Are Karnataka's campuses the hotbed of Naxal sympathizers? "To some extent, yes,'' home minister V S Acharya maintained.
Bangalore, June 22 (PTI): Karnataka was in the process of formulating a package for the benefit of Naxals who wish to surrender, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya said today.
BANGALORE, June 3, 2010: Minister for Home Dr V S Acharya on Wednesday said the Government has decided to upgrade facilities available at the Kollur Mookambika temple in Udupi district and Sri Durga Parameshwari temple at Kateel near Mangalore.
Addressing the media, Dr Acharya said the government would release Rs. 14 crore to the Mookambika temple to provide more facilities such as drinking water, accommodation, roads, bus-stands, health centre, and drainage and a sum of Rs 3.7 crore would be released to provide basic facilities at the temple at Kateel, near Bajpe, in Dakshina Kannada district.
Dr. Acharya, who also holds the Muzrai portfolio, said a large number of devotees visit both temples round the year. But there are no quality guest house and other facilities at both temples.
Though the local population is less than 10,000 at both temple areas, the floating population was more than 50,000 per day.
Dr Acharya said that there is no life threat to Sri Sri Ravishankar, Art of Living founder, and the scale of security has been stepped up at the Ashrama premises here to prevent any untoward incidents.
The police have continued their investigation into an unidentified gunman’s attempt on the life of Sri Sri Ravishankar and there was no breakthrough in the probe so far. Dr Acharya said the police have continued the investigation into the incident and he would not comment on the issue till he gets the probe report.
Referring to the naxal issue in the Western Ghat and coastal region of the state, he said the Government has stepped up security in the naxal-infested region of Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Udupi districts following the derailment of a train by naxals in West Bengal.
''We are keeping a strict vigil. Anti Naxal Force has done a good job in the three districts. "We have asked our men to be on high alert mode in the wake of heightened naxal activities in States of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and other States,'' Dr Acharya said.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested Nandakumar and Manohar, suspected naxalites, in the last couple of days, he said.
Hogenakkal issue
He said secretaries of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will be meeting in a few days to discuss a proposal to set up a 345 MW hydro-electricity project at Shivanasamundra by Karnataka and a drinking water project taken up at Hogenakkal by Tamil Nadu.
The official level talks would pave the way for the ministerial level talks on resolving the boundary dispute and the Hogennakal issue. The State government would like to discuss with the Tamil Nadu government the proposal to set up the hydroelectricity project Shivanasamudram by incurring all the cost. The water utilised for power generation would be released to Tamil Nadu.
The Karunanidhi government has been opposing the proposed Shivanasamudram run-of-the river hydel plant project. The government would like to hold talks with the Tamil Nadu government on both the drinking water scheme and the hydel power project utilising Cauvery waters. The boundary disputes between two states would remain till the line of control was clearly demarcated, Dr Acharya said.
SHIMOGA: Home Minister V.S. Acharya said on Saturday that naxal activities in the districts of Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Udupi were completely under control.
Speaking to presspersons before the inauguration of the Gamaka programme organised at Hosahalli near here, Dr. Acharya said that strict vigil was being maintained on the movements of naxalites in the Malnad region. All facilities were being provided to the police and the Anti-Naxal Squad personnel to carry out operations, he said
The rules of the Forest Department in the region were hampering full-fledged combing operations against naxals, Mr. Acharya said. A meeting of officers from the Police and Forest separtments was convened at an undisclosed place near Karkala in Udupi district on April 16 to address the issue, he added.
Dr. Acharya said that investigations were on to identify the culprits behind the explosions outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. It was not unwise to disclose the identity of the masterminds before the investigation was complete, he said.
Announcement
Dr. Acharya announced on the occasion that the Government would provide Rs. 100 crore for the development of Koliwad in Dharwad district, the birth of place of poet Kumaravyasa.
He said that the Veeranarayana Temple of Gadag, which inspired Kumaravyasa, would be developed as a research centre.
He said that the government would provide all the necessary help and support in preserving and developing Gamaka.
Dr. Acharya announced that Kumaravyasa Award would be given from this year to encouraging the Gamaka artistes. The award comprises cash award of Rs. 3 lakh.
Mathoor Markandeya Avadhani and H.R. Keshavamurthy presented a Gamaka recital.
