Informative book on "snakes of coastal Karnataka"

Udupi, September 28, DHNS: The Rashtriya Seva Yojanay in association with Mangalore University and Geetha Prakshana organised book release programme of ‘Haavu Naavu’ authored by Herpetologist Gururaj Sanil at Mahajan Hall in Hotel Keediyur on Sunday.

“Coastal areas accommodate countless varieties of snake species. Awareness measures should be taken to wipe out fear from the minds of people regarding snakes. In depth study on snakes will help people to get more familiar with snakes,” opined Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya after releasing the book.

Author Gururaj Sanil informed that there are 46 species of snakes found in undivided Dakshina Kannada district. The blind beliefs associated with snakes make no sense.

Killing snakes is against nature as it leads to nature’s imbalance, he informed.“Man is the biggest enemy to snakes. He kills them due to fear resulted out of lack of knowledge about the species,” he opined.MLA Raghupthay Bhat, Industrialist Pramodh Madhwaraj, CMC President Kiran Kumar, Folk Scholar Bannanje Babu Ameen and others were present.

Mangalorean

Dentists for rural areas

BANGALORE September 24, 2010: Higher Education Minister, V.S. Acharya on Friday said the rural Karnataka has been facing severe shortage of dental doctors even there were 40 dental colleges in the state.

He was presiding over the graduation day 2010 of the Government Dental College and Research Institute here.

Dr. Acharya, who was a doctor by profession, said the graduates need to serve the rural population. Rural people are aware about oral health now and are opting for dental care, he said and called upon them to set up their clinics in rural parts of the State after studies.

World Tourism Day 2010

The passengers were in a for a surprise when they received a floral welcome at the city airport, Bajpe and KSRTC bus stand, Bejai. The gesture was planned as part of World Tourism Day by the Mangalore Association of Travel Agents in association with the department of tourism here on Monday September 27.

In a specially organized programme, all the air passengers who landed at Mangalore Airport on Monday were welcomed with flowers and greetings. Higher education minister V S Acharya and Moodbidri MLA Abhaychandra Jain extended a floral welcome to the passengers of Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airline flight that landed at Mangalore Airport at around 8:30 am.

Abhaychandra Jain formally inaugurated the programme. Later, Jain and Acharya flew to Bangalore through a special flight. Airport director M R Vasudev, general manager of Hotel Gold Finch S M Das, Pilikula Nisargadhama executive director J R Lobo, Louis Pinto and Roshan Pinto were among those present. Daijiworld

Udupi: Various programmes

Release of a book on snakes in coastal districts, Inaugural of Multi Brand Showroom, Paying respects to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

(Photos: Janardan Kodavoor)

Acharya plans to create better atmosphere in varsities

Minister for Higher Education, Planning and Statistics Dr V S Acharya said that he will convene a meeting of Vice-Chancellors, officers and other educational experts concerned with the Universities, Collegiate Education and Technical Education during next week.

Addressing mediapersons during his first visit to Udupi after taking charge of new portfolio here on Saturday, he said that he plans to create better atmosphere in the universities, besides implementing new ideas.

Expressing satisfaction as the outgoing Home Minister with maximum success in maintaining law and order mechanism across the State, he said: “I had a fruitful reign and in deed I am satisfied with my achievements as Home Minister.”

He said as many as 16 universities come under the Department, besides 6 divisions of Collegiate Education comprising Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, Gulburga, Mangalore and Shimoga within the jurisdiction of Higher Education department.

There are about 200 engineering and polytechnique colleges that come under technical education wing of the department, he said.Knowledge Commission and Karnataka Examination Authority owe its accountability to the ministry. Measures will be taken to bring positive changes aiding academic atmosphere and better teaching programme, he said.

Rain damage: Dr Acharya said Udupi district has incurred loss of Rs 31.51 crore owing to the rain from June 1 till date. As many as 10 lives have been lost in the rain from April till date. About Rs 23 lakhs have been released since June to compensate the damages.About Rs 16 crore was released during last year. Of which, Rs 15.80 crore has been distributed. About Rs 10.80 lakh payments have been made, he added.

