Help, help! Men are crying now

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/5/29/help.jpg

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/help-help!-men-are-crying-now/396236.html

A play on namma metro

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/5/29/play.jpg

BANGALORE: After successfully staging Mirror, Mirror in Bangalore and Malgudi daze in Hyderabad, WeMove Theatre is back with its all time hit play Namma Metro with a new flavour. This production is not about a particular character or scenario but about a city and today’s people in it. Bangalore as a city has undergone immense change in the last decade. Globalisation has claimed Bangalore’s soul. The old, peaceful, garden city has turned into the busy ‘electronic city’. But, amidst this rapid growth, if we can take a minute from our busy lives and look out the window, we might see a glimpse of an old world charm-a laid back tea shop with a few people sitting around and chatting about all and sundry. Namma Metro is about life in this beautiful city that is suspended in transition.
The play is set in the midst of one such transition, where four Bangaloreans meet, quite by chance, and end up sharing their thoughts on politics, society, religion; Come, join a man in his late 60s, a software engineer, a middle-aged bank clerk and a ground nut seller, as they take you on a ride through the city in a way that you’ve never experienced before. Written and directed by Abhishek Iyengar, Namma Metro is a symbolic representation on Bangalore. The play ends with a pinch of twist and hence the name, Namma Metro. The play will be staged at Yavanika on June 2 at 7.30 pm.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/a-play-on-namma-metro/396232.html

From bicycles to BlackBerrys

BANGALORE: The natty cowboy hat that the policeman in Bangalore wears today actually made a comeback after it had been replaced by London’s Bobby helmet that had been introduced in the 1980s when R Gundu Rao was the chief minister. With these hats also came light blue shirts and navy blue trousers. But our constables are not Bobbies and Bangalore, albeit cool, is not London. The helmets seemed too much of a burden on our constables’ heads and so it was back to the lightweight cowboy hats and the khaki uniform, with the traffic police donning the white shirts.
The cowboy hats too were a replacement for the old red and black, long, striped hats the policeman in Bangalore used to don since the British era. The constables then didn’t wear trousers too. No, they were not bare bottomed, but wore those big flared khaki knickers. All that changed in the 70s when the police force got a makeover with the cowboy hats and trousers. And with the ambient noise in the city rising, the old policeman’s whistle too needed to be heard above the city’s cacophony. So the old long metropolitan whistle with the smooth hoot was replaced with the shrill “phee” of the pea whistle. But Bangalore’s traffic doesn’t seem to heed to these whistles too and police may soon need bugles and trumpets to flag down motorists. While most constables went around the city on their bicycles with the lathis clamped to the stand, the inspectors had their old black Royal Enfield Bullets. The jeeps were mostly the four-wheel drive Willys petrol vehicles. The troublemakers and criminals were generally bundled into old, blue Bedford buses that needed a push to get them going. With very few motor vehicles around, the traffic constables’ targets were cyclists who were stopped for riding without lights or for riding “doubles”. The penalty for such offences was not a fine but the constable would simply deflate the tyres and fling the valve in a random direction.
The police have now graduated to CCTV, digital cameras and BlackBerrys and still seem to be a step behind the violators.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/From-bicycles-to-BlackBerrys/396221.html

‘We try and make things that move us’

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/%E2%80%98We-try-and-make-things-that-move-us%E2%80%99/396214.html

Another bibilophile’s paradise

BANGALORE: The launch of the third branch of a leading bookstore in the city recently saw several eminent personalities from Bangalore’s cultural community gathered at 1 MG Mall, on Swami Vivekananda Road. Shashi Deshpande, noted writer and Padma Shri receipient, inaugurated the store and Jnanapith Awardee and noted writer UR Ananthmurthy was the Guest of Honour. Playwright Girish Karnad and Vikram Sampath were also present.
Speaking at the event, Prof Ananthamurthy reminisced about bookstores that existed during his youth. "We used to meet people at bookstores back then. They were the only places where one could spend time undisturbed. I hope this one allows people to laze around and browse through books and the occasional person who cannot afford a book must be able to read it in the store itself," he said.
Those present were also treated to a special preview of Shashi Deshpande’s new book ‘Ships that Pass.’ After the reading, Deshpande spoke about how people must increase purchases of books in order to support a declining breed of physical book stores. "We must ensure we buy books for all occasions. It is our job as book lovers to ensure we support these stores," she asserted.
Prof Ananthamurthy also observed "Bookstores at the roadside are the best places. They must not be located in fancy places where people can drive cars and visit.” However, he wished Oxford all success and hoped that it would live up to the popular name it has carved out for itself in the country.Authors Jahnavi Barua, who is shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers Prize 2012, Shinie Antony, Ammu Joseph and Gita Aravamudan had a meet-and-greet session with their readers. This was followed by a book signing session by the authors, and a informal interaction at the recently inaugurated Oxford bookstore.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/Another-bibilophile%E2%80%99s-paradise/396217.html

Podar launches a new book for kids

BANGALORE: Podar has just launched a new book 'Red Riding Hood and the wolf who liked healthy food,' at Mount Carmel College. Swati Popat Vats - president for Podar Education Network and also the president for the Early Childhood Association World Forum was present to launch the book along with Suresh Babu - Master Franchisee for Podar Jumbo Kids in South India.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently released a circular directing schools and colleges to promote healthy eating by banning junk food and aerated drinks in their canteens. Food and diet are the foundation for brain and body health.
Podar Publishing compiled this story-cum-recipe book to help parents teach kids about healthy eating in a fun and interactive manner.
The recipes in the book are an attempt to help parents meet the food choices that kids prefer by adding a health twist to them. So biscuits, bread are all turned into a healthy treat, so both the mother and kids will be happy.
Dr Pavan Podar, trustee of the 87-year-old educational group, says, "At Podar Preschools, right from its inception we have banned wafers, soft drinks and all kinds of junk food like Maggi and pizza. It has been a tough battle convincing the parents but we have relentlessly worked on educating them about the ill-effects of incorrect diet in children and insisted that they adhere to a set daily menu. Most people limit their argument to obesity but there are many more dangerous consequences of exposing children to a junk food diet. Read this lovely story-cum-recipe book to find out new ideas to make kids eat healthy and live wisely."
PODAR recently initiated a three-month period survey with parents about their children's food habits conducted with 2000 mothers.
It covered topics like- 'Do you think that children today eat unhealthy food? Why do they have such unhealthy food habits- where 80% said exposure to ads and 12 per cent said incorrect habits at home.
How many of you feed the child while watching TV? If given a choice what kind of food would you send in your child's snack box?
Do you know the recommended food groups and their servings to be given at each age to your child?- where 60% were unaware.
What junk food does your child eat in a week?- where most were unhealthy.
Does your child have fruits daily, how many portions of vegetables does your child eat everyday and how many glasses of water does your child drink in a day?
Swati Popat Vats, the author of the book says, "The results made us realise that we need to educate parents about healthy diet choices for kids and the Ministry's new rule only spurred our vision to come up with this book. Most people limit their arguments about healthy diet to obesity, but there are many other important scientific and biological reasons why kids should have a healthy diet." Swati is also the president of Podar group of schools.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/Podar-launches-a-new-book-for-kids/396226.html

State to seek green signal for Gundia again

BANGALORE: Notwithstanding the recommendation of Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel (WGEEP) to scrap the 200 MW Gundia hydro-electric project, a desperate Karnataka government has decided to re-approach the Centre seeking permission for the project.
“We will make another attempt to get green signal for the project as we desperately need it to meet the state’s energy requirement. We will try to convince the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on the project,” Minister for Energy and Civil Supplies Shobha Karandlaje told Express on Monday.
The WGEEP, in its final report which was made public last week while calling for public objection before accepting it, had recommended to the MoEF to scrap the project as it would cause significant loss to the biodiversity of the Western Ghats besides having enormous environmental impact.
The state government, though, thinks otherwise. “We have implemented the Varahi project which also falls in the Western Ghats without much environmental damage. We want to implement the Gundia project on the same lines. Moreover, advanced technology is available to ensure minimum damage to the environment,” she said, adding that the state government was equally concerned about preserving the Western Ghats.
The state government is under pressure to generate more power as most of its thermal power plants have hit roadblock due to non-availability of coal linkages. The second unit of Bellary Thermal Power Station is lying idle for three months for want of coal, despite being ready for operation.
“We tried our best to get coal linkages for our thermal projects. But nothing has happened so far and we are not even sure if we will get coal in the near future. Hence, we have to pursue projects like Gundia and Shimsha,” she added.
The project has been proposed in the Gundia river basin of Hassan and Dakshina Kannada districts to generate 200 MW of power (613 million units) by utilising water from Yettinahole, Kerihole, Hongadahalla and Bettakumar streams.
Though former CM BS Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone for the project in 2009, stiff resistance from the locals and environmentalists forced the MoEF to seek WGEEP’s opinion.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/state-to-seek-green-signal-for-gundia-again/396318.html

GIM to set up science varsity soon

BANGALORE: The Global Investors Meet (GIM) this year will set up a unique National Science University (NSU) dedicated to pure science education.
New Delhi-based Foundation for Education for All has signed an Expression of Interest (EoI) with the state government to invest in a science varsity on the lines of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Spread over nearly 100 acres of land in Nelamangala, the university will be functional from 2013.
Speaking to presspersons here, Chairperson of the Foundation Dr S Mahalingam said,“This is perhaps the first time a private varsity is being established under the PPP model. This is our humble effort to promote science education and foster innovation, which is the need of the hour.”
He added that a ‘dedicated group’ of industry professionals was taking a keen interest in building this varsity. “We are also inviting NRIs to invest in the varsity up to 49 per cent of equity holding,” said Dr Mahalingam. According to him, NSU will follow the western model of promoting research. “We plan to introduce research at undergraduate levels. For this, all UG courses will be a four years long, in which one year may be dedicated to research,” he said adding that at the beginning, NSU may have nearly six UG and PG programmes and a couple of research programmes.
Dr Mahalingam added that the varsity would conform to all the rules, regulations and framework laid down by the state government for fee structure, reservations, appointment of vice-chancellors and others. “We already have a board of governors consisting of former VCs, deans, judicial experts and former government officials,” he said.


source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/gim-to-set-up-science-varsity-soon/396314.html

Karnataka science university under PPP model aims for the moon

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/academy/report_karnataka-science-university-under-ppp-model-aims-for-the-moon_1695176

GIM to set up science varsity soon



source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/gim-to-set-up-science-varsity-soon/396314.html

:banana:

:banana:

why in bangalore?

Karnataka beckons

The State invites investors as the biennial Global Investors Meet (GIM) meet is set to get under way in Bangalore on June 7 and 8.
K. BHAGYA PRAKASH

D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA, Chief Minister (right), and Murugesh Nirani, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, at the launch of GIM Expo-2012 in Bangalore on April 12.

KARNATAKA has an illustrious history of successfully introducing several industrial and technological initiatives. This is hardly surprising since for over a century the region, initially under the rule of the far-sighted maharajas of Mysore and later under a succession of democratically elected governments, has been a pioneer in industrialisation. As Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda says: “Karnataka is the gateway of innovative India. A destination that offers investors the right blend of strengths and opportunities.”

Today, Karnataka is driving domestic growth and creating wealth through a critical mix of resources-, skill-, technology- and knowledge-based products and services. A proactive government, investor-friendly policies, skilled manpower that is readily available, and a congenial atmosphere have made Karnataka an industrial powerhouse. The State's capital, Bangalore, has also become the aerospace and information technology (IT) capital of India. In what is a clear reflection of its investor friendliness, Karnataka has the third largest (after Maharashtra and Delhi) share (6 per cent) of foreign direct investment (Rs.42,131 crore) in India.

With an area of 191,791 square kilometres, Karnataka is one of India's fastest growing States. It accounts for 5 per cent (61.1 million according to the 2011 Census) of India's population but contributes 6 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), 7 per cent of fixed capital and 13 per cent of exports. The State has a gross State domestic product (GSDP) at constant prices (2004-05) of $56.7 billion and a GSDP growth rate of 8.2 per cent (2010-11). Its major industries, besides IT, are automotive and aerospace, chemicals and petrochemicals, mines and minerals, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, energy, tourism, textiles and apparels, agro and food processing. The State has five airports (three domestic and two international), 11 ports (with a traffic of 44 tonnes in 2009-10), 4,396 km of national highways, 20,528 km of State highways and 3,250 km of rail connectivity.

