Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Lessons to be learnt

Background: Fire at Bangalore's Carlton Towers: Bangalore, Feb 23: A massive fire has hit the third floor of the Carlton Towers in Bangalore, killing three and trapping many office goers around the peak office hours this evening. At least five people may have died in the Carlton Towers since they jumped out from the fifth and sixth floors of their office building in Bangalore on Tuesday. Survivors were treated at Manipal Hospital...




There are lessons to be learnt...
About fire safety:
=Respect existing guidelines, rather than considering fire safety norms as "harassment"
=Equipment in buildings as per norms
=Mock exercises / drills to be performed routinely by all establishments
About public response:
=Avoid unnecessary crowding at disaster sites/ roads in the vicinity: your curiosity may delay of the transport of victims to hospital
=Be a volunteer to donate blood/ identify victims/ help in crowd control
About the role of the media
=To avoid crowding at the "rescue areas" at the site of disaster/ "treatment areas" in the hospital, respect privacy of the victims
=Spread information on the victims/ helplines
=Spread awareness about fire fighting devices to be used by individuals, fire safety drills
=Investigative journalism to bring out the facts on "unpreparedness of high rise buildings" on fire safety
=Positive coverage for the selfless service by Fire & Emergency services


Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Yedyurappa cabinet has not cleared mining in reserve forests, claims Acharya

Notification for De Reserving was done by SM Krishna cabinet is 2003 !

Bangalore, Feb 22:Karnataka’s home minister Dr V S Acharya has clarified that the BJP government in the state has ``not allowed mining in the reserved forest areas of Bellary, Shimoga and Mysore district’’

Dr Acharya, who is a close confidant of the chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, on Monday made it clear that the state cabinet’s decision on Saturday pertained to allowing ``mining in the 14 blocks of the three districts, subject to certain conditions.’’ But, he asserted that mining had been permitted ``only in de-reserved forest areas of three districts.’’ "Our government will never allow mining in reserve or other forest areas. We know the importance of green cover, environment and forests,’’he said. He explained that the decision for issuing the denotification on dereserving the blocks was taken by the previous Congress-led S M Krishna government. The notification to ``de-reserve the 14 blocks in the reserve forests was issued in 2003.“ The then government had received 1,400 applications for mining operations and had taken the decision to dereserve the 14 blocks in the three districts. However, the then Congress government’s decision was challenged in the Karnataka High Court. Later, the high court upheld the government’s decision, Dr Acharya said. The cabinet has decided to permit mining on 11,620 sq km in three districts only after consultation with the Forest and Industries Department, the minister explained. Mining has been permitted only for value addition and creation of jobs. The decision is in tune with the state’s mining policy, he added. The government was committed for the exploitation of the mineral wealth and there was abundance of minerals in 14 blocks of three districts. Now, the Government would receive the royalty of Rs 110 per tonne of minerals against meagre Rs 22 earlier.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

20.02.2010: Cabinet Meet














UGC pay-scale for agriculture universities

The state Cabinet in its meeting on Saturday approved the implementation of the revised UGC pay scales for teachers and equivalent cadres in agriculture and horticulture universities and colleges.

The decision was taken as the National Council for Agricultural research had recommended UGC pay scale for agriculture and horticulture universities, Home Minister V S Acharya said The total amount that would be paid as arrears up to March 31, 2010 would be nearly Rs 200 crore, of which Rs 159.52 crores would be borne by the Centre and the rest by the state government. The annual recurring expenditure of about Rs 100 crore would be borne entirely by the state government, Acharya said.


Mining in 6 blocks: The State government on Saturday decided to allow mining in another six blocks of forest land. (It may be recalled that the SM Krishna Govt had de reserved 22 blocks in 2003, thus allowing mining in those blocks. Of these 22 blocks 6 blocks have now been opened for mining, with strict adherance to laid guidelines)

Mining will be allowed in nearly 13,630 hectares of forest land in Bellary, Shimoga and Mysore districts, if the mining firms agree to adhere to the conditions laid down in the Karnataka Mining Policy-2009.