Stating that measures have been taken to minimise the damages occurred due to overflow of contaminated waste drainage water of treatment plant at MIT hostel, he said the waste water has contaminated about 30 drinking water wells. The wells have been treated and pathogen test will be conducted everyday to make sure that the water can be used for drinking purpose. He said measures will be taken to repair the NH-17, PWD and ZP roads in the district after the monsoon. About Rs 30 lakh will be deposited for each department as initial fund to begin the work, he added.Dr Acharya said the pilgrims who got struck at Uttarakund and Badrinath owing to heavy rains are safe and arrangements have been made for their return. The state was in constant touch with them and all are out of danger, he said.He said Rs 5 crore has been released as first phase allotments for the Agricultural College at Brahmavar Zonal Research Station. (DHNS)

Karnataka accepts five reforms in education

BANGALORE September 23, 2010 : Dr. Kasturi Rangan, Member, Planning Commission and Chairman, Karnataka Knowledge Commission, on Thursday discussed about the recommendations made by the Knowledge Commission.

The State government has accepted 5 important recommendations of the Commission for improving the quality of education in the Colleges and Universities in the State.

The government has agreed to develop two Universities namely Mysore and Dharwad as model Universities, the chief minister said.

The initiatives of government of Karnataka have been appreciated by Government of India and willing to support the State government in their effort. Dr. Kasturi Rangan assured to take up this at National level.The action of the State government to improve learning by students and also improve their skills was also discussed.

Efforts to improve job opportunities for students in the State was also raised at the meeting and the awareness level of the students joining government colleges are increasing and they are asking for such courses which will help in getting jobs for them, the chairman said.

Dr Kasturirangan was also expected to visit Raichur to have a first hand knowledge of the rehabilitation work in the area.

The Chief Minister said he had fruitful discussion with Planning Commission.”We are happy that we will do our best in making a qualitative change in the field of higher education,” he said. (Mangalorean)

Portfolio as on 22.09.2010

B S Yeddyurappa Chief Minister :- Department of Cabinet Affairs - Department of Personnel and dministrative Reforms - Department of Finance including - Institutional Finance and excluding - Excise, Small Savings & Lotteries - Intelligence Wing from Home Dept - Urban Development Department - All subjects pertaining to Bangalore City excluding BWSSB - Information from Kannada & Culture Informatin and Tourism Department - Mines & Geology from C & I Dept - Any other Department not specifically llocated Govind M Karjol : - Minor Irrigation from Water Resources Department - Kannada and Culture from Kannada & Culture, Information & Toursim Dept Dr V S Acharya : - Higher Education from Education Dept, Planning, Statistics Udasi Channabasappa Mahalaingappa : - Public Works Department excluding Ports and Inland Water Transport Mumtaz Ali Khan: - Haj & Wakf from Revenue Department Minority Welfare from Social Welfare Department R Ashok : - Transport Department Home Department excluding Intelligence Wing and Prisons S A Ravindranath - Sugar from Commerce & Industries Department Horticulture from Agriculture & Horticulture Department Janaradhan Reddy - Tourism from Kannada & Culture Information & Toursim Department Infrastructure Development Dept Kageri Vishweshwara Hegde - Primary & Secondary Education from Education Department excluding Mass Education and Public Libraries G Karunakara Reddy - Revenue excluding Muzrai, Haj & Wakf B N Bachhe Gowda - Labour Department Basavaraj Bommai - Major & Medium Irrigation from Water Resources Department B Sriramulu - Health & Family Welfare Department excluding Medical Education Revu Naik Belamagi - Mass Educatin and Public Libraries from Education Department Small Savings & Lotteries fromFinance Department Suresh Kumar. S - Law, Justice & Human Rights, Parliamentary Affairs Legislature Urban Development Dept(City Corporations, KUWS &DB, KUIDFC, Directorate of Town Planning,, Directorate of Land Transport, Urban Development Authorities excluding subjects pertaining to Bangalore City, BWSSB, CMCs, TMCs,TPs and Local Bodies. J Krishna Palemar - Ports and Inland Water Transport from Public Works Department Ecology & Environment Department Muzrai from Revenue Department Venkataramanappa - Textiles from C & I Department Sericulture from C&I Department

Cabinet Meet 21.09.2010

BANGALORE: Farmers have a reason to cheer because the cabinet on Tuesday gave nod to the developed land compensation scheme of Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB).

The scheme will do away with giving cash as compensation to land losers. Instead, they will get a whopping 9,583 sqft of developed land per every acre of land acquired by the KIADB. The compensation deal has been brought on par with the BDA package, which awards over 9,500 sqft of developed land as compensation for the land loser. The board, which functions under the commerce and industries department, was awarding 8,500 sqft land or cash in form of compensation.

"Our priority is farmers and they should get real value for the land they lose. The department not only gives land, but also developed ones as compensation, that too more than 9,500 sq ft,'' home minister V S Acharya said.