Interestingly, the Karnataka State Industries and Commerce Department is completing 100 years of investor and industry facilitation. Karnataka, in fact, was one of the first States to come up with an Industries Facilitation Act. The State also has a dedicated nodal agency, the Karnataka Udyog Mitra, which provides all investors who are looking to set up business in the State single-window facilitation. The State's “New Industrial Policy, 2009-14” offers investors a number of attractive concessions/incentives such as exemption from entry tax, Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) cess/fees; electricity and stamp duties; concessional registration charges/refund of conversion fee; investment promotion subsidy for MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises); interest-free loans on VAT for large and mega projects; anchor unit subsidy and special incentives for units coming up in low human development index districts.

Unarguably, what set the industrialisation ball rolling was the setting up of Asia's first hydroelectric power station in 1902 at Shivanasamudram, on the Cauvery. The power station boasted the then longest transmission line in the world – 147 km from Shivanasamudram to the mines at the Kolar Gold Fields. Even today, Karnataka ranks second in India in installed hydroelectric capacity (3,599.8 MW).

The 1950s and 1960s saw the establishment of a number of public sector enterprises such as Bharat Electronics Limited and Bharat Earth Movers Limited, and defence laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, all set up to augment India's defence preparedness. The State government also set up public enterprises, and laid the foundation stone for Electronic City, one of India's largest electronic industrial parks, in the late 1970s. Spread over 332 acres (one acre is 0.4 hectare), Electronic City, on the outskirts of Bangalore, is the pioneer in IT infrastructure development. It made Bangalore in the years to come the business outsourcing capital of the world. Incidentally, Bangalore, which has its fair share of traffic congestion, parking woes, water shortages and power fluctuations, has been rated as the second most vibrant among the top 50 cities in India.

THE ADVENT OF IT and ITeS was the best thing to happen to the State.
The advent of IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) was the next big thing to happen in Karnataka. The IT explosion came in the early 1990s with a host of national and international companies setting up base in the city and spearheading the Indian IT revolution. Be it software (enterprise solutions, IT applications, e-commerce and security, storage solutions, cloud solutions), hardware (semiconductors, electronic and printed circuit boards, embedded solutions, computers and peripherals), infocom (telecom, wireless and broadbrand, mobile operating systems and applications, networking products), animation and visual effects, gaming and comics, production studios, new media, digital art centres, IT training and education, research and development, IT and hardware parks, venture funds and Internet protocol (IP) consulting, Karnataka has it all.

Bangalore is the fourth largest technology cluster in the world, with over 2,025 IT companies, 330-plus BPOs/ITeS and 100 hardware units, and has become a global outsourcing hub for IT and ITeS. There are today over 800,000 IT professionals working in Bangalore. Karnataka is home to 700 multinational and 87 Fortune 500 companies and the highest number of CMM (Capability Maturity Model) level 5 companies in the world. Besides, an exclusive industrial area for electronic hardware and IT/ITeS is coming up at Devanahalli, near the Bangalore International Airport.

Karnataka expects its IT exports in 2011-12 to cross $20 billion (the highest from any State in India), but not wanting to rest on these laurels it hopes to position itself as a major electronic system design and manufacturing hub and animation and visual effects capital. Karnataka is also pushing to promote IT parks in Tier II cities, such as Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Shimoga, Davangere and Mangalore, and rural BPOs. Says Murugesh R. Nirani, Minister for Large and Medium Industries: “One new global company moves into the State every week and a new industrial unit is approved every day.”

Listed among the top four innovative hubs by the World Economic Forum, Karnataka aims to be the finest investment destination in India with economic growth across IT, biotechnology, aerospace, nanotechnology, machine tools and construction equipment, defence technology, knowledge and business process outsourcing and clinical research sectors.

In April, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee laid the foundation stone for an exclusive financial city on the outskirts of Bangalore. To be developed over three years at the cost of Rs.1,000 crore, the financial city, which is the first of its kind in India, will, according to Mukherjee, enable financial institutions to establish and run a variety of operations, including support activities, and meet regional financial demands. The choice of Bangalore for establishing the city is a reflection of its status as a financial superpower in terms of the size of bank credit and deposit, and income tax collections, being next only to Mumbai and New Delhi.

Karnataka, which has established software technology and biotech parks, has also initiated plans to set up a dedicated nanotech park, a knowledge city and a manufacturing unit for defence. The State has also approved the setting up of 58 special economic zones (SEZs). Of these, 20 are already operational with a total investment of $3 billion. They have so far generated 97,313 jobs and exports worth $5.7billion.

In terms of education and research, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Bangalore top the list of quality institutions in the State providing a ready-made pool of highly skilled human resource across a variety of sectors. Besides, Karnataka also has over 100 R&D centres (the largest number anywhere in India), 22 universities imparting general education, 187 engineering colleges (third largest in India), 114 medical and dental colleges (again the highest in India), 181 polytechnics, 600 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and 13 international schools.

Eight of India's 75 top-ranking engineering institutions are in Karnataka. The State is also home to the prestigious National Law School of India University.

The Knowledge Hub of Asia, as it is called, Karnataka is the No.1 investment destination among India's 16 developing States, according to World Bank Report, 2009. It is a leading producer of horticulture products, accounting for 12 per cent of the fruits and 8 per cent of the vegetables grown in the country, and contributes 70 per cent of India's coffee output (the largest in India). The State accounts for 20 per cent of India's garment production.

http://www.frontline.in/images/20120615291111303.jpg

AT THE TOYOTA plant at Bidadi near Bangalore. Karnataka ranks fourth in automotive production.

Karnataka ranks fourth in automotive production, with an investment of $713 million and an annual revenue of $6,014 million. The districts of Ramanagara, Shimoga, Kolar and Dharwad have been designated as automobile zones. A dedicated auto cluster is coming up in Hubli-Dharwad, and an SEZ for auto components is being established in Shimoga. Karnataka produces more than 25 per cent of the indigenously manufactured aircraft and space equipment.

The mineral-rich State has around 3,447 million tonnes of iron ore deposits and 2,518 million tonnes of manganese ore. There are also abundant deposits of granite (pink, green, black, grey and yellow), soapstone, sandstone, graphite, limestone, quartzite and clay. Annually, Karnataka produces over 11 million tonnes of cement and (until the illegal iron ore mining controversy hit the industry) 7.29 million tonnes of steel. India's only gold-producing mine – the Hutti Gold Mine – is located in Raichur district. The State has the second largest number of bauxite mines. Yet, a shortage of quality power (since the 1980s) and clear-titled land and the lack of world-class infrastructure have impeded Karnataka's march to become India's most industrialised State.

In a bid to address the problems associated with land acquisition for industrial purposes, the State government has established a land bank under which 1.19 lakh acres of land has been identified for acquisition by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board. According to Nirani, “50,000 acres of this identified land is ready for final acquisition”.

Commenting on the issues surrounding Posco India Private Ltd's (the Indian subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate Posco) plans to put up a Rs.32,336-crore steel plant in Gadag district, Nirani explained that if local farmers were unwilling to part with their land the plant, which requires 3,382 acres of land, could come up in a “neighbouring district”.

The Minister also spoke optimistically about the power situation, emphasising that the State would soon have adequate power. He said: “A thermal power-generating plant is coming up in Bijapur. We are on the verge of signing a number MoUs [memorandums of understanding] with power-generating companies for 18,000 MW of power.”

With 38 per cent of Karnataka's population living in urban areas, investment in urban infrastructure is a key area for investors. Urban services to meet the demands of Bangalore's rising population would require investments totalling $5,796 million over the next five years. Bangalore needs an investment of $ 5,208 million to meet its transport and traffic requirements.
http://www.frontline.in/stories/20120615291111300.htm

Government clears 25 FDI proposals worth Rs 2,973 crore

Other proposals which have been approved are those of Genworth Financial Mortgage Guaranty India (Rs 124 crore, Plethico Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai (Rs 500 crore) and Kintetsu World Express (India), Karnataka (Rs 267.69 crore).

What kind of investment is that?

Government clears 25 FDI proposals worth Rs 2,973 crore



What kind of investment is that?
http://www.kweindia.com/

Mainly into frieghts..i think they are partnering a local firm for container handling and management...Mangalore port ge irbahudu..

http://www.kweindia.com/

Mainly into frieghts..i think they are partnering a local firm for container handling and management...Mangalore port ge irbahudu..

k thanks saw that...I thought it would be for tumkur, believe me tumkur/hubli are emerging as the logistics hubs in karnataka.Hubli owing to its excellent locaion and connectivity with Pune,bangalore and madgaon.Not to forget scores of logistics firms in hubli biggest of them being VRL,India's biggest.

Hassan too with its pharma,textile sez exports via Nava Mangalore port

http://www.kweindia.com/

Mainly into frieghts..i think they are partnering a local firm for container handling and management...Mangalore port ge irbahudu..

^^

The government, on Tuesday, said that it has cleared 25 proposals for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth Rs 2,973.40 crore, including two proposals from Karnataka.
The government however deferred decision on 13 FDI proposals.

The 25 FDI proposals that were cleared included one by Rajit Shridhar Shetty of Karnataka to set up a firm with foreign equity to undertake the whole sale trading, export and import of various products. The Rs 267.69 crore FDI proposal of Kintetsu World Express (India) Pvt Ltd of Karnataka has also been approved. However, the government turned down eight proposals.

The government, however, deferred proposals of two Bangalore-based companies. They were Stellence Pharmscience Pvt Ltd, for issue of equity shares and convertible preference shares to foreign investors and a proposal of Sutures India for induction of foreign investment in its existing business.


http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253109/25-fdi-plans-worth-rs.html

Srivatsa avare you are right on the local partner and mangalore....Shetty mangalore bitrae mumbai....correct haeladhri..

Mandya dha Ambreesh with his friends on his birthday bash

http://www.deccanherald.com/photos/big/2012/05/30/20120529195824.jpg

k thanks saw that...I thought it would be for tumkur, believe me tumkur/hubli are emerging as the logistics hubs in karnataka.Hubli owing to its excellent locaion and connectivity with Pune,bangalore and madgaon.Not to forget scores of logistics firms in hubli biggest of them being VRL,India's biggest.

Hassan too with its pharma,textile sez exports via Nava Mangalore port
Tumkur - Nelemangala corridor alli, i am seeing huge number of land being bought and warehouses being built...one insider says its in anticipation for FDI in retail that logistics companies and retailers are already preparing to make that area as sourcing for Bangalore..

Hmmm if only they pass the retail note..we will see a huge boom and better products and prizes..

Technology to prevent bike thefts through SMSs

BANGALORE: This new technology promises to prevent bike thefts through SMSs.

Called Tcop-bike security or anti-theft bike immobilizer on the mobile, there are four versions of the product. The most advanced one has the ability to send SMS alert when ignition is on and locate the bike if lost.

How it works

In case the ignition is turned on, as SMS alert will be sent to the owner's mobile phone. When the owner realizes that it is not him who has started the bike, he can send an SMS back to the equipment attached to the bike seat and the ignition will be disabled. Not just this, one can also identify the bike location.

According to national crime records bureau, there have been more than 10,000 cases of vehicle thefts in Karnataka.

Times View

For commuters desperate for any transport solution which makes life a little easier, the suburban rail system is welcome. Many experts have been pushing for better use of the old rail network which has fallen into disuse. This is an opportunity for the railways to ferry the increasing number of people from outlying areas to the city centre and cash in the sheer scale of the operation. It also taps the advantage of interlinking suburbs by bypassing central hubs.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Technology-to-prevent-bike-thefts-through-SMSs/articleshow/13651873.cms

Bangalore could get suburban rail too

BANGALORE: The city could well be going the Mumbai way. In a first step to revive suburban trains for better connectivity into the city, Rail Indian Technical and Economic Services (RITES) will ready the feasibility study by June first week. The Suburban Commuter Rail System will connect nearby high-density locations like Ramanagaram, Mandya, Chikkaballapur and Hosur to the city

RITES is ready to hand over the feasibility study to the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT). "Its feasibility study will be completed by May-end and submitted anytime now. Once this is read and understood, stakeholders can meet to take the project forward," V Manjula, commissioner, DULT told TOI.