State to open six blocks of forest land for mining

The State Cabinet on Saturday decided to open up six blocks of forest land, including some in the reserved forest area, in the State for mining activities.
The Cabinet decided to reserve these blocks for mining purposes, Home Minister V S Acharya told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
However, the Cabinet decided against allowing mining in the ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats region.

Mining firms should fulfil two main conditions effecting value addition to ore and securing permission from the Union Ministry of Environment, Ecology and Forest and the State High Level Clearance Committee - for mining in these blocks, Acharya said.

The then Government in 2003 had de-reserved these blocks of land (removing the revenue land tag from them) and handed over their ownership to the Forest department. It is only on the Forest land mining is allowed. Mining cannot be done on Revenue land, as per the rule book.

Approval has been accorded to develop 3 kms of four-lane road to Bidadi Industrial Area from Mysore road (near Coca-cola factory) at the cost of Rs 15 crore.

The Cabinet granted farm land to five educational and religious institutions in various parts of the State. They are Brahmakumari Eshwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Belgaum (6 acres), Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny Institution, H D Kote (8 acres), Anjuman Islam, Hangal (2.3 s), Bharatiya Yoga Dharma, Mysore (3.11 acres) and Mysore University Employees’ Housing Cooperative Society, Mysore, (2.16 acres).

Other decisions

* Bring in 33 amendments to the Karnataka Cooperative Act, as per the recommendations of L Vaidyanathan Committee report.
* Rs 17.18 crore drinking water project to Banahatti town, Bagalkot
* Rs 28 crore UGD project to Honnavara town
* Rs 16 crore drinking water project to Belur town
* Rs 71 crore UGD project to Sagar town
* Withdrawal of 16 police cases in Dharwad, Baindur and Bagalkot.
(DHNS)

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Journalist of Puttur scales great heights in the art of News Fabrication!

Reporter from an evening newspaper of dubious repute, sets fire to a shop with the intention of creating communal violence!

If the community had not exercised restraint, this episode would have created another communal violence in Puttur.

Police are also investigating, whether the same reporter was also involved in the desecration of Mahatma Gandhijis statue at Puttur.


As expected
=Puttur Taluk Press Club has disowned the reporter in question!
=None of the local webpages which otherwise sensationalize any news which involves minority community have reported this episode!
News courtesy: Vijaya Karnataka

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Celebrate: do not cross the limits of decency

Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and home minister Dr V S Acharya have directed the police to sternly deal with anybody attempting to break the law."We will maintain tight vigilance. Nobody will be allowed to cross the limits,’’ Dr Acharya said making it clear that, ``it applies to lovers observing V-Day or the opponents as well as those attempting to indulge in moral policing.’’

Bangalore: The State Government has directed the police to step up vigil at all sensitive places in the State to foil the threats to disrupt Valentine’s Day celebrations. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa chaired a meeting with Home Minister V.S. Acharya and senior police officers on Friday and discussed the steps to be taken to maintain law and order on Valentine’s Day. Dr. Acharya warned those opposed to Valentine’s Day celebrations against fomenting trouble and said firm action would be taken against those who took the law into their own hands.

However, Dr. Acharya cautioned people against crossing the limits. “We will maintain vigil all over the State. Those celebrating Valentine’s Day should not cross the limits. Same rule applies to moral policing too.”

Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidri said a “highly structured security” system had been adopted across Bangalore to prevent untoward incidents on Valentine’s Day.He said that the police had started taking people into preventive custody. “The public can celebrate Valentine’s Day. In case they are prevented from celebrating, they can lodge a complaint at any police station. We will initiate stringent action against trouble-makers,” Mr. Bidri told presspersons. He said two activists of the Youth Congress had been arrested in connection with the blackening of Mr. Muthalik’s face. The arrested are general secretary of the Youth Congress Srinivas, and Manjunath.

“We are also questioning three Youth Congress activists for allegedly assisting the arrested,” Mr. Bidari said. He also suspected the role of a few political leaders in the incident.Mr. Bidari said that the attack was pre-planned. The department was planning to book a case against a local television channel for not informing the police about the attack on Mr. Muthalik despite being in the know.