OTHER DECISIONS

* The Vajpayee Arogya scheme will be extended to Belgaum division districts. The scheme is being implemented only in Gulbarga division at present

* Rs 8 crore approved to set up effluent-treatment plants at Victoria and Bowring hospitals

* Rs 2,038-crore Asia Development Bank (ADB) for developing nine roads by Karnataka State Highway Infrastructure Project (K-SHIP)

* 50% reservation for women in panchayats while choosing president and vice-presidents

* 3,780km of road network will be developed in 189 rural assembly segments at a rate of 20 km per constituency. Rs 28 lakh to be given to each segment for construction and maintenance of the road

* Enhanced Pension Scheme: Employees in the age group of 80-85 would get a 20 per cent hike, 85-90 years 30 per cent hike and those above 90 years, a 50 per cent hike. In the event of the death of retired employees, benefits would go to their family members (DHNS)

TOI/PTI

Home GuardsGovt to increase Home Guards to 40,000

UDUPI: The Home Guards, a force to be reckoned with in the state, play a vital role in maintaining law and order, especially during emergencies and exigencies by helping the police, home minister V S Acharya said in Malpe, near Udupi, on Sunday.

He was delivering the inaugural address, after formally inaugurating the Malpe unit of the Home Guards. The government has decided to increase the strength of Home Guards to 40,000 from the present 25,000 by 2011-12. The DA of Rs 100 to Home Guards volunteers has been increased to Rs 150 in all other places and in Bangalore, the increase of DA is from the present Rs 150 to Rs 175.

While lauding the Home Guards' activities in general, Acharya said the service rendered by 250 Home Guards constabulary in recent times, while forming the Mangalore police commissionerate, was commendable. Acharya said the parameters of a civilized society is how its law and order was maintained. Acharya, talking about the police force in the state, said the country has observed a silent revolution through the police force, which has resulted in low crime rate. Stolen property worth Rs 51 crore was given back to its owners. Acharya said the government has decided to recruit 400 more sub-inspectors and 6,000 police constables in two phases of 3,000 each.

Acharya and Udupi district sessions judge Narendrakuamr Gunike inaugurated the legal awareness programme for the Home Guards. Udupi Bar Association president C Vijaya Hegde, Ganapathi Bhat, district commander, and K C Rajesh, deputy commandant, Home Guards, also spoke.

Report: TOI/ Photo of Home Guards on Mock disaster drill: Daijiworld

Green Park Central School

(Courtesy: Astro Mohan/ URSabhapathi/FB)

Hiriyadka (Udupi), Sep 19: Home Minister Dr V S Acharya said government has decided to grant 25% of initial expenditure or Rs 25 lakh to set up skill development oriented educational ventures.

A student pursuing skill development course will be supported with Rs 6,000 resulting in as many as 2 lakh students as beneficiaries from the programme, he added.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for Rs 2.5 crore new building of Green Park Central School and PU College here on Sunday, he said government is making sincere efforts to minimize the gap between aided, un-aided and private education institutions in terms of grants The state budgetary allocations for education which was at Rs 4,500 crore about 4 years ago has now increased to huge amount of Rs 10,500 crore. Udupi district excels the parameters in terms of “Sarva Siksha Abhiyan” in the entire state, he added. He promised that the government would make sufficient budgetary allocations in the coming budget for uniforms to the poor students joining Scouts and Guides. Scouts and Guides develop discipline and patriotism among children, he said. ndustrialist G Shankar, ZP President Gladys Almeida, former MLA Sabhapathy and others were present.

31 new police stations

Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya today said 31 new police stations would be commissioned in various parts of the state during the current year. Speaking after inaugurating the new Home Guards unit here he said 18 police stations have already been set up and the remaining 13 would be opened with in the next two months. In a bid to strengthen the police force in the state, the Home Ministry had also sought transfer of excess funds from other departments for opening up more and more police stations and provide other facilities.

He said it was also planned to recruit 6000 police personnel in next two years time, in two batches of 3000 personnel each. The government was also striving to bring positive changes by providing modern equipments and vehicles. With the increase in the efficiency of the department during the last two years, the police could recover stolen properties to the tune of 65 to 75 per cent. The recovery rate stood at as low as below 25 per cent, he said.

He said the government had also set up a separate Internal Security Division to deal with issues like terrorism and naxalism. Due to the effective steps taken to curb the naxal menace in the four districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikmagalur and Shimoga, the state of Karnataka was now removed from the list of Naxal affected state by the Centre. The govrnment had also taken all steps to strengthen the coastal security by providing more facilities, he said. (Mangalorean)

17/18 September 2010

Bannerghatta National Park

Four animals -- two lions and two tigers -- have died and many animals have fallen sick in the last one week.