Sources in the urban land transport department told TOI the study will look into the infrastructure available with the railways, what more needs to be created for commuter routes and cost.

The project is envisioned for 2027 and ground surveys and studies whether Karnataka needs such a system to connect to its capital city were done by 2006-07. But South Western Railway demanded a second study on proposed routes to understand the need of commuters, based on which a detailed project report could be worked upon.

Manjula said in the present system, only a skeletal service is operating and to enhance better commuter rail services, the number of services has to be improved. She also said the Suburban Commuter Rail System will look into these aspects. Sources also said RITES is looking at four major routes which will not clash with the Metro rail but provide connectivity to Metro stations.

For example, if a person is travelling from Ramanagaram to Kengeri, he should be able to travel within the city by accessing the Kengeri Metro station, planned in Phase 2 or even access the Mysore Road terminal of Phase 1 which will be ready by mid-2014.

The Project

The system is to provide railway connectivity from suburban areas to urban locations, like the ones operating in Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. The travel time of one hour by rail, which is generally a distance of 40-60 km radial from the city, is looked for developing such a system. All these trains moving in these routes will also come towards Bangalore City railway station but not halt here. Sources in DULT told TOI the trains could be moving in directions along inter-changeable routes like a train from Ramanagaram to Kengeri can also head up to Yeswanthpur and travel towards the Yelahanka-Doddaballapur line too.

Proposed route -- Distance (km)

Ramanagaram to Kengeri - 32

Baiyyapanhalli to Hosur - 41

Tumkur to Yeswanthpur - 64

Yelahanka to Doddaballapur - 24

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Bangalore-could-get-suburban-rail-too/articleshow/13651833.cms

Mandya dha Ambreesh with his friends on his birthday bash

http://www.deccanherald.com/photos/big/2012/05/30/20120529195824.jpg

Superstars sparkle at Ambareesh birthday celebration

BANGALORE: It seemed like all the stars that sparkle in all the filmdoms were there, language no bar. The 60th birthday celebration of Ambareesh was a star-studded affair, reflecting the goodwill enjoyed by the Sandalwood icon among his fraternity.

Superstars Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi were there. As also Telugu cinema's Balakrishna and Mohan Babu. Bollywood registered its presence with Shatrughan Sinha and Suniel Shetty, while Jayaprada lent the glamour quotient. The entire Sandalwood presence was a virtual who's who of the Kannada film industry.

Though the programme started as late at 7.30pm, people had begun flocking to the venue at Palace Grounds hours earlier. But entry was strictly prohibited and only those with passes were allowed, leaving an ocean of fans who had come from the nooks and corners of the state disappointed.

"We have come all the way from Mandya to see our favourite actor, but police are not allowing us to even come on to the main road," lamented Suresh Gowada, a fan who was stopped by police near Mehkri Circle.

Cops divert traffic

Police had put in place elaborate security and traffic arrangements. Chaos prevailed on Bellary Road stretch up to Windsor Manor, forcing police to divert traffic headed into the city towards Malleswaram at Mehkri Circle itself.

However, there was not much disruption in traffic bound to Bengaluru International Airport.

"It was a tough task during the first hour, when there was a lot of VIP movement towards the grounds. We had to restrict traffic flow a little during this time; otherwise we made sure the traffic flow was as usual. There were no bottlenecks or long traffic queues reported from anywhere in the vicinity," said MA Saleem, additonal commissioner of police (traffic).

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Superstars-sparkle-at-Ambareesh-birthday-celebration/articleshow/13651454.cms

The 60th birthday celebrations of Ambareesh on Tuesday evening was a fitting tribute to Kannada film industry’s ‘Rebel Star’ known for his humility and philanthropy.

Not only did the entire Kannada film fraternity turn up for the big event, Ambareesh’s fans also milled around the venue, Palace Grounds, in large numbers. As film industry bigwigs and political leaders heaped praise on the ‘Kaliyuga Karna’, the man remained what he has been all these days: an epitome of humanism and compassion. In the words of Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Ambareesh’s is a story of what human endeavour can achieve. He is an ordinary boy who rose to glow as a shining jewel in Karnataka’s crown.

Gowda said it was time to repay what Ambareesh had given to society.

Ambareesh began his career with negative roles, but became a reel hero later on. His friend and Union Minister for Power Sushil Kumar Shinde said he could not meet Ambareesh in Delhi after he resigned from the Cabinet over the Cauvery issue in 2007.

“He didn’t go after power. He is a man of hope. He could quit as a minister for he is an artiste at heart,” Shinde said.

Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna took pride in the fact that Ambareesh was born in the land of Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagar king who patronised Telugu language.

A galaxy of film stars descended for ‘Ambi Sambhrama’. Among them were Tamil superstar Rajnikant, Bollywood actors Shatrughan Sinha, Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Jayaprada, Telugu stars Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu, singer S P Balasubramaniam, et al.

Kannada film stars Shivaraj Kumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, Sudeep, Darshan, Ramya, Ganesh, Prakash Rai, Vijaya Raghavendra, Prem, Duniya Vijay, Sanjana, Doddanna, and others were present.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253190/stars-descend-city-ambi-bday.html

HC seeks DPR of signal-free corridor

The High Court has directed BDA to furnish the documents pertaining to the BBMP tree officer’s permission to fell trees for the Sirsi Circle-Agara signal-free corridor project and the Detailed Project Report (DPR), within 48 hours.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna heard the petition by the Citizen’s Action Forum and Koramangala First Block Residents Welfare Association.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that the contract awarded for the construction of underpasses at four junctions was flawed. He said the petitioners should be given the plan first. The Chief Justice asked BDA why it did not give the DPR. Senior counsel Nanjunda Reddy, who appeared for BDA, promised that BDA would furnish a DPR copy.

When the petitioners sought directions to stop felling of trees, the BDA counsel said that it had obtained permission from a tree officer who is on deputation from the Forest Department. The Bench questioned why the permission to chop trees was not published.

The BDA replied that though it sought to fell 188 trees, permission was granted to axe only 88 trees. Of these, 35 had already been felled.

When the petitioners pointed out that the felling of trees began on Friday evening, the Bench observed that BDA had taken up the work when the courts were closed.

Contempt petition

The petitioners also moved a contempt petition against BDA for violating Court orders in connection with the construction of the Agara-Sirsi Circle flyover.

In its order dated Feb 27, the Court had ruled that BDA could not take up any work if it was not covered under the work order issued already. BDA had earlier submitted that they had issued all work orders. However, when the petitioner produced orders of tenders being awarded later also, the Division Bench of Justices D V Shylendra Kumar and B Sreenivase Gowda ordered emergent notices to BDA

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253186/hc-seeks-dpr-signal-free.html

139 resolutions passed in 10 mins

The ruling BJP in the BBMP Council approved as many as 139 subject matters in a span of 10 minutes without any debate at its meeting here on Tuesday.

Turning the Opposition party’s walkout and protest into an opportunity, the ruling BJPpassed 139 resolutions along with 89 audit reports dating back to 2003-04.

Opposition party leader N K Gunashekhar expressed that it was unfortunate to see prominent structures built by leaders of yore now being pledged to avail loans to tide over the financial crisis in the Palike.

Instead of introducing the Geographic Information System (GIS) and identifying properties through PID (property identification) to streamline property tax collection and to generate more revenue, the ruling party has chosen to avail loans, pushing the Palike into deeper financial crisis.

Policy is yet to be framed on the Palike’s other sources of income like advertisements. Even the Akrama-Sakrama scheme has not been successfully implemented, he added.

JD(S) leader T Thimmegowda said the BBMP had already pledged the K R Market for Rs 500 crore and now it was looking for other public properties to be mortgaged. “We need to upgrade our system of collecting property tax and issuing occupancy certificates to increase our revenue, instead of availing loans,” he added.

Criticising the move to avail loans, Padmanabha Reddy said, “The BJP has come to power by chance and it should not misuse it. As the loan availed is huge, the interest would also be high and the Palike will not be able to repay such a huge amount,” he added.

Palike accused of violating KMC Act

Former Mayor and present corporator from Hanumanthnagar, K Chandra*shekar accused the Palike of clearly violating section 156 of the KMC Act 1976.

Pointing out that under the Act, the Palike’s borrowing (loan) cannot exceed 25 per cent of the proposed budget outlay and 10 per cent of the property tax collection likely from the property being placed as collateral, he said: “The 2011-12 budget has not been implemented and the 2012-13 budget has not been proposed yet...Given this situation, how can the civic body attempt to borrow Rs 1,000 crore.”

Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda countered: “We have to violate these rules in order to avail the loan which has become essential to restructure the existing loans. These were availed at high rates of interest, repaying which is beyond the Palike’s ability.”


source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253187/139-resolutions-passed-10-mins.html

State may get Rs 294 cr as drought relief

The Centre is likely to sanction Rs 294 crore as grant for drought relief to Karnataka. This means that the State gets just eight per cent of the total relief of Rs 3,605 crore it had sought from the Union government.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253163/state-may-get-rs-294.html

Transport Aircraft pact inked

BANGALORE: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a tripartite general contract with United Aircraft Corporation -Transport Aircraft (UAC-TA), the Russian partner and their JV-Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd (MTAL) for the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) project on Monday.
HAL is said to carry out design and development of its workshare of MTA at Aircraft R&D (ARDC) Centre at Bangalore while its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur will manufacture the prototypes and subsequently, the serial production will be at Kanpur where dedicated facilities are being set up, the company officials said. HAL’s other R&D Centres and manufacturing divisions will share development of systems & LRU’s and manufacture of components, sub-assemblies and composite structure.
Indian and Russian governments had earlier signed an intergovernmental agreement for joint design, development and production of MTA on 50:50 sharing basis and had decided to form a JV between HAL, UAC-TA and Rosoboronexport to execute the project.
The primary objective of this agreement is to achieve self-reliance in design and development and production of aircraft of this size. HAL stated that the aircraft would be designed for the roles of cargo/troop transportation; para-drop/air drop of supplies including Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES) and is to be co-developed by HAL and UAC & Rosoboronexport of Russia through a joint venture company (JVC).
HAL & UAC-TA has proposed to design, develop and produce Multirole Transport Aircraft in the 15-20 tonne class, jointly by Indian and Russian agencies to meet the requirement of 100 aircraft for the Russian Air Force, 45 aircraft for the IAF and 60 for the other countries.


source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/Transport-Aircraft-pact-inked/396709.html

Radioactive Iodine Therapy: A boon for patients

BANGALORE: To make people aware and understand the importance of thyroid health and the medical advancement achieved in treating thyroid diseases, the World Thyroid Day is observed every year on 25 May. This year, experts emphasised the importance and effectiveness of Radioactive Iodine treatment in curing Thyroid Cancer and the need to spread awareness about it.
Dr RV Parameswaran, head of nuclear medicine at Manipal Hospital, Bangalore said: “Cases of thyroid cancer have seen a rise in the past few years. The good news is that most cases are treatable. Surgery to remove all or most of the thyroid and lymph nodes is mostly taken up. And now, Radioactive Iodine Treatment is increasingly being used to kill cancer cells that may have been left behind after surgery, or those that are spread in the body or thyroid cancer that reappears after treatment. It has become a real boon for thyroid cancer treatment.”
The thyroid gland, located in the lower part of the neck, secretes hormones that deliver energy to body cells and controls metabolism. Thyroid diseases such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter, benign lumps, thyroiditis, auto-immune thyroid disease and thyroid cancer have become common globally, affecting millions of people. According to The Indian Thyroid Society, 4.2 crore Indians are suffering from thyroid disorders with almost 90 per cent undiagnosed. Thyroid Cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Its symptoms may include lump in the neck, pain in the lower front part of the neck, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, hoarseness of voice, and trouble in breathing and swallowing. Physical examination, blood tests, thyroid and other scans, thyroid ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration biopsy and surgical biopsy can be done to detect thyroid cancer in a patient. For most thyroid cancer cases, the entire thyroid is removed and the patients need to take thyroid replacement hormone throughout their lives. Lymph nodes in the neck that contain cancer are also removed. With Radioactive Iodine Therapy post surgery, any thyroid tissue remaining in the body takes up the iodine which kills cancer cells.
Radioactive Iodine Therapy is now available in many hospitals in the country after the removal of thyroid. It requires a special set up, including isolation rooms and separate drainage system.
Thirty five-year-old Charu Singla (name changed) was left shocked when after the discovery of a lump in her neck; she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She was explained how her entire thyroid gland will have to be removed along with the affected lymph nodes. After the surgery, Radioactive Iodine treatment was given to her to destroy any cancer cells that may have been left behind.
“Administering a dosage of radioactive iodine post operatively can save a person’s life by killing the microscopic cancer cells and even help patients whose thyroid cancer reappears after surgery. In the case of this patient, there were chances of cancer cells being left behind as she had several enlarged nodes and therefore the need for Radioactive Iodine treatment. After Radioactive Iodine treatment, patients are kept under observation in isolation wards to check the radiation levels. Lutetium therapy is another upcoming treatment option for thyroid cancer,” said Dr. RV Parameswaran.
Spreading awareness about the early and accurate diagnosis, correct and timely treatment with latest therapies and regular follow-ups are the keys can help free the world from diseases such as thyroid cancer.


source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/Radioactive-Iodine-Therapy-A-boon-for-patients/396559.html

Lamb of God rocked Bangalore again

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/Lamb-of-God-rocked-Bangalore-again/396550.html

The valley of flowers

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/5/29/flower-1.jpg

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/the-valley-of-flowers/396561.html

‘GIM 2012: Look beyond Bengaluru’

Look beyond Bengaluru — is the mantra for the potential investor as the city plays host to the third Global Investors’ Meet 2012 on June 6-8, hoping to rake in investments worth Rs 5 lakh crore, while urging companies to set up industries in the under-developed north of the state.

