Best memento for a visitor to Udupi!Udupi, Jan 14: Renowned Photo-journalist and multi-faceted Astro Mohan’s book ‘Pictorial Journey to Udupi’ was released at Hotel Kidiyoor, here.
Speaking on the occasion, managing editor of Taranga Sandhya Pai said that deeply grasping the ancient regions of Udupi, the people, their lifestyle Astro Mohan has presented them beautifully in his book. This would be very useful to the tourists, she opined. Kiran Manjanabailu said that the book throws a light on the famous tourist spots of Udupi, the educational institutions and the religious prominence of the place.
Higher education minister V S Acharya, the chief guest said that Mohan has brought out the book on collection of photographs in an optimal manner and it’s a best gift one can give to loved ones, he added.
Wishing all the success to Astro Mohan MLA Raghupathi Bhat said that the book provides the real meaning of the word ‘Art’. It contains the developmental details of Udupi district too which is very informative, he said.
In his presidential speech Eshwarayya said that photography is a peace of heart. A best photo touches the hearts and minds of the viewers. The creativity too plays a major role. Photographs have a cultural entity, he said.
Laxminarayana Upadhya led the prayers and Janardhana Kodavooru welcomed the gathering and compered the prpgramme. Praveen Mohan proposed the vote of thanks.
The veteran BJP leader from Udupi, is someone who has a clear perception of party affairs in Karnataka and does not mind speaking the truth though at times, he gives the impression of being stubborn. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Dr Acharya spoke about the crisis in the party, possible solutions and the controversial bill pertaining to the endowment department.
Q: Some leaders including state BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa and Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda have admitted to problems in the party. According to you, what are the problems?
If I am right, the problem is very simple. Party central leaders have told B.S. Yeddyurappa (former chief minister) to come clean in all the cases pending against him. They have told him that he cannot hold any post while facing charges. If he heeds this, everything will be sorted out.
But the situation does not look simple. Mr Yeddyurappa says that he has not demanded any post, nor does he want any. Yet, his supporters keep meeting at his residence to demand his political rehabilitation. Is groupism not affecting the BJP?
I do not think so. There is nothing wrong in legislators and a few ministers meeting and demanding a fitting post for Mr Yeddyurappa in the party. All they are doing is expressing their opinion because BSY is a popular leader of the BJP. I feel it will only strengthen the party. Nor do I think their utterances in public will harm the party. Now that they have expressed their views, they should leave the matter to the party leadership and remain silent as disciplined soldiers of the party. Mr Yeddyurappa also seems to have reconciled to the idea that the party leadership will take care of his interests which is why he said he will function as an ordinary worker and not harm the party.
The situation seems so serious that ministers including home minister R. Ashok had to go to New Delhi and meet central leaders. Comment.
Do you know that whenever I go to New Delhi, I will not return without meeting Advaniji? Mr Ashok is the home minister. During his visit to New Delhi, he might have met party leaders. When we meet our national leaders, they are sure to ask us and obtain inputs on the situation in Karnataka. This helps them take decisions if need be, in future.
But, the differences in the party seem to be hitting the state hard. Ministers owing allegiance to Mr Yeddyurappa do not seem interested in attending office and redressing people’s problems. Take the case of public works minister, C.M. Udasi. He has come under severe criticism.
Mr Udasi is a senior minister and works very hard. The status of bad roads need not reflect on his style of functioning. There may be many other factors responsible like the allocation of funds and rules governing clearance of projects. He has to adhere to rules while implementing works. He might have expressed his allegiance to Mr Yeddyurappa because, he was made a Cabinet minister by BSY. That does not mean he has neglected his work. All our ministers are working hard. Some people have created a wrong impression about me too. They said my ill health is affecting my performance. It is unfortunate that the media is not interested in giving the right news.
Moving on to departmental issues, one of the bills of your department was defeated in the Legislative Assembly. Do you plan to bring the bill back in the same form or will you introduce an amended version in the next session?
I will introduce the bill in the Legislative Council and get it passed before presenting it in the Assembly again. I do not know why people think it was I who proposed the bill. The contentious clause which some legislators referred to, was not introduced by me. It was part of the original legislation in which law makers had used a group of words: "temple pertinent to maths". During the court case, the judges scrutinised these words and wanted the government to clarify on it. So the government brought an amendment in the last session. I have not changed the motive of the original legislation which had excluded temples governed by maths from government scrutiny. The contentious clause was part of the legislation for the past 14 years. I am bringing an amendment with a clarification as suggested by the court.