    Thursday, February 11, 2010

    10.02.2010: Cabinet Briefing: Pwer Generation & Infrastructure Development

    Karnataka to strengthen Cow Protection Act: Karnataka Cabinet Wednesday approved the more stringent Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act. The proposed law aims to make cow slaughter a cognizable offence. Those who violate the law will have to spend one to seven years in jail or pay between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh as fine, Home Minister V S Acharya said. Karnataka has since 2006 been setting aside funds in its budget to set up cow protection centres in the state to rehabilitate cattle, Acharya said.
    State to raise Chhattisgarh power plant capacity: Karnataka cabinet today decided to increase capacity of its proposed pithead thermal power project from 1,200 Mw to 1,600 Mw. The project, to be developed as two units of 800 Mw each, will use the super critical technology. Briefing reporters on the decisions taken at the cabinet meeting, here, V S Acharya, minister for home, Karnataka, said the power project will be developed by the state-owned Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) in a 50:50 joint venture with Larsen & Toubro Ltd. Power will flow 48 months from the date of commencement of work. About 80 per cent of the power is expected to be supplied to the state grid, he said.

    “By using the same amount of coal we can produce 1,600 Mw power using the super critical technology. There will not be much rise in the cost of the project with the increase in its capacity,” Acharya said. The cost of the project is likely to be in the order of Rs 6,000 crore.

    The land acquisition for the project is in its final stages and the power purchase agreement will be signed after that, Acharya said adding that the government would approach the Centre to accord a ultra mega power project (UMPP) status to the project. UMPP status is normally given to projects with capacities of over 1,500 Mw.

    The plant will come up in the northern part of Chhattisgarh, where the state-owned coal producer South Eastern Coalfields Ltd has its mines. The first unit of the plant will be commissioned by October 2012. This is the first project being taken by the KPCL, outside Karnataka.Under the pact, the Chhattisgarh government has ensured early allocation of coal linkage for KPCL under the state’s industrial policy.

    In a major decision, the state cabinet has approved a proposal to increase capacity of the Udupi power project from the present 1,015 Mw to 1,200 Mw. Udupi Power Company is setting up the thermal power project at Nandikur, about 35 km from Mangalore. The first unit of 600 Mw is likely to go onstream in April this year, he said.

    Acharya said the cabinet has decided to handover the development of Shimoga and Gulbarga airports to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS). The project was earlier given to Maytas Infra, a Satyam group company. The government would give a guarantee for a period of 10 years, he said.

    To facilitate the expansion of the Belgaum airport, the government has decided to transfer 370 acres to the Airports Authority of India and provide free power and security for five years to manage the airport, he said.

    Among other major decisions, the cabinet has approved the new semiconductor policy which was introduced a few days ago. It has decided to permit the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) to raise Rs 250 crore to take up several infrastructure development projects for the city. Presently, the BBMP is executing projects of over Rs 2,200 crore.

    The budget session will be held for a month, starting February 25. On the first day, governor H R Bharadwaj will address the joint session of the assembly. From February 26 to 28 the assembly will have a holiday on account of Union Budget and it will be reconvened on March 1. The chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present the state budget on March 5 for the year 2010-11. (Indian Express/Business Standard)

    No cow slaughter ban: BJP flays Congress, JDS

    BANGALORE: The BJP government in Karnataka today slammed the Congress and JDS for its opposition to the proposed legislation on banning cow slaughter in the state and termed it as "politically motivated".

    "The opposition by Congress and JDS which once had cow and calf and bullocks as their party symbol is nothing but vote bank politics", Karnataka Home Minister Dr V S Acharya told reporters here.

    Apparently targetting JDS chief H D Deve Gowda, who threatened to agitate if the government went ahead with the enactment of the legislation, Acharya said his "true colours" have been exposed now". Gowda should have taken a lead role in saving the cows from being butchered, he said.

    Defending the government's decision to bring in a law to ban cow slaughter, he said the legislation was well within the provisions of the Constitution and on the model of Jammu and Kashmir act, which has stood the test of legal scrutiny.

    On JDS's protests against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise promoted Bangalore-Mysore Expressway, Acharya said there was a "conspiracy" by the party which initiated it, apparently pointing his fingers at the then Janata Dal government which signed the MoU and also finalised the Framework agreement in 1997.

    He said the government has not allotted any land to any one from its land bank and criticised Gowda's move to oppose creation of land bank for industrial development.