“It’s a conscious decision to shift focus away from Bengaluru as there is huge business potential and need for employment generating industries in the backward regions.

We will persuade investors to invest in tier-2 and tier-3 cities for which we will announce a special package,” said industries minister Murugesh Nirani, on Tuesday.

The GIM presents the state government with the opportunity to add over 10,000 MW to its power generating capacity.

Energy-deficient Karnataka has chalked out an ambitious plan to ramp up its capacity with an outlay of Rs 75,000 crore for GIM 2012, with focus on thermal and renewable energy.

Does GIM 2012 hold the solution to the power crisis in Karnataka?

The state government certainly seems to be hoping it does.

The Karnataka Energy Department, which is looking to attract an investment of Rs 75,000 crore and add over 10,000 MW to the state’s power generating capacity during GIM-2012, has big plans in the offing.

It hopes that upping its energy capacity will help it provide round-the-clock power all through the year in the state by 2020.

While the focus of the last last Global Investors Meet was on gas-based projects, the state is offering six thermal plants and several renewable energy projects for private investment at this year's GIM.

The units on offer under joint venture by Karnataka Power Corporation are the 800 MW unit III of the Bellary Thermal Power Plant , two units of 800 MW capacity of the Raichur Thermal Power Plant and one 800 MW unit at Yedlapur.

The state government , which is struggling to meet the demand for about 8,000 MW and more every day, is said to be keen on getting private investors to import coal for the thermal power units.

“The projects where private investors can get coal import linkages, will be given preference,” revealed an official of the power department, however, conceding that the decision was risky considering the coal shortage and the difficulty in getting the linkages.

“ Although we have not yet got coal linkages for some of the projects we have started work on them as we dont want to delay them any further,” he explained

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/%E2%80%98gim-2012-look-beyond-bengaluru%E2%80%99-936

Minimum power in minimum Bengaluru


http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_horizontal/article-images/Untitled-13_6.jpg.crop_display.jpg

Ask experts and they tell you the power outages in the rain are a result of the ceramic insulators for the lines which develop cracks under the hot sun and let water seep in during a heavy spell of rain, tripping the network.

A simple solution would be shifting to polymer insulators, but it doesnt seem to have occurred to Bescom, which has not bothered to make the change to the sturdier material for its lines......

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/minimum-power-minimum-bengaluru-943

Mandya to India: It’s Ambi all the way

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/5/30/MAN.jpg

BANGALORE: Stars of South Indian film industry descended on Bangalore to wish Rebel Star Ambareesh a happy birthday at Palace Grounds in the city on Tuesday evening.
Telugu actors Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu, Tamil actor Rajanikanth, Hindi actors Shatrughan Sinha, Jackie Shroff, Sunil Shetty, actresses Sahukar Janaki, Jayaprada, Jayanthi and Khushboo were among those present at the gala event which saw the participation of thousands of Rebel Star’s fans. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said, “I wish Ambareesh a very happy birthday on behalf 6.5 crore Kannadigas. I pray to Goddess Chamundeshwari to bless him with all health.I am very amazed at his life and work. I seek his suggestions in the matters concerning cinema industry.”
Rajanikanth said, “I have acted with him only in 2 or 3 movies. In all, we may have worked for 30 days. But our friendship has crossed 30 long years. I request him to quit smoking on this World Tobacco No Day. He is a man with golden heart and he should have golden health too.” Chiranjeevi said he took suggestions from Ambareeh about how to deal with stress in politics. Receiving birthday wishes, Ambareesh said, “Like marriage, friendships are made in heaven.” Many actors from the Sandalwood industry danced to the tunes of the actor’s songs.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/mandya-to-india-it%E2%80%99s-ambi-all-the-way/396719.html

3,900 tanks to be rejuvenated

BANGALORE: Over 3,923 tanks would be developed and managed by the tank users’ community as part of the Small and Medium Irrigation Department World Bank-aided Jala Samvardhana Scheme.
The department has spent over Rs 600 crore since 2002 for the scheme, said Minister for Small and Medium Irrigation Govind M Karjol here on Tuesday.
He added that the involvement of the beneficiary community in the rejuvenation of tanks yielded positive results.
Agricultural productivity has improved from 18 to 62 per cent, per capita income among the tank users too has increased by over Rs 1,395 per annum, Karjol detailed, adding that those involved in fisheries benefited a lot.
As many as 3,126 tank management committees have been formed at the rural level with a membership of over 11.62 lakh ever since the project was launched. The minister said that the upkeep and management of the tanks would be entrusted to these committees.
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj which has been entrusted with monitoring implementation of the scheme has taken up the rejuvenation of over 2,221 tanks under the scheme. The district-wise breakup of the tanks are: Kolar 567, Chikballapur 457, Tumkur 397, Haveri 228 and Raichur 158.
The minister added that the project was originally launched on an experimental basis in 34 taluks in 10 districts to rejuvenate 2005 tanks at an estimated cost of Rs 505 crore, which, however, got rescheduled to Rs 330.69 crore.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/3900-tanks-to-be-rejuvenated/396745.html

‘GIM 2012 to exceed 2010 investments’

BANGALORE: The second edition of the state government-sponsored Global Investors Meet (GIM), scheduled to be held on June 7 and 8, 2012, is expected to generate over Rs 5 lakh crore investment proposals, exceeding the previous event’s investment commitment, Major Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani informed here on Tuesday.
The Minister told reporters that the previous edition of GIM-2010 had yielded investment proposals to the tune of over Rs3.92 crore, which was attended by industry leaders, various governments, trade bodies and associations, investment promotion agencies and entrepreneurs.
“The kind of response received from the various road shows and other related events conducted by the ministry has received an overwhelming response,” the Minister said.
Informing that the state government has taken several measures to attract investors to Karnataka as a preferred destination, the Minister said, “The state government will offer better incentives to prospective investors, which would be announced during the two-day event.”
Referring to the complaint on delays after getting clearance at the State
High-Level Clearance Committee, the Minister said it has been decided to see that notifications would be issued within 24 hours of approval of the project proposal.
The Minister said that the state government would make all efforts and see that Karnataka is India’s preferred investment destination and “holding GIM-2012 is an emphatic initiative in this direction”. He also said the state government has decided to offer special sops and incentive proposals to corporate houses, which would come forward to establish units in the backward districts in the state.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/%E2%80%98gim-2012-to-exceed-2010-investments%E2%80%99/396698.html

Jaipal Reddy apprised of LPG situation in State

Shobha calls on the Union Minister

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday called on Union Minister for Petroleum S. Jaipal Reddy and complained about the alleged large-scale diversion of domestic LPG cylinders for non-domestic use resulting in a serious shortage across Karnataka.

‘LARGE-SCALE DIVERSION'

In a letter submitted to the Union Minister, she said, “The main reason for the shortage of LPG cylinders is large-scale diversion of domestic cylinders to black market for non-domestic use. The State government, in fact, initiated a major exercise to detect and weed out illegal LPG connections. I have brought this fact to your notice, and in Karnataka, we have detected the illegal connections by linking the LPG connections to the domestic electricity meter numbers, making use of the electricity supply company data.”

Ms. Karandlaje said in the States where electrification was lagging behind, perhaps, LPG connections could be linked to properties using the property tax database. An early decision in this regard would go a long way in easing the LPG shortage, she said.

She requested the Union Minister to take steps to ease the situation by directing the oil companies to weed out illegal connections. “The oil companies may be asked to fix a time frame of one week from the date of booking to deliver cylinders to customers.” The general situation in the State in respect of supply of domestic LPG cylinders to customers was very bad and the oil companies had not been able to provide a convincing reason for the undue delay, she said.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3470414.ece

Bleeding hearts of the plant world

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01097/30BGMMARIANNE_1097859f.jpg

Gardening Bright and colourful caladiums are low maintenance foliage plants

source:http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article3469252.ece

Tumkur - Nelemangala corridor alli, i am seeing huge number of land being bought and warehouses being built...one insider says its in anticipation for FDI in retail that logistics companies and retailers are already preparing to make that area as sourcing for Bangalore..

Hmmm if only they pass the retail note..we will see a huge boom and better products and prizes..

My team is planning and designing a huge logistics park at dabaspet :)

BTW news! Karnataka is home to India's biggest Wind park now

Acciona SA : ACCIONA inaugurates its biggest wind park in India

Located in Karnataka state, the 56 MW Tuppadahalli wind park will produce electric power equivalent to the consumption of 35,000 Indian homes.

With 85.8 MW in operation, the company is the biggest Spanish wind power operator in the country.


4-traders (http://www.4-traders.com/ACCIONA-SA-69450/news/Acciona-SA-ACCIONA-inaugurates-its-biggest-wind-park-in-India-14349441/)

And a Fact India's biggest Industrial estate Peenya :cheers:

Waste disposal becomes complex because of the number and variety of industries

Driving on the neat, tree-lined streets of Peenya industrial estate, one may forget that the area is home to over 3,000 large- and small-scale industries. It is one of the largest industrial areas in Asia, set up in the late 1970s, producing diverse materials and one of the largest revenue generators for Karnataka.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3470340.ece

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560361_10150946309638128_1074331577_n.jpg

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi greets former Karnataka CM BS Yeduyurappa's grand-daughter BU Apoorva and her husband at their wedding reception in Bengaluru on Wednesday. PTI Photo

woooooooooahhh whole of BJP team is here.....BSY is not to be taken lightly

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/575252_10150946309938128_726909612_n.jpg


BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitely, Karnataka CM Sadanand Gowda and others at the wedding reception of former Karnataka CM BS Yeduyurappa's grand-daughter BU Apoorva in Bengaluru on Wednesday. PTI Photo

Gates in B'lore tomorrow for philanthropy meet

BANGALORE: Some of India's richest will congregate here on June 1 at the invitation of Azim Premji, Ratan Tata and Bill Gates to talk about philanthropy and its impact on society.

The by-invitation-only event is such a hush-hush affair that no details of it are available; neither is the guest list. Wipro said that as this is a personal initiative of their chairman, they had no information to offer.

While Gates and Premji have already pledged a substantial portion of their wealth to philanthropy and spoken at length on the need to give back to society a large chunk of their multi-billion-dollar wealth, Tata's is a new name on this list though the Tata Group's charitable initiatives are among the country's oldest.