Photo courtesy: Janardan KodavoorOn the occasion of Christmas on Sunday December 25, the aesthetically built district complex at Manipal near here, was dedicated to the public.
Karnataka Chief Minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, who inaugurated the building, promised that he will strive to rule the state in such a way so as not to lose the confidence reposed on him by the people, whose affection for him, he said, had catapulted him to this position of power.
“This is the day on which Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a statesman and politician with high integrity and ethics, was born. I am happy to inaugurate the complex in the presence of my political mentors,” he explained.
He also announced decisions like sanctioning of 50 additional posts to the district, conversion of the old taluk office block into mini Vidhana Soudha, building of quarters for employees, giving clearance for spending the excess amount of Rs 1.8 crore from the land revenue department for administrative purpose and acquisition of vehicles.
He also announced release of one third of the project cost for the construction of Rajatadri-Kolalagiri Bridge, which, once executed, will cut the distance to the district complex by two kms for people coming from the direction of Brahmavar and Kundapur.
Dr V S Acharya, speaking on the occasion, hailed local MLA, Raghupati Bhat, for putting in efforts for realizing the district’s dreams of ‘Rajatadri’, the district complex, foundation stone for which had been laid during the period of erstwhile Chief Minister, J H Patel. Raghupati Bhat, who gratefully recollected the cooperation he received from the ministers and others towards making the district complex a reality, said that the landmark building could come up because of the second phase amount of Rs 7.65 crore released by the government. He announced that the district deputy commissioner would start functioning from the new complex from Monday December 26 onwards.
Rural development and panchayat raj minister, Jagadish Shettar, who noted that a unique platform, a venue for those who want to stage protest at the complex, has been built here, wished that this platform will never be used. Expressing his appreciation for the building design and execution, he said that honest officials, who understand the genuine wishes of the government and implement the programmes, and serve the people well, can pave way for overall progress of the district.
MLAs, H Gopal Bhandary, Lalaji R Mendon, and Lakshminarayana, MLCs, Ganesh Karnik and Srinivas Poojary, chairman of Committee for Implementation of Third Finance Commission Recommendations, A G Kodgi, zilla panchayat president, Katapadi Shankar Poojary, district deputy commissioner, M T Reju, inspector general of police (western range), Pratap Reddy, superintendent of police, Ravikumar, Ramesh Jhalaki, and others were present at the dais.
Kudi Vasant Shetty presented the programme. A cultural programme, ‘Tulunada Vaibhava’ was presented on the occasion.
Thereafter, the Chief Minister chaired the progress review meeting held at the district auditorium.
With 42 Government offices in one complex, this ultra modern DC office complex is a dream come true!The complex has three blocks—A, B and C.
‘A’ block will house DC office, while ‘C’ block will have Zilla Panchayat and ‘B’ block has fulfledged AC hall with a capacity to seat 500 persons at a time.
The offices which will function in the new building are—’A’ block—DC office, Additional DC office, Information Technology officer, City Development Cell, department of religious endowment and election section.
The first floor of the ‘A’ block will house district registrar, labour department, land survey technical assistant and deputy director, food and civil supplies deputy director, liason officer, Nirmithi kendra, Mines and geology, Wakf Board, Information Department. The second floor will house—tourism department, housing board, auditor, weights and measures, pension and small savings and urban/rural project.
The ‘B’ block will have hall, the first floor of the ‘B’ block will have women and child welfare department, sericulture, social forestry/Forest department, khadi and handloom, horticulture, watershed development department. The second floor will have ports and fisheries department, khadi and handloom board, Backward classes development corporation, social welafare department, Ambedkar development corporation. The basement of the ‘C’ block will house treasury, bank, post office.
The ground floor will house Zilla Panchayat hall, ZP President, Vice-President, CEO office, MP office. The first floor will have Kannada and culture department, Employment exchange, Handloom department, Panchayat Raj engineering.
The second floor will have DDPI office, Adult education and Agriculture department.