    Wednesday, February 10, 2010

    “Manipal Pain Relief Centre”


    Pains are something we live with and now Banagalore has a place where these obscure pains cane be treated. from knots in the back from working long hours on the computer, to nagging headaches possibly stress related, injury pains, nerve pressure pains. With this new facility that has been started under the xpertise of Dr. Suresh R Joshi, who is an Alumni of the Manipal Group and has had a over 30 year experience in pain relief. With working intensively with specialists from the USA, Uk and the Netherlands.
    The Pain Relief Centre was inaugurated on February 10th by Dr. VS Acharya Home Affairs Minister of Karnataka along with Anil Kumble. Dr Acharya has been Dr. Joshi who go back to being childhood friend and on the occasion said," I am extremely happy to be here to inaugurate this centre at Manipal, one of the best well-known hospital in the state. I feel it is a great opportunity and blessing for people that the 1st Pain relief Centre has opened here. In the old days, it took a lot of time and trouble to diagnose our pain but now with the help of this new technology we will be able to find the root cause of our pain and treat it accordingly. My only wish is that we should strive to make it accessible to all society and I believe that Manipal hospital will come up with a solution for this very soon."Photo & Full report from My Bangalore

    Quote of the week


    "The Justice B K Somashekhar Commission, also clarified that the contents of the report were not disclosed to anybody and only salient features of the report which were found already in the public domain."


    Invite Human Rights groups to Police functions



    Build safe road humps: Minister
    Bangalore:Feb 9,DHNS:

    Unscientific ‘killer’ road humps in the City are posing problems to the vehicle-riders, according to Home Minister V S Acharya.

    Inaugurating the building of Mico Layout police station here on Tuesday, he said the road humps should be constructed more intelligently.

    Praising Police, Acharya requested the police to invite organisations fighting for Human Rights to police functions, especially those on property recovery and distribution parades. By doing so, the minister said, these organisations will get to know the efforts and the turmoils of policemen. Several police officers in the rank of DCPs, ACPs, police inspectors and sub-inspectors from various divisions, excluding traffic, were rewarded on the occasion.

    A booklet on junction plan for traffic signals in Bangalore City - version 1.0 was released on the occasion.
    DH News Service

    Monday, February 8, 2010

    08.02.2010



    Mangalore photos: Mangalorean
    Udupi Photos: Janardan Kodavoor

    Photo of the week

    Photo: eesanje

    Home Minister Dr V S Acharya on Friday assured that the State government will soon increase leave allowance from Rs 50 to Rs 100 per day for the police personnel.

    He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a mega health check-up camp organised by Jeevani Health Care’s Sarvodaya Hospital, Magadi Road, at the City Armed Reserve Ground.

    The Government will soon complete the process of implementing the hike, he added. The policemen work round- the-clock and under extreme circumstances. They require money to carry out investigation as they have to take suspects to different places

    Successive governments had not increased the leave allowance. The police top brass had submitted proposals requesting for a hike. The Government decided to hike considering their working conditions. Advising the police not to come to duty if their health was not fit, he said, illness, obesity and extra weight would hamper professional achievement of the policemen.

    Medical check-up

    Hence, they should undergo medical check-up at least once in a year, the minister suggested. The Government is opening gym for the policemen in different parts of the State including Bangalore. The policemen should work out in the gym every day to keep themselves fit, he advised.

    He commended the Bangalore police for speedy recovery of stolen goods. The City police had recovered 1,000 stolen cars. He has asked mediapersons to highlight their performance and boost their morale.

    Acharya blames Opposition


    Home Minister Dr V S Acharya replied in affirmative when the media asked if he suspected involvement of the Opposition parties in the church attacks across the State. To a media query if the Opposition parties are involved in the church attacks, Dr Acharya said: “You said the right thing.”

    Nowhere in the report had Justice Somasekhara said that organisations such as Bajrang Dal, Srirama Sene or Vishwa Hindu Parishat are involved in the church attacks. It is clearly stated in the report that a few persons made such allegations. Hence, most people have misunderstood the Commission’s observations, he added. He promised protection for those celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14.