Berkshire Hathway chairman Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, who started the "The Giving Pledge" initiative in 2010, held a similar meeting in New Delhi last year at which Premji was a prominent speaker. At the Delhi meeting, unlike the American soirees of Buffett and Gates, none of the Indian billionaires and millionaires present promised to give away a chunk of their wealth. Gates had then said that the event had not been held to specifically ask people to pledge their money to philanthropic causes, but to "inspire a continuing dialogue in India".

The Giving Pledge website says that it "is an effort to invite the wealthiest individuals and families in America to commit to give most of their wealth to philanthropy". Among the 81 who have done so are Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder; Michael Bloomberg, New York mayor; Larry Ellison, Oracle chairman; Vinod Khosla, venture capitalist; George Lucas, filmmaker; Pierre Omidyar, eBay chairman; and Ted Turner, media mogul and CNN founder.

The site says that the pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract. It does not involve pooling money or supporting a particular set of causes or organizations.

It further says: "While The Giving Pledge is specifically focused on billionaires, the idea takes its inspiration from efforts in the past and at present that encourage and recognize givers of all financial means and backgrounds."

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Gates-in-Blore-tomorrow-for-philanthropy-meet/articleshow/13679505.cms

The transit of Venus

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/5/31/YJE.jpg

BANGALORE: On June 6, Indians will have the privilege to witness the rare astronomical spectacle called ‘Transit of Venus’. This transit will be the last for this century and will be next visible only in 2117. The entire transit of Venus will be visible from Eastern Asia, Eastern Australia, North Western North America, the Arctic and North Pacific Ocean.
The beginning of the event will not be visible from any place in India as the it will be in progress before sunrise. The end phase of the transit can be clearly seen from India.
What is the transit? During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun. The transit is similar to a solar eclipse by the Moon. While the diameter of Venus is almost four times that of the Moon, it appears smaller and travels more slowly across the face of the Sun because it is much farther away from Earth.
Observations of transits of Venus has helped scientists use the principle of parallax to calculate the distance between the Sun and the Earth. The Transit of Venus deals with the eighteenth-century attempt to complete the Newtonian system of the world by determining its actual solar dimensions.
The 2004 transit of Venus was the first in 121 years. This was only the sixth transit of Venus since the telescope was invented. The last pair happened in 1874 and 1882.
Observe caution:
The safest way to observe a transit is to project the image of the Sun through a telescope, binoculars, or pinhole onto a screen. But the event can be viewed with the naked eye using filters specifically designed for this purpose. Visit the local planetarium.


source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/the-transit-of-venus/396943.html

A kingdom of books

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/5/31/AKING-1.jpg

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/a-kingdom-of-books/396944.html

Heavenly abode called Dharamsala

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/5/31/dhar--th.jpg

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/heavenly-abode-called-dharamsala/396936.html

Student bus pass under Sakala

BANGALORE: From this year, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) student pass scheme has been brought under the Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act or the Sakala, under which student pass holders’ details will be stored in computers before the issuance of passes.
The first-phase of issuing the students’ concessional passes for the academic year 2012-13 will start soon.
The passes for primary, secondary and high school students will commence from June 4 and the passes for I and II PUC students will be issued from June 11.
Passes will be issued at 35 counters across the city, including- Kempegowda Bus Station, Shivajinagar Bus Station, Shanthinagar Bus Station, BMTC Indiranagar Depot, Domlur Bus Station, Jeevanbimanagar Bus Station, K R Puram Bus station, Kalyannagar Bus Station, Kavalbyrasandra Bus Station, Basaveshwaranagar Bus Stn, Vijayanagar TTMC, Chandra Layout Bus station, MCTC Bus station, Kengeri TTMC, among others.
The counters will function from 8 am to 5 pm on all working days, except Sundays and general holidays.
Application forms can be downloaded from www.bmtcinfo.com or they can be collected from major bus stands for free.


source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/Student-bus-pass-under-Sakala/397103.html

Radiology centre at HIMS to become functional soon

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C.N Jagadish, Associate Professor of Community Medicine, showing radiotherapy equipment at radiology centre at HIMS in Hassan on Monday.

It will benefit cancer patients in Hassan, neighbouring districts

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3474099.ece

When a businessman takes to farming

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01099/31BGBANANA_1099037f.jpg
Amar Phulekar of Islampur village in Bidar taluk decided on cultivating banana realising that there is demand for the fruit round the year

Amar Phulekar is expecting a bumper harvest and hopes to earn 30 per cent profit

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3474098.ece

k thanks saw that...I thought it would be for tumkur, believe me tumkur/hubli are emerging as the logistics hubs in karnataka.Hubli owing to its excellent locaion and connectivity with Pune,bangalore and madgaon.Not to forget scores of logistics firms in hubli biggest of them being VRL,India's biggest.

Hassan too with its pharma,textile sez exports via Nava Mangalore port

i said it :banana:

Hubli,tumkur and hassan


Karnataka approves Rs 1,000-cr investments in logistics (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3477219.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

To build 4 Logistics Parks through public-private partnership route

BANGALORE, MAY 31:
Ahead of the Global Investors Meet (GIM), the Karnataka Government has cleared investments in logistics and warehouses to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore.

Also on its own, the government plans to build four Logistics Parks with a total investment of Rs 1,800 crore through private partnership route.

To facilitate development across the state, the Infrastructure Development Department has initiated moves to build Logistics Parks in Bangalore, Hassan and Hubli on public-private partnership (PPP) mode. According to a senior Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) official, the government is looking for an integrated approach by providing multi-modal/integrated logistics transport centre, warehouses, inland container depots, domestic rail head, and air cargo centres.

INVITES REGISTRATION OF INTERESTS

Logistics Parks are to come up at Harohalli Industrial Area in Bangalore with an investment of Rs 500 crore, Dabbaspet (Rs 600 crore), Hassan (Rs 350 crore) and Hubli (Rs 350 crore).

The department has invited registration of interests (RoI) from global, national companies and is open to joint ventures and consortia for development of logistics parks.

An industries department official said the projects cleared recently are Vikram Logistics and Maritime Services which is investing Rs 342.59 crore to set up logistics services at Maranaikanahally and Samanduru villages in Anekal.

The project is to come up on 120 acres of land owned by one of the directors of the company.

It is likely to give employment to 675 people. Property developer Gopalan Enterprises is to build a warehouse at Cheelur village Maralvadi hobli in Kanakapura with an investment of Rs 188 crore and offer employment to 5,000 people.

The promoters of the project have sought 104.06 acres of land.

The government has instructed project proponent to obtain consent to an extent of 70 per cent from the land owners for further assistance.

The Gurgaon-based Siddhivinayaka Farm Fresh is to set up a muti-commodity agri-cold chain network and logistic hub at Vishwanathapura near Devanahalli. The project is to come up on 11 acres on a private land at an investment of Rs 160.66 crore.

Magna Warehousing and Distribution Private Ltd with an investment of Rs 381 crore to develop spaces and infrastructure for IT offices, hotel rooms, meeting spaces and convention, shopping including food courts, restaurants, cinema, departmental stores to complement with the location at EPIP industrial areas at Hoodi Village next to Sri Sathya Sai Hospital at Whitefield.

State to offer 190 infra projects under PPP

The State government plans to offer around 190 infrastructure-related projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode, Industries Minister Murgesh Nirani announced here, on Thursday.

Addressing a gathering of industry captains at an interactive session organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) Nirani said the government in a bid to encourage PPP mode, will introduce a law to facilitate, regulate and mitigate risk in infrastructure projects. “The Bill will help creation of a Karnataka Viability Gap Fund to the tune of Rs 500 crore to aid these infrastructure projects besides tapping some of the similar such funds from the Centre,” he said.

Referring to the Global Investors Meet scheduled for June 6 to 8, Nirani said that over 10,000 business delegates will interact and network with business leaders and policy makers. BCIC President Dr Vinod Nowal said a few thorny issues were holding up fresh investments and expansion plans of the existing units in the State. He suggested smooth transfer of land to industry, single window clearances of various licences and overall improvement in the infrastructure facility to attract investments into the State.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253638/state-offer-190-infra-projects.html

i said it :banana:

Hubli,tumkur and hassan


Karnataka approves Rs 1,000-cr investments in logistics (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3477219.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)

government shud keep a tracking info of projects in public domain like DHL allows us to track our parcels .So that companies don't play game of RE

Bill Gates's new mission: Low cost toilets

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_vertical/article-images/bill-gates.jpg.crop_display.jpg

Software billionaire and founder of Microsoft Bill Gates will be in the city on Friday to attend an exclusive fund raising event hosted by Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro.

According to sources, the event will see the participation of a select few who are closely associated with Mr Premji and his not-for-profit foundation.

Mr Premji believes that education can directly contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of people, while Mr Gates is now committed to bringing ‘low cost toilets’ to India which do not require running water.

Mr Gates believes that these dry toilets would improve public health in developing countries where lack of hygiene is the primary cause of disease. In India alone, only 46.9 per cent of the total 246.6 million households have toilets at home, 3.2 per cent use public toilets and 49.8 per cent use open spaces for defecation.

Mr Gates has invited scientists and engineers from all over the world to Seattle to design cheap dry toilets.



source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/bill-gatess-new-mission-low-cost-toilets-495

BWSSB to use PIDs to increase revenue

BANGALORE: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is planning to seek Property Identification Numbers (PID) from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to increase its revenue by imposing tax on sewerage lines as well regularising unauthorised tap connections in the city.
The BBMPs revenue has seen an upward trend by netting crores of rupees in its kitty, due to assigning unique (PID) numbers, a combination of ward, street and property numbers, which are used to identify properties (as many as 16,19,367 properties) through Geographical Information System (GIS).
Speaking to Express, BWSSB Chairman Gaurav Gupta said, “The data will be useful in proper planning and development of water supply and sewerage network also. PIDs will be useful to find out the number of properties which have water and sanitary connections, on how and where such things have been provided and their purposes”.
T Venkatraju, Engineer-in-chief of BWSSB, said “Once we get the data base, we will compare it with the data we have and will zero down the properties which have unauthorised water connections which are missed out in our list.”
He said that the board has a data of about 6.3 lakh properties from which taxes are collected for sewerage disposals. “With this data, we will be able to increase our revenue by about Rs 10-20 crore, as we will get the list of properties with sanitary connections.”
Gupta added that the list will help in giving new water connections too. “The properties which do not have a water connection, in the near future may seek a connection, we may need more pipes and other infrastructure. The data will help us execute such things easily”.
The board will later formulate a policy on how to go ahead against the unauthorised tap connections.
Meanwhile, G Manjunath Raju, former chairman of BBMP Standing Committee of Taxation and Finance said, “Since the PIDs have details such as water, sanitary, electrical connections, nature of property-residential or commercial etc, they can be used as a platform for various applications. Even BWSSB can use it to increase its revenue.”

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/bwssb-to-use-pids-to-increase-revenue/397368.html

Dedicated nano- tech facility opens at NAL today

BANGALORE: A facility to aid advanced research in nano-materials will be opened in Bangalore on June 1, scripting a new chapter in surface modification technologies in aerospace, energy, societal and engineering sectors.
Samir K Brahmachari, Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), will inaugurate the facility on National Aerospace Limited (NAL) premises. This facility would integrate under one roof NAL’s all ongoing nanotechnology-related activities.
Sources tell Express that the Surface Engineering Division (SED) of the NAL has been developing economically-viable technologies over the years. “Nano technology has made huge inroads in aerospace sector and the NAL has been exploring the possibilities. We have developed and demonstrated some technologies for solar selective coatings for domestic water heating and steam generation.
Some of the highly polishable nanocrystalline coatings for passive radiative coolers have already been used on various satellite missions by ISRO,” sources said.An efficient coating technology called NALSUN, meant for solar thermal applications, has been already transferred to 28 entrepreneurs.
“The nanostructured materials and coatings have become a multi-disciplinary field of research. Some of the frontier areas of research at CSIR-NAL are self-cleaning coatings, super-hard and super-tough coatings, nanocrystalline metal and composite thin films, nano-dimensional magnetic thin films, corrosion protection coatings, coatings for bio-medical applications, solar selective coatings, sol-gel hybrid coatings, cloud seeding materials and nanopowders for engineering applications,” NAL sources said.
CSIR-NAL has demonstrated a new wear-resistant composite coating for trochoid of a Wankel engine. “We have successfully flight-tested the coating on an indigenous 55 HP rotary engine of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Nishant. We now foresee the use of this nano-coating on the engines of light-weight aircraft, micro-UAV and automobiles,” sources said. CSIR-NAL has set its eye on developing nanowires and nanodots using anodic alumina template. “This is a cost-effective way to grow nano-dimensional materials, which can be used for gas and biomedical sensors and optical switching,” sources added.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/dedicated-nano-tech-facility-opens-at-nal-today/397404.html

BEML society’s sale deeds illegal

It is now confirmed that most of the sale deeds of sites executed by the BEML Employees’ Cooperative Society Limited (BECSL) at its layout in Thubarahalli is against law.