Other amenities: Protestors Park, Dandi March sculpture, Helipad, Parking area, Food court, Garden
BANGALORE: “With ever increasing population and enhanced consumer awareness about healthy food, it is evident that food technology will grow soon in the nation,” said Minister for Higher Education Dr V S Acharya on Thursday. 
Udupi, Dec 4: Women and child development department of Karnataka state, Mahajana Union of specially challenged, Special School Teachers’ Union, and Udupi district specially challenged independent service groups, jointly observed ‘World Disabled Day’ at Shamili Hall in Ambalapady on Saturday December 3.
Made snana is a matter of personal belief: Mujrai minister
Udupi: Kanaka Jayanti celebrations were organized in Udupi Shri Krishna Temple, jointly by Paryaya Shiroor Math and the department of Kannada and culture here on Monday November 14.
As part of the programme, a painting of Kanakadasa riding an elephant was taken in a procession around Car Street. Special poojas were offered to Kanakadasa and Lord Krishna. State BJP chief K S Eshwarappa inaugurated the precession. Mangalorean/ Janardan Kodavoor
Udupi: An E- Stamp counter was inaugurated by Dr. V S Acharya, Minister of Higher Education and District minister Incharge on Lawyers Multipurpose Co – Operative Society in court premises on Saturday 19 November.
Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya said on Saturday that the State government was giving importance to develop skills and talents among the youth.
He was speaking after inaugurating the three-day State Youth Festival organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, and the district administration.
Mr. Acharya said that physical barriers had come down in a globalised world. Youth with good education, skills, and talent had many opportunities open for them.
In the past four years, the government increased the budget of the Department of Youth Services and Sports. The government was thinking of shifting the scouts' activities in schools from the Department of Public Instruction to the Department of Youth Services and Sports, he said.
The future of the country was dependent on the future of the youth. “Our ancestors have left us a rich legacy in the fields of arts and culture. It is our duty to preserve and promote it,” he said.
Assistant Director of the Department of Youth Services and Sports Sitanadi Vittal Shetty welcomed the gathering.
Gopal Bhandary, MLA, presided over the function.
President of the Karkala Town Municipal Council Pratima Mohan, Director of the Department of Youth Services and Sports V. Chandrashekhar, zilla panchayat members Savitha Kotian and Mamatha Adhikari, and Deputy Commissioner M.T. Reju were present. The Hindu(report)/ Mangalorean (photo)
Udupi: Office-bearers of the South Kanara Photographers' Association, with the jurisdiction over Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district, met state minister of higher education and religious endowments Dr V S Acharya at his residence and submitted a memorandum of their demands. The minister assured them that all the demands would be favourably considered soon.
Udupi: The Bhargava Samagama, a convention to blend and build cordial relationship among all Bhargava origin people belonging to different pravaras, was held in Inna Muddanu Shri Mahalingeshwara temple under the leadership of Bhargava Trust, Inna on Saturday, Nov 5.The eight-member council will have dharmadarshis of different temples, minister for religious endowment and also its government secretary. This council will have powers to appoint the administrative body to all the state-level temples coming under the government.
In the second stage, district-level religious councils will be formed comprising district judge, agama shastra experts, representatives from SC/ST, backward classes, he added.
P Ramadas Madmannaya, president of Bhargava Trust ( R), Inna, presided over the function.
Senior archak of the Inna temple Inna Srinivas Bhat, senate member of Mangalore University Prof Sripati Tantri), senior advocate of state high court Padubidri Raghvendra Rao, administrator of Lakshmi Janardhan Temple Ujire Vijayaraghava Paduvetnaya and convener of Kashi Santhana Trust Yellur Y M Shridhar Rao were honoured by the guest.
Agama scholar of Dharmika Parishat Vidwan Panja Bhaskar Bhat , Chennai entrepreneur C R Balakrishana, Corporation Bank Mumbai CGM Balakrisna Bhat, entrepreneur Manjunatha Bharadhwaj, AGM of Karnatka Bank K G Ramesh Rao , K P Acharya Kaup and others were present. (Mangalorean)
Udupi: Senior BJP Leader L K Advani demanded a white paper in the winter session of Parliament on how the government proposes to bring back the black money stashed abroad in foreign banks, while addressing a meeting here on Monday, October 31.