    Wednesday, February 3, 2010

    Justice Somashekara report: what the "secular" media fails to report!


    What the media has conveniently chosen to ignore!

    Below are the extracts from the synopsis issued by the commission to the public.




    • In Some incidents there were indications of self-infliction or collusion or make-believe methods to create evidence of attack on churches or places of worship to support such things in other districts or places.
    • There are indications of massive conversions to Christianity by circumstances and inducements but not by compulsion. Such conversions were only by faith and not of religion in legal or technical sense.
    • All the materials in any form including literature, books, pamphlets, publications including the press and media in any form using abusive or insulting expressions either direct or with innuendos touching the religious interests should be banned if existing and censured if proposed to be published.Read full text released to the media

    Media reports: "selective" blindness: Bangalore Feb 3: Home Minister V S Acharya on Tuesday said some statements in the interim report submitted by the commission including the collusion of Bajarang Dal, VHP and Sri Rama Sene members with police in attacking churches were not the observations of the commission but only submissions made before it. Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday, Acharya also expressed surprise that the commission had made the contents of the report public. Acharya said the interim report submitted by the commission was in three parts - “recommendations of the commission”, “synopsis to the public” and “impression given to the commission.” Police excesses on protesting Christians and involvement of Bajarang Dal members in the attack were only “impression given to the commission” by people during disposition, he said.Commenting on the report being made public, Acharya said, “As per norm, commissions of inquiry submit their report in a sealed cover to the Government. After obtaining a nod from the Cabinet, the reports are tabled in the legislature. But we will not take exception, the report has already been made public, now nothing can be done, it’s okay”, Acharya said. The Home Minister pointed to a commission statement that “in some incidents there were indications of self-infliction or collusion or make-believe methods to create evidence of attack on churches or places of worship to support such things in other districts or places”. The government was studying all aspects of the report, but any action or implementation of the recommendations could be taken up only after the final report was received. Acharya sought to differentiate between the impressions of the commission itself and the impressions of the various parties who deposed before the commission. Much of what is reported is the impression the deposing parties had brought before the panel, Acharya said.(DHNS/IE)


    Tuesday, February 2, 2010

    Justice Somashekara Commission Submits Interim Report




    Mangalore, Feb 1: The Justice B K Somashekara Enquiry Commission set up to investigate the church attacks in the state, presented its interim report to the government on Monday February 1.

    The Commission has made several suggestions and recommendations to the government to consider and implement.

    The recommendations are:

    Government should ensure protection to all religions and their institutions, particularly in the affected districts due to attacks and especially to minority religions and should be spelt out in clear terms without politicization.

    As a first measure, the government should convince the affected Christian institutions and persons that it shares their miseries and sentiments suffered due to unpleasant incidents of attacks in all forms with sympathy, compassion, and concern by taking all the religions and political parties into confidence.

    The district administration at all levels should be made liable for all violations in any form and extent of such protection.

    A common modality should be framed and adopted for all the district administrations to deal with all situations of religious matters uniformly, impartially, effectively, and speedily.

    The intelligence wing of the government, at least in all districts, must be geared up with trained personnel, infrastructure, headed by expertise and commitment to social and religious causes especially to deal with all situations of religious conflicts supervised and monitored at least by an officer of IGP cadre of the state.

    The state should take all measures to ensure fundamental rights for freedom of conscience and free profession and propagation of religion within the meaning of Article 25 of the constitution of India in letter and spirit.

    Religious harmony awareness programmes may be initiated at village and taluk levels to avoid unexpected religious conflicts with elders of all religions constituting the peace committees.

    Legislations through special law within the competence of the state under lists of the constitution may be passed to ensure prevention of atrocities on any person in the name of religion in any form and protection of all persons claiming the privileges by virtue of a religion as per the law without reference to the conflicting legal consequences.

    All communal organizations in whatever name or form preaching or practicing any activity against any religion in any form should be banned as per the law existing to be legislated with the serious consequences of forfeiting assets to the government free from all encumbrances.

    All the materials in any form including literature, books, pamphlets, publications including the press and media in any form using abusive or insulting expressions either direct or with innuendos touching the religious interests should be banned if existing and censured if proposed to be published.