“A tigress, Divya (4), died of diarrhoea, while reason behind the death of three other animals (one tiger and two lions) is said to be old age. We are taking appropriate steps to prevent spread of any infection... Infection may be due to water contamination or stale food,” Home Minister V S Acharya told reporters after holding a high-level meeting with the Forest Department officials.

Divya’s mother and two siblings with whom she was lodged in the cage, have also developed diarrhoea. Steps are being taken to provide clean water, hygienic food and proper medical facilities to all animals in the Park. The Park officials are working with experts from Veterinary College in this regard, he said.

Acharya said 16 animals have died in the park in the last 10 months, including five tigers and five lions. The mortality rate is around four per cent. There are total 1,300 animals, both carnivorous and herbivorous, at the Bannerghatta National Park. Nearly 1,300 kg of meat, mostly beef, is supplied to the Park for feeding animals every day. Meat is provided only after testing its quality. The main source of drinking water for animals is borewells, he added. When asked about the poor state of Kavalkere lake near the Park, the minister said the lake is located outside the jurisdiction of the Park and the Park animals are not provided with water from this lake.

Officials at all Zoological Gardens have been directed to focus on hygiene, he added. (DHNS)

Debate:

= Is this a Sabotage by vested interests, in a bid to take over the Park?

= Should our National Parks/ Zoo be handed over to multinational corporate entities?

= Time to adopt the standards/ commercial models of Night Safari/ Singapore Zoo?

Cow Slaughter Ban

Stir on cow slaughter ban bill not against governor: Ktk govt Bangalore: In an apparent effort to mollify Governor H R Bhardwaj, the BJP government in Karnataka today said its campaign demanding assent to the Cow Slaughter Ban Bill was not directed against him but to create an awareness. As the war of words between the governor and BJP continued, the government appeared to soft pedal the issue a day after Bhardwaj said as a Brahmin he need not learn about cow protection from anyone. "The agitations are not against the governor. It is only to inform the people about the passing of the bill by both houses of the legislature and its importance," Home Minister and senior state BJP leader V S Acharya told reporters here. He said the Bill was in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling and at least seven states had already enacted a law banning slaughter of cows. Acharya said the then Mysore State Assembly had enforced a legislation in 1948 banning cow slaughter, but it was not effective. Giving vent to his anger over BJP's protest on cow slaughter bill, Bhardwaj, who had forwarded the bill to the President for assent, had stated yesterday, "Ministers are giving many statements against me. This is gross indiscipline. I don't like this." "I am a Brahmin. I need not learn from anybody about cow protection," said Bhardwaj, who has come under repeated attacks from BJP for functioning as "a Congressman". Sify/ Vi Ka

Need of the Hour: New residential complex for Police Personnel

MANGALORE September 12, 2010: Home minister of Karnataka Dr. V.S. Acharya today announced the release of Rs. 6 crores for constructing a new housing colony for the Policemen of the Mangalore Commissionearate.

He was in the city to participate in the Ganesha Chauthi at the Police lines today. Dr. Acharya who expressed exasperation at the way the Police families here living in the dilapidated police quarters told Press that "I always wanted to visit the police lines ever since I took charge of the Home ministry. I must thank the Police Commissioner Mr. Seemanth Kumar Singh and Mr. Yogish Bhat MLA of Mangalore for bringing me here. I know firsthand information how the policemen of Mangalore and their families live in these police quarters which belong to the Tippu Sultan age".

It is appalling how they live in the dilapidated buildings in the police lines, the buildings on the northern side were so dilapidated that they are fit to demolish and the families there should be shifted to a new housing colony until such a time the new multi storied quarters come up in their place.

“I have released Rs. 6 crores for constructing five blocks each having 24 double bedroom flats for the police personnel in the Mangalore commissionerate. These three storied buildings will provide good dwelling to the policemen and their families, with individual drinking water facility with quality power supply," Acharya said.

Dr. Acharya had also brought along with him the top officials of the Police Housing Corporation who has been directed to plan the new housing colony for Policemen in Mangalore.

Dr. Acharya told that the present colony will have to be pulled down to make way for the new colony. He observed that the policemen who spend their life outside their houses most of the time should get at least a proper place to rest after coming from the grueling day on the field. Some of them will be on law and order, crime and traffic duties, but when they come back home they should be able to live like normal citizens, in the present colony it was not possible as their spouses will have to fetch water from a distance and heat it up over a stove of kerosene of gas to provide their tired husbands a decent bucket of water for bath. In the new colony that, and other comforts of home will be available for the policemen enabling them to resume their duties afresh in the morning next day,” he said.

