrastructure. SWR had to cancel tenders it had called for building the bridge. There already has been much delay, and if the matter isn’t settled soon, the project will come to a full stop,” added Mr Kumaran. According to him, SWR will have to stick to the proposed alignment. If changed, the curves on the bridges will be too sharp, making it impossible for the train to run on it, he adds.
Interestingly, it is not just the armoury, which is going to be affected by the rail project. According to R. Gopal, director, department of Archaeology and Museums, the Srirangapatna fort belonging to Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan adjacent to the railway station in Paschimavahini too will be damaged. “SWR wants to dig up 20 mts on both sides of the fort to erect the bridge. Although the armoury can be relocated, the fort will be permanently damaged. Hence the department is refusing to give permission,” he said.
The fort is important historically because it was here that the British eventually breached the walls in the famous siege of 1799, which ended with Tipu being killed.
In a meeting held by infrastructure principal secretary Arvind Jadhav 10 days ago, where SWR and archaeology department officials participated, it was proposed to either build an underground bridge or a bridge above the monument. But heritage experts oppose this too. According to Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage convenor H.R. Pratibha the rail project will damage the fort either way. “Once the trains start operating, the strong vibrations will affect the monument. The armoury holds great significance, because it was in these spaces that Tipu Sultan experimented with his rocket technology and stored all his ammunition, the fort was where he was tricked and killed by the British. An alternative has to be found, because it is development we are talking about,” she said.
Former MLA files IA
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: Former MLA K.N. Rajanna from Madhugiri Assembly constituency filed an interlocutory application to withdraw the election petition filed by him against Gowri Shankar, the winning candidate from Madhugiri constituency in the recent Assembly polls.
The former MLA said he is withdrawing the plea following Gowri Shankar’s resignation. The former MLA had lost to JD(S) candidate Gowri Shankar by a margin of 563 votes. Mr Rajanna alleged that Mr Shankar had used money power to win the polls.
Datta Peetha case adjourned
The court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on a petition filed by Syed Goush and Mohiyudin Shah Shakadri, members of Jamia Masjid, Chikmagalur, on Shree Guru Datta Peetha shrine at Bababudangiri in Chikmagalur district. The petitioners approached the court challenging the orders passed by a single judge on February 14, 2007. The single judge had allowed a petition by the Guru Datta Peetha Devasthana Samvardhana Trust and had directed the commissioner of religious and charitable endowments to hear all parties, including the trust, before passing orders on religious practices being followed at the Peetha.
Attack on churches in state
The court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on the public interest litigation relating to the recent attack on churches in the state and seeking a CBI inquiry into the matter. Earlier, the court had issued a notice to the state and directed it to file objections. However, the state is yet to file objections.
Notification quashed
The court quashed a notification passed by KIADB after considering the delay of more than four years from the date of issuing preliminary notification to acquire 221 acres of land at Pura and Anaganahalli village in Mandya district. The court was hearing a petition filed by Sanamma and 17 others challenging the final notification issued by KIADB. Justice H.V.G. Ramesh quashed the final notification passed by KIADB in 2005 and said that the decision to compensate land owners based on the preliminary notification in 2000 appears to be arbitrary, as the value of land has increased.
26th academic meet on Oct. 17
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The 26th academic conference of All India Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations will be organised from October 17 to October 19. The theme of the conference is inclusive education. Addressing a press conference, Dr H.T. Rathod, acting vice-chancellor of Bangalore University, said: “The sub themes of the conference will be the role of state in developing higher education, learner centered education system, equity and access in higher education, societal contributions to higher education, strengthening of basic and social sciences at the graduate level and research, and also internalisation of higher education.”
Nearly 1,200 delegates from across India, Nepal and Sri Lanka will participate in the conference, Mr Rathod said. The conference is being organised by the Federation of University College Teachers’ Associations in Karnataka (FUCTAK), Bangalore University College Teachers’ Association (BUCTA) and Karnataka Government College Teachers’ Association (KGCTA), Mr Rathod said. Dr. Sukhdev Thorat, chairman of UGC, will be the chief guest, Mr Rathod added.