    All criminal cases registered investigated or charge sheeted against all persons or institutions for the incidents of attacks etc, during the relevant period with cut out date ending 31 December, 2008 may be withdrawn or compounded as per law, however on any reasonable conditions including the plea of bargaining sentence and probationary measures depending upon the facts and circumstances of each case.

    Compensation for all claims for damages to the property or injury to any person during the incidents and thereafter shall be inquired and paid within one month from the date of communication of the recommendation by the appropriate authorities like the deputy commissioner of the districts either pending or made within one month there from deducting any amount already paid as indicated in the report while dealing with petitions of each district.

    There must be least or no policing regarding religious matters and to be handled with care and compassion by taking the religious leaders or heads into confidence and entry into any religious place by the police for any action should be totally with the permission or at least consultation with the religious persons in charge of the places.

    The government should constitute a task force under the chairmanship of the commission with duly nominated members from the departments of the government to monitor and implement the recommendation of the commission.

    All decisions taken by the government on the recommendations of the commission and implementation by the government may be published as far as possible. All other questions not covered by these recommendations will be provided in the next or final report.

    Below are the extracts from the synopsis issued by the commission to the public.

    In some incidents there were indications of self-infliction or collusion or make-believe methods to create evidence of attack on churches or places of worship to support such things in other districts or places.

    There are indications of massive conversions to Christianity by circumstances and inducements but not by compulsion. Such conversions were only by faith and not of religion in legal or technical sense.

    The attacks on the churches or places of worship has deeply affected the harmony between the members of Hindu and Christian religions and created suspicion in the minds of each other.

    Strong impression is created that the members belonging to Bajarang Dal, Sri Rama Sene, and VHP etc. are mainly responsible for attacking churches or places of worship mainly in Mangalore and South Canara districts spreading to other districts and other parts of the state. Other so-called attacks were only make-believe.


    Commission's move termed as breach of privilege

    Home minister V S Acharya citing the Commission of Inquiries Act, said provisions in the said Act mandate a commission set up under the Act to submit its report to the state legislature. In this case, Acharya said, legislature means the Cabinet. "The report should have reached us in a sealed cover, deliberated in the Cabinet, which in turn would take a decision on making its contents public by placing it before the assembly," he said. (TOI)

    Monday, February 1, 2010

    01.02.2010



    Photos: Janardan Kodavoor

    Udupi: Unity among women yield tremendous benefits – Shobha Karandlaje


    Udupi Feb 1 (DHNS) : The Udupi Taluk Mahila Haseemeenu Maratagarara Sangha was inaugurated here on Monday. The function was followed by a huge fisher women convention.
    Speaking after inaugurating the Sangha, former minister Shobha Karandlaje opined that fisherwomen should take part in active politics involving them in the local governance. Women today play a significant role in religious, political and social arena. She surpasses men in all spheres.
    Each and every woman in the society should be self-reliant, deciding her financial status, she added. Fisherwomen are deprived of many basic facilities. Attempts will be made to compensate with minimum basic facilities that are needed for the fisherwomen to have comfortable business. These women should make use of the beneficiary programmes announced by the government. Unity among women folks yield tremendous benefits, she said.
    Karandlaje informed that the loan waiver scheme introduced by the government has enabled the fishermen community people to heave a sigh of relief. More than 1,250 beneficiaries have been identified under Matsyahraya Yojane. Government will be urged to increase the amount of diesel from 75,000 litres to 1 lakh litres in the current fiscal budget that is being presented during March end. She urged the government to withdraw its plans to set up cold storage units in the coastal belt, which would massively affect the business of these fisherwomen.
    Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya said that the economy of the coastal belt is entirely dependent on the fishing trade. Measures will be taken to sort out the problems encountered by the fishermen community. Health insurance schemes with low premiums will be introduced.
    Loans up to Rs 10,000 at 4 per cent interest rates will be offered to the fishermen. Supplementary shortage of diesel will be filled. Besides, measures will be taken to give diesel up to 90,000 at subsidised rates. All round development programmes aiming at more comforts to fishermen will be introduced, he promised.
    Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary, Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat, Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, ZP President Gladys Almeida, Industrialist Pramodh Madhwaraj were present.(from ShobhaKarandlaje.com)