Dr. Achraya said even the housing colony at Shaktinagar will be revamped at a cost of Rs. 35 lakhs. Dr. Acharya earlier had lunch at the 'Samaradhane' at the Ganesha pendal at the police lines and offered poojas to lord Ganapathy.

Later speaking to the media Dr. Acharya said the Kerala based Madani who masterminded the Bangalore blasts, had links in the political circles and in coming days his links will be exposed.(Mangalorean)

Learn to respect policemen, else face the heat

Published: Friday, Sep 10, 2010, 8:48 IST
By Hemanth Kumar | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

After several instances of policemen being assaulted by members of the public were reported recently, city police commissioner Shankar M Bidari issued stern warnings, saying stringent action would be taken against those attacking his men.
But is that the best way to approach this problem? Is there some underlying problem of which the attacks are merely a symptom?

Home minister VS Acharya admitted, in an interview with DNA, that policemen too need training in dealing appropriately with the people they are meant to protect. Those misbehaving with police personnel, however, will get the ‘treatment’ they deserve, the home minister said.

What have you planned to bring those who attack policemen on duty to book? And how would you explain the recent spurt in such instances?
There need be no leniency shown to those who feel free to attack policemen on duty. We will take measures to ensure that such attacks do not happen. Most of the assaults have happened late in the night, and the attackers are mostly people driving home drunk, who have been hauled up. These are miscreants who ought to be taught to cooperate with police personnel who are only doing their duty. We’ll take strong action against them.

These incidents are cause for concern. Do you think they have an impact on the morale of the police force?
If people who attack policemen are let off easily, it would send out a message about the police force being bullied. People will begin to look with contempt at policemen if we fail to deal with these miscreants sternly. We cannot ignore such attacks, as it would be detrimental to the image and morale of the policemen.

Are you implying that the policemen are never at fault?
Policemen are not saints. They too are human and sometimes make mistakes. What I am saying is that all instances of attacks on our men in uniform will be scrutinised. Corrective measures will be taken.

Do you have a notion of what the solution to this problem might be?
There should, as far as possible, be no lapse on the part of the policemen. To train our men adequately, we will be bringing out miniature police diaries for people in each district. The diaries will contain phone numbers of police officials. If anyone faces harassment at the hands of a policeman, he or she should know how such misbehaviour could be reported, and the right channels through which action can be taken in such cases. Officers will be available on phone round-the-clock.

Has something like that ever been tried?
We launched an initiativein Dakshina Kannada. Soon, all districts will have it. We have also started orientation programmes for police personnel.

Acharya vows to develop Swarna river bank as tourist spot

Nature Worship: Offerings to the lifeline of Udupi

Udupi, September 7: Udupi District Incharge Minister Dr VS Acharya has announced that the government would develop the Swarna River bank, at the premises of Sheembra Ganapathi Temple, Perampali, as a tourist attraction by spending Rs 28-30 lakhs.

He was speaking after offering ‘Baagina’ to Swarna River on the auspicious occasion of Krishna Angaraka Chaturdashi here on Tuesday.

Dr Acharya said that Sheembra was one of the places where Sode Vadiraja Theertha Swamiji, one of the then Ashta Matadipathies, has taken a sacred dip.

This place gets significance as he had mentioned the same in ‘Theertha Prasanna’, a book on piligrimage.

The Minister promised to construct a ‘Snana Ghatta’ (bathing place), a dressing room for ladies, steps to reach the river etc within a year. Funds from the department of Minor Irrigation, Department of Toursim would be utilized for the purpose.

Minister recalled the starting of water supply to Udupi Municipality from the Swarna in 1972 and said that at present over 1.5 lakh people had been using over 6 billion gallons of drinking water from the river.

Minister’s wife Shantha V Acharya, MLA K Raghupathi Bhat, CMC Vice President Bharathi Chandrashekhar, UUDA Chairman B Sudhakar Shetty, Deputy Commissioner P Hemalatha, ZP CEO Rajashekhar, SP Praveen Pawar, TP Executive Officer D Manjunathiah were present. Hundreds of devotees also took the sacred bath in the river on this auspicious occasion.

(Photo: Janardan Kodavoor, Report: Coastal Digest)

Photo of the week

A picture is worth a thousand words!

(photo sourced from the internet, would be glad to publish photographers name, if a valid claim is made)