Sample this: There is no provision for an executive director on the board of the BECSL as per the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act 1959. However, the BECSL, with an ulterior motive, made a provision for an executive director post and entrusted him to execute most of the sale deeds of sites at its layout in Thubarahalli, including the sale deed of two sites belonging to BEML chairman and managing director VRS Natarajan and KRM Reddy, the then general manager (HR).

The move drew a sharp response from the joint registrar of co-operative societies, Bangalore region. Annoyed with the BECSL’s move—which was a violation of norms—the Joint Registrar of Co-operative Societies, in a letter (No. JRB/ELN/08/2008-09 dated May 15, 2008), directed the BECSL to clarify the duties of its president, vice-president and executive director.

The secretary of the BECSL, in a letter (BECS/JR/ED/40/2008-09, dated: June 14, 2008), clarified that the managing committee, as per the bye-law No. 59 of BECSL, can elect any one of the elected managing committee members to arrange for sanction of loans/distribution/supervision and execution of sale deeds.

But many employees, who are yet to be allotted sites at various layouts formed by the BECSL, suspect that the move to have a managing committee member as an executive director was done to help few individuals.

“It was done to help a few selected employees of the BEML to get allotted sites as per their choice. The executive director had ignored genuine applicants and allotted sites to VRS Natarajan and KRM Reddy to remain in their good books,’’ said a retired employee of the BEML, who is yet to be allotted a site even after paying the amount more than five years ago.

M Huche Gowda, the then executive director of the BECSL, had executed the sale deeds allotting sites to VRS Natarajan (site Nos. 795 & 796 on January 22, 2005) and KRM Reddy (site No. 797 on March 14, 2005). Munnagappa, president of the BECSL, and N Ramakrishna, executive director, had executed the rectification deed in favour of KRM Reddy to add around 140 sq ft to the site No. 797.

The sale deed of seven sites between Narasappa Reddy and BECSL’s executive director Domlur Sreenivas Reddy and president H M Kumar was done on Aug 5, 2009, by disregarding a letter from the joint registrar of cooperative societies.

The joint registrar, in a letter, (No. JRB/ELN/08/2008-09, dated July 17, 2008) directed the BECSL to take suitable action to drop the byelaw No. 59 that authorised the BECSL to elect one of the managing committee members to arrange for sanction of loans/distribution/supervision and execution of sale deeds.

The letter made it clear that there was no provision for the post of executive director as per the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959. It also stated that the paid secretary of the BECSL was the authorised person to carry out the day to day activities. “The executive director post is created to serve the interests of selected people. It is quite unfortunate the BECSL continued to have the executive director on the board despite the directive from the joint registrar. The post itself is null and void,’’ said a director of the BESCL on condition of anonymity.

Echoing the view, KS Periyaswamy, a shareholder of BEML and advocate, said the post of executive director is against the norms of Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1959. “The sale deeds executed between VRS Natarajan and M Huche Gowda, executive director of the BECSL and KRM Reddy are null and void since the executive director is not authorised to execute such deeds. The authorities concerned have to take measures to recover the sites from VRS Natarajan and KRM Reddy and abolish the post of executive director of the BECSL,” Periyaswamy said.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_beml-societys-sale-deeds-illegal_1696150

Pourakarmikas contracted to clean up the city by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were thrilled on Wednesday as Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda distributed their salaries through cheques.

From this month on, the contract pourakarmikas will get minimum wages of Rs. 6,936 a month through cheques. After deduction towards provident fund and Employees State Insurance (ES), each pourakarmika will get Rs. 5,040 a month in hand.

LONG OVERDUE

Hundreds of pourakarmikas clapped spontaneously as Mr. Gowda praised their role in the city's upkeep. “The hike in the salaries of pourakarmikas has been long overdue. I am happy today to have distributed the cheques to those who strive to keep the city clean,” he said.

Manjamma K., a contract pourakarmika, said she used to get just Rs. 2,400 a month :bash:. “We are happy that our long-pending demand has finally been fulfilled. We now hope that our salaries are hiked periodically.”

Her colleague, Mariyamma, said the pay hike would make life a little easier for them. “We have had to borrow heavily. With the increased salary, I hope to clear some of my debts.”

With morale up, BBMP officials too were optimistic about pourakarmikas' cooperation in managing solid waste better in the city.

“We hope to get a lot more cooperation from them. Though the minimum wages was to have been implemented years ago, we could not enforce it due to a host of reasons. We are glad now,” said Hemachandra, BBMP's Joint Commissioner (South Zone).

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3475855.ece

:cheers:

Bangalore's whine club
Kishore Singh / Jun 02, 2012, 00:16 IST



Remember how the rich are always complaining: “I had to wait six months before they could deliver matching Maseratis for my father and me,” or “I got my wife a 15-carat diamond, but that show-off Sudhakar on the seventeenth floor got his wife and girlfriend both 20-carat diamonds, and now my wife won’t speak to me”, or “I sent my private jet to Paris because the cook insisted on fresh scallops for tonight’s dinner, but Customs kept the package in a non-airconditioned room, and now everything is ruined.” Well, that’s the way Bangaloreans are. Mostly, of course, about the weather, which they treat as their personal climate control. “It is so hot,” every one of them gripes, when, in fact, it is gloriously cool. “No, no, this is the peak of summer, it is stifling,” they will insist, while you go around switching off even fans because, well, you’ve come from Delhi, which is 45 degrees and rising, and in Bangalore, unless you’re careful, you’re going to – achoo! aaachoo! – catch cold.

The newspapers feed the malcontent, the city pages griping about trees being felled when, in fact, Bangalore is gloriously, lushly green. In the Whitefield gated community where I’m staying on this visit, they rise magnificently tall, as they probably have for decades. “No, no,” my host corrects my misconception, “they’re only as young as this place,” which, for the record, is just a few years old. Not only do trees in Bangalore rise fast, unlike in Delhi they’re unlikely to come crashing down every time there’s a strong wind. These days, though, the city seems more concerned about noise pollution. In Whitefield, there is one road on which traffic roars, I concede, “but the birds are noisier”, I clarify to my wife on the phone, a koel outside my window distracting me from work, so maybe Bangaloreans do have a point.

The cook says he’s going to the grocer down the road — do I need anything? “It’s just a small store,” my hostess apologises, “nothing fancy,” just French milk, Italian cheese, quinoa from South America for the diet sensitive, Swiss chocolates, Australian jams, specialty teas, American oatmeal. My kirana store in Delhi, I hasten to assure her, hardly offers me a choice of bread. “That reminds me,” she says, “they should have focaccia fresh from Ooty today,” unless I’d prefer “the rye bread from Pune, the sourdough bread from Kodai, or perhaps our own local bread, which is rather good too.”

My hosts ask me to accompany them on an evening walk through the quiet streets of their privileged community, clarifying that most owners, just like them, are only part-time residents. Bangalore real estate seems to have done well from its migrants who, here, have brought second or third homes, retreats for their parents, or seclusion for their amours that remain secret because there aren’t any permanent neighbours to pry into, quite literally, their affairs.

Bangaloreans also remain resiliently mobile: the newspaper boy does his rounds in the morning on a motorcycle, personal trainers and beauty therapists are available for house calls, and my host, despite my protests, has booked me a reflexology massage — naturally, at home, because of the Bangaloreans’ aversion to, and only legitimate grouse: “traffic”. It’s true that the roads are mostly choked, but with temple trees and gulmohurs outside, grapefruit and figs on ice to keep themselves fortified within their chauffeur-driven cars, and a pedicurist-on-call at journey’s end, Bangaloreans don’t know how spoilt they are — or perhaps they do, but like to complain anyway.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bangalores-whine-club/476021/

Interesting....what do u guys say ..are we Bangaloreans like this :)

In Bombay, it's Flora Fountain. In Delhi, it's Daryaganj. In Calcutta, it's College Street. Where is the famous area for buying books in Bangalore?

^^ Avenue Road :colgate:

Mandya dha Ambreesh with his friends on his birthday bash

http://www.deccanherald.com/photos/big/2012/05/30/20120529195824.jpg

is that nitin gadkari in purple shirt?

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3475855.ece

Manjamma K., a contract pourakarmika, said she used to get just Rs. 2,400 a month . “We are happy that our long-pending demand has finally been fulfilled. We now hope that our salaries are hiked periodically.”

:cheers:

Earlier their work hours were 3-4 hours a day, that is increased to 8 hours and correspondingly salary hiked. good for bbmp to get more work done with same number of employees, and 8 hours is not much, its a win-win :cheers:

8 hours work for pourakarmikas: BBMP (http://expressbuzz.com/topic/8-hours-work-for-pourakarmikas-bbmp/390964.html)
Last Updated : 12 May 2012 11:15:18 AM IST
BANGALORE: Following their demand for hike in pay, BBMP has instructed the pourakarmikas to work for eight hours a day to implement the revised payscale. Presently, the pourakarmikas work only for four hours a day. The new order is applicable to all the pourakarmikas under Palike.

BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda said, “Pourakarmikas used to divide work and carry out work in additional shifts. Earlier, the practice was to work for four hours, and in an additional shift, another batch of them used to work. I have instructed them to stop this practice. Now, all the pourakarmikas will have to compulsorily work for eight hours.”

Around 18,000 pourakarmikas work for BBMP, of whom only 4,000 are under employee category. The remaining workers have been hired on contract basis for the past few years.

The state government has directed the BBMP to appoint 4,000 pourakarmikas. However, Gowda said they had asked the government to relax their order.

“We have asked the government to allow us to employ 4,000 pourakarmikas from the contract workers. We are waiting for its approval,” Gowda said.

Karnataka State Corporation, Municipality, Town Municipality Pourakarmika Union president Narayan said that Urban Development Minister S Suresh Kumar had intervened when they had earlier staged a protest in April and had assured to implement the revised payscale from April 1. So far, there has been no action in this regard. “We are still waiting for the revised pay. We approached the authorities concerned on Thursday and they assured that it will be implemented by May 16. We have decided to wait until then,” Narayan said. When asked about the change in working hours, he said they did not have any problem with the work duration.

Cops nab Divya's murderer, accomplice fleeing in bus (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Cops-nab-Divyas-murderer-accomplice-fleeing-in-bus/articleshow/13713602.cms)
The writer has posted comments on this articleTNN | Jun 2, 2012, 02.30AM IST


http://www.megamedianews.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/GirMurdered-370x328.jpg
http://www.megamedianews.in/index.php/59782/kundapur-girl-stabbed-to-death-in-bangalore-ex-lover-arrested-for-murder/

BANGALORE: Police on Friday arrested Ranjit Krishnegowda, 25, who allegedly hacked his former girlfriend, S Divya, 24, to death on Monday last in BTM Layout II Stage. He and his accomplice, Bhuvanesh Kutty, 25, were nabbed in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

Kutty and Ranjit had accosted Divya when she was returning from work. While Kutty remained in the rider's seat, Ranjit had attacked Divya. The duo had then sped from the spot.

Ranjit allegedly confessed to his crime and told Mico Layout police that it was Divya who had first approached him with a marriage proposal. "I was one year senior to her in college. She first proposed to me about five years ago. My parents, too, had agreed to our marriage. But she changed after she met a man who earned more than me. Divya started avoiding me and I decided to teach her a lesson," Ranjit told Mico Layout police.

Meanwhile, Divya's family had chosen S Pradeep, a private company employee and her sister's brother-in-law, as the groom. On learning about it, Ranjit called Pradeep on May 19 and threatened him to keep away from Divya, police said.