Hospitals to get intensive care
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: Emergency care for the poor is looking up with government hospitals in the city all set to get 72 Intensive Care Unit beds shortly. Except for Victoria Hospital, which has a 10-bed ICU, all other government hospitals, including, Bowring, KC General Hospital and Jayanagar General Hospital do not have ICUs at present.
In an emergency, patients are referred to private hospitals where they are charged between Rs 5,000 and Rs 20,000 a day. But now Victoria Hospital is being upgraded with a 30-bed ICU with six beds each in the five new departments it will soon have. Bowring will get two 10-bed ICUs, one for emergency and one for trauma, in addition to a 10-bed step down ICU.
According to Dr G. T. Subhash, director and dean, Bangalore Medical College and Hospital the ICUs will be functional in the next two months. The KC General Hospital and the Jayanagar General Hospital are also getting six-bed ICUs. The one at KC General will be equipped with ventilators, monitors, ECG, central oxygen system and more when it begins a trial run from Wednesday.
The ICU at Jayanagar General Hospital will start functioning from November first week, says Dr M. Vishwaradhya, hospital Medical Superintendent. “Every day we get 50 to 75 admissions and 600 to 800 out-patients. We also perform 600 to700 surgeries a month. But in emergencies we were forced to refer patients to private hospitals. Now with this new unit, we can save more lives,” he says. The hospital is getting 10 more experts and six MBBS doctors and 24 staff nurses. “We are training all of them to handle the ICU,” he added.
Jumbo rally for wildlife
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: Tusker Vanaraj, who was part of the Dasara procession in Mysore, will be part of another procession from Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) on Thursday to create awareness to save his counterparts in the wild.
The walk is being held to mark the ‘Elephant Day’ which is being celebrated on the concluding day of the 54th Wildlife Week at the BBP, which houses rare mammals, reptiles and birds. This year, the day will be mark by a rally by schoolchildren and local residents of Bannerghatta which will be followed by movies on elephants being screened. “Elephants are a flagship species and protection of this mammal is very important,” Vanashri Vipin Singh, deputy conservator of forests, BNP, told reporters.
No pact yet: Deshpande
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The Congress seems to have decided to adopt an “aloof” attitude to the overtures being made by Janata Dal(S) for a poll alliance for the Council and Assembly byelections. “I have seen reports on H.D. Kumaraswamy talking about an alliance. So far I have not received any proposal from them,” Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president R.V. Deshpande asserted on Wednesday.
While no reason was given for the sudden “withdrawal symptoms,” the rivalry between UP Chief Minister Ms Mayawati and AICC president Sonia Gandhi appears to be the main impediment to an alliance. Janata Dal(S) supremo Deve Gowda has already aligned with the Third Front declaring Ms Mayawati as the Front leader. Three JD(S) MPs had also voted against the confidence motion in Parliament on the nuclear deal along with the BSP.
Fearing that the alliance with the Congress might not happen, the JD(S) has announced its candidates for elections to the three Council seats from the local bodies’ constituencies in Dharwad, Belgaum and Kodagu. Till Tuesday, JD(S) leaders had claimed that they would not be fielding candidates for the election and would be supporting the Congress.
Mr Deshpande said that if a proposal for an alliance comes from the JD(S) leaders, it would be referred to the party high command for necessary instructions. Congress leaders however feel the JD(S) is unlikely to renew its call for an alliance atleast for the Council polls. This is because the fight for the three Council seats is not considered to be a prestigious one as the tenure of the members who win will only be 18 months. The bypolls were necessitated because of the resignation of those who contested to the Assembly.
Not many Congress leaders are eager on approaching their leaders in Delhi with a tie-up proposal at a time when Mrs Gandhi is engaged in a serious confrontation with the Third Front chief.
Rudy lessons for state ministers
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: It was virtually “back to school” for most of the BJP ministers, MPs and legislators who attended a one-day media workshop organised by the party state unit here on Wednesday. Carrying a old-styled cotton school bag with the day’s time-table in it - which mentioned not only the subjects but also tea and lunch timings- the “students” were strictly instructed to be present in the classroom till evening.
“The state president’s instruction is that none of the participants should leave the workshop till it is over,” BJP MLA and spokesperson, C.T. Ravi who assumed the role of classroom monitor, told the participants.
It was amusing to see ministers, office bearers, MPs and MLAs - who are more often seen on the dais - occupying the space meant for the audience and intently listening to the lecture by Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the party spokesperson. He was the “visiting professor” from Delhi who was specially invited to take classes on the intricacies of being a spokesperson. And the urbane Rudy did his best delivering in his distinct and articulate style. “You have to prepare thoroughly on the issues at hand and apply your mind before going for a media conference. The spokesperson should also have a clear idea of what he would like to appear in the next day’s newspaper. Decide what you want to say and stick to it. Journalists may try to make you say what they would like to but be firm,” Rudy said.
To remind the participants that it was indeed a class room and discipline was required during what is essentially a business-like session, Ravi at one point said, “I assumed that only students on the back bench speak and disturb the class. But here I notice even those sitting in the first bench speaking to each other when the classes are on,” Ravi said evoking peels of laughter. The jibe was aimed at two ministers occupying the front row- Katta Subramanya Naidu and R. Ashok.
Rudy said that what mattered was people’s perception of the government’s performance. “You can add to the government’s image and that of the party by presenting your views cogently. A bad presentation spoils a good show,” he added. Concluding his 35-minute lecture, Rudy said, “Journalists sometimes tend to irritate you but you have to bear with them.”
‘Bypolls will judge our performance’
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The by-elections to the Assembly from eight constituencies could be termed as a referendum on the BJP government, party state president D.V. Sadananda Gowda told reporters on Wednesday.
“We appeal to people to strengthen the position of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa so that he can implement his development agenda,” Sadananda Gowda told reporters after admitting JD(S) leader and former MLA Gantaganahalli Krishnappa and his followers into the BJP. The BJP chief was confident that his party would win all the eight seats going by the pro-BJP mood in the state.
On the likelihood of the Congress and JD(S) coming together to fight the polls, the BJP president remarked that this only showed their helplessness in taking on the BJP individually.” He refused to comment on the future of minister Anand Asnotikar who is facing an inquiry by the Election Commission for concealing details of properties in his statement of assets and liabilities. “I would not like to comment on the merits of the case. But I would like to know why the Congress kept mum about the issue? Now that Asnotikar has quit that party, the Congress is targeting him.”
BSY flies around, officers rule roost
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The never ending district tours of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa have put the state administration in a quandary. For the Chief Minister, the state capital has now been rendered a mere transit point for embarking on yet another tour, a source quipped.
And for most officials, it’s an agonising exercise catching hold of the Chief Minister and securing his signatures on crucial files. Some sources in the government confess that the administration is fast losing steam because of the absence of the CM in the capital.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s secretariat said that ever since he assumed office on May 30, Yeddyurappa’s attendance at his Vidhana Soudha office has been a meagre 30-40 per cent while his stay in the city may not cross the 50-percent mark. Barring the budget session, The Chief Minister has hardly stayed in the city for a week or two at a stretch.
Sources attributed his frequent district tours to three reasons: One, MLAs and representatives of religious and social organisations insist on he being the chief guest at functions. Yeddyurappa is quick to oblige them as part of his “networking” strategy.
Two, he wants BJP to win the by-elections in the eight Assembly segments and regularly visits them. Three, the Chief Minister hopes such visits will help him to understand local problems so that he can return and evolve developmental programmes in a better manner.
Sources however contend that the visits are turning out to be counterproductive. Officers have to carry files to airports and public places to get his signature. He also seems to rely on a group of IAS officers too much and often signs files quickly which actually deserve serious thought and consultation, the sources added.
KDA pushes for Kannada
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The Kannada Development Authority will propose to the state government that an order be issued making Kannada sign boards mandatory in all establishments coming under various departments. The KDA also wants the government to impose Rs 10,000 as fine on anyone violating this order, chairman Mukhya Mantri Chandru told reporters here on Wednesday.
“The KDA is facing a strange problem. Most government officers say there is no provision in the Acts concerning their departments which makes Kannada sign boards mandatory. I have therefore decided to approach Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa to get an order issued that covers all departments,” Chandru added.