DCP (Southeast) PS Harsha said three teams had been set up to arrest Ranjit and Kutty. One special team traced Ranjit and Kutty to Kozikhode. "We left immediately to Kerala. But somehow, Ranjit sensed our arrival and fled from there," Harsha said.

However, the team alerted their Bangalore counterparts that the suspects were heading towards Hosur in Tamil Nadu.

"They were travelling in a Kerala state transport bus. We caught hold of them in Hosur on Friday morning. On questioning, Ranjit confessed to the crime and we immediately arrested them," Harsha added.

Ranjit and Kutty were remanded to police custody.

accomplice is a fool, jail for no gain :ohno:

:ohno:

http://media2.intoday.in/indiatoday/images/stories//2012june/el-nino_smal_060212090851.jpg

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/poor-monsoon-likely-to-affect-india-farm-output-el-nino/1/198703.html

Warli art to adorn walls in City

http://www.deccanherald.com/page_images/thumb/2012/06/02/253887_thump.jpg

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) has decided to erase paintings on the City walls that brought it disrepute and repaint them with a tribal art form, which has its root in Warli, a hamlet in Thane, Maharashtra.

Former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, in a written reply to the legislature, had said in March 2010 that the paintings donning public walls in the City depict the rich and vibrant culture and history of the State and the project also aims at educating people about the same.

Two years later, the BBMP, which recently decided to hock Utility building, is waiting for the Commissioner’s nod to replace these wall paintings with Warli art.

The art form, considered niche, could date all the way back to 3,000 BC. Yashodhara Dalmia, an artist and an author has, in her book titled ‘The Painted World of the Warlis’ claimed that the Warli paintings were monosyllabic.

The art form is described to be extremely rudimentary and use a very basic graphic vocabulary: a circle, a triangle and a square. The circle and triangle come from their observation of nature, the circle representing the sun and the moon, the triangle derived from mountains and pointed trees.

The Palike had earlier painted many walls in the City with murals depicting the culture and history of Karnataka, but hoped that the Warli paintings would add to the aesthetics of the City. The new paintings will provide artistic relief to citizens, a Palike official said.He also conceded that there have been other serious issues with the existing paintings. “From paint quality to ad-hoc impressions of people and historic sites, the wall paintings did not have appeal,” he said. To address the lacuna, the Palike opted for the Warli art form.

According to officials, the art form which dons a portion of the Palike headquarter’s walls, has been appreciated by citizens and the artists’ community. “While the art form is extremely attractive, it is expensive due to the high labour and paint costs,” the official explained.

The artists demand Rs 60 to draw painting on a square foot while the Palike had paid only Rs 25 per sqft on the existing paintings. “We will invite tenders for the art work soon after obtaining a final ratification by the Palike Commissioner,” he said.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253887/warli-art-adorn-walls-city.html

Turahalli forest to be adventure sports hub soon

Novel escapade

Turahalli forest, a haven for rock climbers from Bangalore, will soon become an official hub for adventure sports because of a local initiative by the State-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR).

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/02/rock-climbing.jpg

Tented accommodations, rock climbing and trekking are to be offered soon at Turahalli, already an important destination for natural rock climbers and professionals from Bangalore who wish to indulge in adventure sports. Jungle Lodge and Resorts, which in recent years, has expanded the scope of its tourism initiatives from wildlife preserves, believes Turahalli to be a prime location for other tourism ventures. Dr Anur Reddy, Managing Editor of JLR, recently spoke to Deccan Herald about the organisation’s aspirations for Turahalli.

“We aim to tap the local tourism potential here. We plan to have about 20 tents. The rocks already exist and we plan to conduct guided treks, led by naturalists,” Reddy said.

The project will be in collaboration with the Eco-tourism Board and the Forest Department. It will also involve a substantial investment in adventure sports under the guidance of the Board.

Reddy said the commercial aspects of the project and additonal details will be made available within a month.

Isolated hill

Turahalli, located south of Bangalore off Kanakapura Road and eight km from the Banashankari temple, is an isolated hill containing boulders of hard granite of various sizes, suitable for rock climbing. Since the early ‘90s, the number of visitors have risen with Bangalore-based and international rock climbers, especially on week-ends and on holidays. The area also serves as an important training ground for the Bangalore-based climbing groups whose comptetions at the national levels have boosted the reputation of the local climbing community.

One of the few forest tracts near Bangalore, Turahalli, a dry, deciduous forest of 800 acres, is dominated by eucalyptus and other native shrubs.

The forest is home to large numbers of wildlife such as jackal, hare, monitor-lizard and mongoose. It is also a favoured destination for bird-watching groups, who have recorded the presence of over 70 species, including the Great Horned Owl.

Turahalli is also a frequent destination for school camps, which exposes children to nature. Most camp activities revolve around watching and identifying birds, butterflies and insects or learning the basics of rock climbing and rappelling.

Because of its pristine nature, there has been rampant poaching and urban encroachment in the forest. However, Reddy said things have improved.

“Boundaries have been demarked and the entire area has been fenced,” he said. Turahalli forest was previously in the news when it was identified to be converted into a tree park by the State government.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253882/turahalli-forest-adventure-sports-hub.html

Billionaire-philanthropic club meet

More than 40 philanthropists and business leaders from India Inc and abroad met over an extended luncheon session, hosted by Wipro chairperson Azim Premji on Friday to discuss integration of philanthropy and social service.

The collective, ‘billionaire-turned-philonthropic club,’ comprising Bill Gates, Ratan Tata and Premji among others, discussed philanthropic works to be taken up in the fields of health, education, water and agriculture.

They also stressed the need to set up a pan-India foundation to facilitate collaboration of more Indian firms to work on betterment of human society.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253884/billionaire-philanthropic-club-meet.html

Court awards jail term to BJP MLA in Karnataka

In the first ever conviction of a Legislator in Karnataka under the Prevention of Corruption Act, a ruling BJP MLA was today sentenced to three-and-a half year rigorous imprisonment in a bribery case by the Lokayukta Special Court.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/02/smapangi.jpg

Judge N K Sudheendra Rao also imposed a fine of Rs 40,000 on Y Sampangi failing which he has to undergo imprisonment for another six months.

The judge directed the Lokayukta Deputy Superintendent of Police to issue arrest warrant on Sampangi and take him into custody.

Sampangi, who represents Kolar Gold Fields assembly constituency, was trapped by Lokayukta police on January 29, 2009 while accepting Rs 50,000 and a cheque for Rs 4.5 lakh from a person to settle a civil dispute.

He was found guilty under section 13 (1) d of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the trial that lasted more than three years.

Sampangi's conviction has come as an added embarrassment to the ruling BJP in the state where several of its leaders, including former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, are battling cases of corruption in courts.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253947/court-awards-jail-term-bjp.html

HC annuls Nandish Reddy’s election

Register case against returning officer, directs court

In a judgment that would inflict a severe blow to the ruling BJP, the High Court on Friday annulled the election of Nandish Reddy as MLA from the KR Puram Assembly Constituency in 2008.

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source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253874/hc-annuls-nandish-reddys-election.html

Rahul Gandhi's visit expected to boost sagging spirits of Cong

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's two-day visit to Karnataka from today is expected to give a fillip to the sagging spirits of the party, which is trying to cash in on infighting in the ruling BJP.

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source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253929/rahul-gandhis-visit-expected-boost.html

Suvarna Vidhana Soudha is not fully ready

Monsoon session nears

The slow pace of construction at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, coupled with the approaching monsoon makes it unlikely that the State legislature can hold meetings there this year.

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During a visit to the construction site in April, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah had offered a hopeful estimate of the project’s conclusion, saying that all construction would be wrapped up before July. He had also expressed hope that the building would be inaugurated by then, paving the way for legislature session to take place.

The monsoon session of the legislature is scheduled to take place in the new building in the first week of July. Public Works Department (PWD) officials supervising the project were optimistic that all building and furniture works would be completed before the end of June.

PWD Superintendent Engineer Vinayak Sogur told the Deccan Herald that the building could well be completed by June 15. The installation of furniture, chairs and microphones are currently in progress, according to him.

Facing indifference

Despite the optimism, there are signs that the Suvarna Soudha has suffered official indifference. Agriculture and District Incharge Minister Umesh Katti, who was appointed to review progress, has previously praised the building as being a model for governmental architecture in the State. But he has not visited the site once in the last two months and the political intrigue and turmoil in the ruling BJP has led to the project’s neglect by elected representatives.

Once finished, the Assembly hall will have a seating capacity of 300. The council hall will be capable of holding 100 people. So far, 38 chambers have been readied for ministers and 14 meeting halls are ready for committees, Sogur said. An auditorium with a seating capacity of 450 is also in the last phase of completion, he added.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/253844/suvarna-vidhana-soudha-not-fully.html

Steeped in history, heritage

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BANGALORE: A historical landmark in the city of Bangalore, Bowring Institute has seen it all. From a meeting ground for academics and thinkers during the colonial era to a relaxed space for cultural and sports activities now, the club located on St Marks Road is buzzing with activity. The club does not host its activities with fervent chutpaz one associates with new comers, but with the elegance that one expects from 150-year-old history......

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/steeped-in-history-heritage/397631.html

Feeding a million hopes daily

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source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/feeding-a-million-hopes-daily/397630.html

U.K. award for Karnataka rural development project

A Karnataka microfinance organisation, which provides affordable loans to the poor to help them plan their energy needs, has won the prestigious Ashden Gold Award, given annually by Ashden, a British charity, for promoting universal access to sustainable energy.

The Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) was awarded the £40,000 prize money at a ceremony in London on Wednesday.

Judges described SKDRP as a “fantastic example” of how ethically managed microfinance could deliver sustainable energy to the poor.

“We were bowled over by the scale SKDRDP has achieved so far, along with the responsibility it takes for lending to the poor, nurturing users to take out effective loans. SKDRDP has huge potential to expand its work even further, and to inspire many others to follow its lead,” they said.

L.H. Manjunath, executive director of SKDRDP, said it was important to recognise that the poor needed financial support to acquire sustainable energy assets.

“For too long, microcredit only meant improving livelihoods. This award will redefine the scope of microcredit,” he said.

Kandeh Yumkella, Director General of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and Chair of UN-Energy, which campaigns for increasing access to energy for the poor, urged governments around the world to support clean energy pioneers.

“The Ashden 2012 winners are exposing the myth that poor countries cannot stimulate growth without degrading the environment. They are demonstrating that sustainable energy stimulates green growth and new jobs, lifts people out of poverty, improves health and opens up new educational opportunities.”

Sarah Butler-Sloss, Founder Director of Ashden said: “In this uncertain world our winners offer a beacon of hope, showing that access to sustainable energy offers a clear route out of poverty for millions of people around the world. We’re committed to sharing the lessons they have learned so they can be replicated far and wide.”

Other award-winners included a community-owned micro-hydro programme in Indonesia (IBEKA), and a project in remote Afghanistan (GIZ/INTEGRATION).

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3480147.ece

Mantra of GIM 2012: small is beautiful

Focus to be on small projects as opposed to big-ticket ventures

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3477192.ece

Action and drama at an iconic studio

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The reel one Public Initiative: There is a spacious, manicured garden and permanent sets of courts of law and police stations at Kanteerava Studio.

Kanteerava studio is holding its own, despite a new generation of Kannada filmmakers

The 45-year-old Kanteerava Studio in Nandini Layout is a major landmark in the history of ‘Sandalwood' or the Kannada film industry. Not only does it provide every facility needed for production of film and television programmes, but the place has also become a tourist destination because of its 2.5-acre memorial to the cultural icon and thespian Rajkumar.

In addition to its two existing floors, another floor will come up shortly, and the studio will soon have all facilities under one roof, says Vishu Kumar, managing director of Kanteerava Studio. “It will facilitate shooting with many backgrounds,” he adds. There is already a spacious, manicured garden and permanent sets of courts of law and police stations.

Grand opening

Kanteerava Studio was established in 1966, when the Kannada film industry was facing problems because of lack of adequate shooting floors in Bangalore. The issue was discussed in the State Assembly and the government decided to support entrepreneurs who came forward to set up a studio.

It was Gubbi Veeranna, a doyen of Kannada theatre and film, who came forward to accept the challenge. He was supported by T.S. Karibasavaiah, Annadanappa Doddameti, Rathnavarma Hegde of Dharmasthala and politician K.V. Shankare Gowda.