He was of the view that the present fine of Rs 350 is too meagre and wanted it to go up to Rs 10,000. “The purpose is not collecting more fine but making sure people comply with the government’s order,” Chandru said. The KDA is also seeking financial assistance for students who do post-graduation in Kannada in varsities outside Karnataka.
Road development cess on state highways soon
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The state government has decided to collect road development cess from goods carriers running on state highways. The related laws will be suitably amended to implement the decision, public works minister C.M. Udasi said here on Wednesday. He said the cess collection will be similar to that being made from goods carriers plying on national highways.
According to the minister the cess has become necessary because of the expenditure incurred by the government on developing and maintaining highways under K-SHIP scheme. There are 4,500 kms of state highways in Karnataka of which 1,384 kms are under the K-SHIP scheme.
The new rule will not apply to all roads in the state. The cess will be collected only from vehicles plying on roads that come under the K-SHIP scheme, which includes highways in Bengaluru and Mysore, the minister said. “Road development, maintenance and repairs are very expensive. But they are a vital requirement and so we are planning the cess,” the minister. said adding that the quantum was yet to be decided. Highway repair work was stalled due to the rains. The government has instructed officials to fill the potholes on highways by the end of November.
Mining row: Ex-minister held
Bengaluru, Oct. 15: The row between the mine lords of Bellary took a violent turn on Wednesday with police resorting to a cane charge to disperse supporters of former minister Diwakar Babu who staged a dharna outside the forest department office. Diwakar Babu was taken into custody. The entire town was tense for sometime after the lathicharge. At around 10 am, Babu turned up outside the forest conservator’s office with his supporters to protest against the discriminatory attitude of forest officials.
He claimed that Obalapuram Mines Company (OMC), owned by the Reddy brothers-now ministers in the Yeddyurappa Cabinet- had colluded with forest officials to alter the boundary of the state so that OMC, operating from the Andhra Pradesh border, could encroach on land belonging to the state on the inter-state border. At the instance of tourism minister Janardhan Reddy, forest department officials allowed mining in the forest area though the high court has banned mining in such areas, he asserted.
While a large crowd protested against the “partial attitude” of the forest department outside the office, Babu and a few others got involved in a verbal duel with senior officials of the department. At this juncture, additional superintendent of police, Ashok Kurer and others walked inside the office and announced that Babu was under arrest. They told him to go along with the police team.
Babu and his supporters refused to move and instead sat in the office. The police forcefully evicted them and took them into custody. Anticipating violence, police resorted to a cane charge. Meanwhile, citing the latest survey report jointly prepared by the forest, mines and geology and revenue departments, forest officials said that the dispute was in no way connected with altering the state’s border.
The controversy was related to the dispute between mining companies operating in the state. The survey report said that it was the Tapal Narayan Reddy (TNR) company belonging to Babu which had encroached on land belonging to other companies and also forest land. A few days ago, the TNR company was barred from operating these mines at Mallappanagundi near Sandur. Later, Babu lodged a complaint against the tourism minister which was rejected by the district police. Supporters of Babu said that they would intensify the agitation shortly.
HC stays move on Gokarna
Dharwad, Oct. 15: The government suffered a setback in its attempt to hand over the Gokarna Mahabaleswar temple to the Ramachandra Mutt on Wednesday, when the high court circuit bench stayed changes made in favour of Raghavendra Bharathi Swamiji of the mutt in the temple records.
Hearing the petition filed by devotees of the Gokarna Mahabaleswar temple against its takeover by the math, justice Shailendra Kumar observed that the government is not authorised to change the revenue records of the property belonging to the temple through notification. Directing the Ramachandrapur Math to file its objection, the judge posted further hearing of the case to October 30. The court also admitted a new writ petition filed by two more devotees Narahari Hegde and Vinayak Hegde against the transfer of the temple to the Math.
The court stayed the mutation entries based on a petition filed by the temple priest Balachandra Dikshit. The temple properties were in the name of his father Vigneshwar Dikshit. But after the government’s notification on handing over the temple to the math, the revenue officials changed the record of rights of the properties in the name of Raghavendra Bharathi Swamiji.
This drew protests from temple priests and several devotees, who went to court on the issue while questioning government move. Senior advocates Subramanya Jois and Jairam Shetty argued in favour of the petitioners.
BJP will have it easy: CM
Shimoga, Oct. 15 : Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said on Wednesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party would emerge victorious in all the eight seats in the forthcoming by-elections to the state assembly. Addressing reporters after inaugurating a four-dayfree eye check-up camp organised at Shikaripur town he noted that people had given a clear mandate to the BJP party in the last assembly elections held in May.
This time too the people of the eight constituencies would elect BJP candidates. The BJP government would be in power for its full five year term considering the people’s support it had received, Mr Yeddyurappa added. On the tie-up between the Congress and the JD(S), he said the people had seen how both the parties had ruled the state in a coalition government in the past.
The voters had also judged the performance of the JD(S) - BJP coalition and were fed up with two party rule. Mr Yeddyurappa said leaders of opposition parties, including Mr R .V. Deshpande were unnecessarily creating chaos in political circles. “The main intention of the Congress and the JD(S) leaders is to destabilize the BJP government,” he charged.
On the controversy over the alleged murder charges against fisheries minister Anand Asnotikar, he said he was not aware of the legalities of the case and would review the issue with legal experts before deciding on the further course of action.
Illegal shops evacuated
Tumkur, Oct 15: The City Municipal Council of Tumkur and the district administration on Wednesday launched a drive to evacuate petty shops from the roadside. Although some roadside vendors protested, the authorities succeeded in removing them from the footpaths on M. G. Road, J. C. Road, Ashok Road, and several other parts of the city such as Mandipet, Varapet and Anjaneya Swamy Temple premises.
CMC Commissioner Thulasi Maddaneni said the eviction was being done to free the footpaths of Tumkur for use of pedestrians. However, the petty shop owners would be relocated to other areas. The drive had been taken up following a number of numbers of complaints from the public.
Deputy Commissioner of Tumkur Dr. C. Somashekar said a meeting had been convened on Friday to discuss on the evacuation of encroachers on city roads. City activists, MLA Sogadu Shivanna and others would participate in the meeting. The drive to remove the encroachments would be carried out after Diwali, he added.
Stand by truth, says Limbavali
Mysore, Oct. 15: Higher education minister Arvind Limbavali said on Wednesday that media had a different role to play. He delivered a lecture to budding journalists at the second edition of the two-day state Level media fest - Conflux-08 at Mahajana First Grade College.
The minister said the media has the strength to build or break society and advised the budding journalists to imbibe a sense of social accountability towards the profession and stand by the truth. “Any developmental programme initiated by the government can’t be a success unless the media familiarises the programme technicalities with the public,” he said.
Mr Arvind said: “When I was in class VIII, my name appeared in newspapers for toping in academics. It’s still afresh in my mind.” Journalism students from Manipal, Mysore, Shimoga and Dharwad participated in the fest.
Heritage silk sarees a big draw
Mysore, Oct. 15: As many as 21 award winning vintage exclusive Mysore silk sarees worth lakhs selected from across the country are being showcased at an exhibition in the city which has opened to tremendous response here. Thousands of women are thronging the exhibition to see the rare heritage sarees, all of which are nearly a century old. The exhibition is offering a special discount of 30 per cent during the next 15 days on the sarees which are being sold for between Rs 6,000 to Rs 1.75 lakh.
Mr P Vijayan, managing director, Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited (KSIC) said there was great export value for Mysore silk sarees. As much as 70 per cent of country’s finest silk was produced in south Karnataka. Mysore silk sarees have been a hot favorite all over the world due to their fine quality and durability, Mr Vijayan added.
On future plans of the KSIC, which carries out all silk manufacturing related activities under one roof, from the cocoon stage to making of the fabric, Mr. Vijayan said, “The KSIC is planning to procure a high precision digital printing machine for a greater variety in designs and to improve the quality of the prints. We are also in the process of establishing an occupational health and safety management system (OHSAS 18001-2007) to achieve international standards.” As part of the exhibition people can visit the silk weaving factory in Mysore to learn about the evolution of technology used in the field.
Deccan Chronicle