The Kanteerava Studio was launched as a joint stock company with 115 shareholders investing Rs. 7.5 lakh and the government contributing Rs. 5 lakh.

The studio's first shooting floor, Kaveri, was considered as the biggest in the country when it was thrown open in 1970. The construction of the second floor, Kalyani, was completed in 1972.

The State government lent Rs.12 lakh to purchase production accessories including Michael cameras.

Spread over 17.5 acres, the studio has become an inseparable part of the Kannada film industry over the past four decades, as many landmark films have been shot here, including those of the Dr. Raj banner.

Landmark films

Producer-director Sameeulla claims he was the first to shoot a film (Takka Bitre Sikka) at Kanteerava Studio.

Gopalakrishna, who was working in a film processing plant in Bombay (now Mumbai), started a processing unit in the studio, which helped in developing film prints. Four Moviola editing tables were set up to edit four films at a stretch. Later, a colour processing unit and recording studios were also set up.

Big budget films including Guru Shishyaru, Eradu Nakshatragalu, Shivanaga, Krantiyogi Basavanna, Runamukhtalu and Ranganayaki were shot here.

Cloudy future

The ambitious public initiative started suffering as a new generation of filmmakers and new filmmaking techniques took over the industry. Outdoor and realistic shooting came into vogue and became affordable. Private entrepreneurs inside the studio downed their shutters.

In 2005, the State government initiated a proposal to revive the studio by contracting out maintenance to private firms. By the time the Public Sector Reforms Commission asked unhealthy government undertakings to either close down or go for private partnership, the studio had started earning profits.

According to Vishu, the studio has made profit of Rs. 40 lakh this year and is now financially viable. Work on developing a new 100x80 ft floor and other small floors is in progress.

Two television channels are making the best use of the facilities at the studio now. The new floor will be fully dedicated to films. Every effort is being made against privatising this iconic studio.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3470347.ece

A scene out of 80s television

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Mist blankets the region, muting the sunlight, obscuring shadows and making telling the time of day impossible

The haunting song of the Malabar whistling thrush can be heard ghosting in and out of the Agumbe forest

Nestled snugly in the Malnad region of the Western Ghats is Agumbe. Once merely a sleepy hamlet, it is now a well-known name amongst trekkers, nature enthusiasts and ecologists.

The town enjoyed brief publicity during the mid to late 1980s when it was the site for the filming of Malgudi Days based on R.K. Narayan's novels.

It then fell off the radar for about a decade and a half until Romulus Whitaker, arguably the nation's most well-known herpetologist, set up the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) in 2005. Initially focusing on documenting the ecology of king cobras found in the surrounding forests, ARRS now functions as a base for researchers to study all aspects of the forests around.

Agriculture is a major source of income for the townsfolk here; areca-nut and eucalyptus plantations are a common sight. Paddy is grown in large quantities as well. People also find employment as labourers and, thanks to the increasing demand from tourism, as guides for wildlife photographers.

Monsoon and mist

Often referred to as the Cherrapunji of the south, Agumbe receives an average of over 760 cm of rainfall annually, making it the second wettest place in India, a fact evident in its biodiversity. The rainfall has been known to cross 1100 cm once every decade or so.

Dare to visit during the months of April and May, and the thundershowers would have begun. But, between June and September, when the southwest monsoon has kicked in, there isn't a sign of either lightening or thunder in the sky. There is simply spectacular, uninterrupted rain.

Most people find the scenery alone reason enough to visit — the monsoon carpets the entire space in layered greenery with hidden wildlife at every turn. Of course, a good time to visit is after the monsoons, between December and March.

Mist blankets the region, muting the sunlight, obscuring shadows and making telling the time of day impossible. The haunting song of the Malabar whistling thrush can often be heard ghosting in and out of the forest.

Wildlife haven

Located adjacent to both Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and Kudremukh National Park, the wildlife around Agumbe is of interest to researchers and tourists alike.

Reptiles and amphibians draw a great deal of publicity in the area though they can be best observed only during the monsoon. Some of the characteristic species of the area are the lion-tailed macaque, the king cobra, the Malabar gliding frog and the dracos or gliding lizards.

Agumbe has some excellent waterfalls; there is the massive Barkana falls, which rises to over 250 m, and the small yet picturesque Jogi Gundi. The place is, however, best known for its breathtaking sunsets when the mist and haze lift. There is a designated Sunset Point that receives thousands of visitors every month.

Those visiting the town find accommodation at either Mallya Residency (08181-233042, 9448759363, 9448814187) or Dodda Mane (08181-233075), the house of Malgudi Days fame, functioning as a homestay now.

Naxalite activity has been reported from the area recently. As a result, the number of police personnel has increased, with the Karnataka State Police conducting regular sweeps of the surrounding forests. Yet, this has done little to impede those visiting the area.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3472422.ece

Cool kebabs

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Marinated and herbed To perfection

The kebabs offered at the Skylit rooftop restaurant go well with conversation

After a hard day's work, working professionals like to meet up with friends. All they want is a getaway, where they can relax and snack on their favourite kebabs. Skylit rooftop restaurant caters to this well. The restaurant is located on the sixth floor of the cosy Citrus Hotel in Bellandur. The décor is classy without being ostentatious.

As I seat myself on the comfortable sofas, I am handed the barbeque and grills menu. The menu is democratic, so to speak, as there are eight items each for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. I try the paneer tikka hariyali. It is gentle on the taste buds and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. Murgh til wale is unique —while your mind tries to decipher the many ingredients that went into making it, your heart sings! Well, if that wasn't a pleasant surprise, wait till you eat the panner malai sheek. It is slightly sweet, due to a hint of saunf, which slides, glides and finally melts in your mouth.

The fish tikka hariyali is sumptuous. The fish is fresh, enhancing the flavour of the kebab. The Panjabi aloo tikki is enticing. Being a lover of all things potato, I love the bhangra of ingredients mixed into the aloo tikki.

The kebabs, Chef Nareja Tuteja informs, has a mild taste as they are marinated in herbs and minimal spices. The kebabs come at an affordable price, so you needn't worry about them burning holes in your pocket.

As you munch on the never-ending serving of kebabs over minty and tangy drinks, you suddenly realise that you are full. But there are goodies on offer — the main course. There is a buffet that serves biryani, curries, raita and sweets in abundance. Skylit rooftop restaurant is located in Citrus Hotel, 80/2, Marathahalli-Sarjapur, Outer Ring Road, Bellandur. For reservations call 40894999.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/Food/article3476515.ece

Home food in a van

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Quick and wholesome: Lalita prepares various dishes for the day, right on the footpath

Every street in Peenya seems to have a mobile canteen of its own

Every morning, at around 8.30 a.m., she drives her white Maruti van to her usual spot opposite the Ganesha temple in Peenya. She empties out the van, setting up her ‘restaurant' right on the footpath, and begins preparing various dishes for the day.

Meet N. Lalita, one of the few women who run mobile canteens in Peenya industrial area. The white Maruti and her pleasant demeanour have made her popular among workers in the area for nearly eight years now.

Her culinary expertise is basic — pulao, chapattis, ragi mudde, chicken, fish or vegetable curry, boiled eggs, rasam and refreshing curd rice. Items such as chapatti are prepared at home with the help of her family, while rice and curry are made on the spot. It all tastes like wholesome food from home.

How does she feel about driving the van every day? “It was a matter of necessity. My husband also works as a driver at a bank nearby. As he can't drive me here himself, he taught me to drive. This is convenient as I don't have to depend on anyone,” she says.

Rush hour

Lalita's place is most crowded between noon and 2 p.m., when industrial workers break for lunch. Most of her regulars are factory workers or employees who earn modest wages.

“The women would pack lunch for themselves, but the men don't like doing that,” explains Mangala, who works with an NGO in the area. “None of them like the food served in their factories, though.”

“Our lunch break lasts only for half an hour. Going to restaurants in such a case is not feasible,” says Gopal Krishna, one of Lalita's customers. “We have to go find a place to sit, place the order and then wait for a long time for food to be served. Mobile canteens like these save time.”

Every street in Peenya seems to have a mobile canteen of its own. A resident estimated that there are about 25 such canteens and each of them have their own signature Maruti vans.

Flexible eatery

Lalita manages cooking, serving and keeping accounts single-handedly. “When the crowd is more in the afternoons, we sometimes serve ourselves while Aunty is busy with other customers. This kind of liberty is not possible in other places,” says Santosh S., another customer.

‘Aunty' is willing to give them lunch on credit too. “These are very trusted customers of mine. But there are times when people take advantage. I don't worry much about them though,” she says.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3470334.ece

Caption this - May 30, 2012

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Send in a caption with your address and contact number to cityhood@gmail.com.

Does this photograph speak to you? Send in a caption with your address and contact number to cityhood@gmail.com. The best caption, which will be printed in this space next week, wins a Reebok watch from Ridhi Sidhi Mobiles.

Here is our pick of captions from last week’s entries:

Today’s society is crippled — time to reflect. RAMANUJAM

Reflection of confidence. P.A.C. SESHADRI

And the winner is: Mirror, mirror on the floor, tell me who is the bravest of them all? SHUBHA H.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3470320.ece

National Aerospace Laboratories’s Hamsa takes wings

The National Innovation Council (NIC), which is entrusted with preparing a roadmap for the decade of innovation (2010-2020), has asked the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to scale up Hamsa, the air-propelled ferry system.

Hamsa, which is developed by CSIR’s Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), can be used as a means for mass transportation of men and cargo in marshy and water-covered terrain.

Named after the mythological bird which does not fly but moves in land and water, Hamsa is a buoyant, self-propelled, multi-terrain vehicle which depends primarily on air thrust for propulsion.

“A presentation on the Hamsa project has been made before NIC. The project has received a positive response from the NIC panel members and they have asked us to scale up the project,” Dr S Selvarajan, NAL scientist and project leader of Hamsa told DNA.

The 17-member NIC panel is led by Sam Pitroda, adviser to the prime minister on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations.

The council wants to encourage research and development institutions like NAL to collaborate with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for manufacturing the product.

“The air ferry can be used in a variety of applications including fishing. We will team up with fishermen and carry out trials in various lakes in Tumkur district. We are also looking at tying up with state cooperative societies,” Selvarajan said.

Hamsa has already undergone trials at Halasuru Lake.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_national-aerospace-laboratoriess-hamsa-takes-wings_1697140

Bangalore's mango lovers head to Lalbagh

Even as the city awaits rains, the department of horticultural inaugurated a ‘mango mela’ on Friday at Lalbagh botanical gardens. The mela will continue till June 24 and Bangaloreans will get to taste a wide variety of the king of fruits.

As part of its agenda to help farmers get better prices for mangoes, the department has set up 100 stalls. “We have Badami, Banganapalli, Raspuri, Mallika, Sendura, Mulgoa, Totapuri, Neelam, Ratna, Amrapali and Kesar varieties under one roof,” said P Hemalatha, director, department of horticulture.

Though 2012 is an off year for mangoes, the sales of the king of fruits is expected to cross the 1,000 tonnes sold last year. “We recorded a turnover of Rs1.2 crore last year. Though this is an off year, we are expecting good sales. We want to promote the fruit because it is easy to grow in Karnataka and it is a rain-fed one which requires little water. The mela will help farmers get better prices,” she said.

Mangoes are mainly grown in the Kolar-Srinivasapura belt in the state. “Farmers need a place to sell their produce directly. And this is a way to bring them to consumers,” said additional director, department of horticulture (fruits and flowers) Dr SV Hittalmani.

Some new varieties are also expected to be showcased in the exhibition. “Some varieties like Pedda Rasa, Chinna Rasa and Sakkare Gutti from Andhra Pradesh will also be showcased at the mela,” he said.

The department will hold similar melas to sell other fruits on the second Saturday and Sunday of every month.

Jackfruit, packed to delight

Along with the mango mela, the department will also hold a jackfruit exhibition to promote the fruit which is sold for a lesser price in villages. “Some farmers sell an entire fruit for Rs50 or Rs100 to passersby. We are organising this mela to ensure that farmers are getting a better price,” said Shamalamma, assistant professor, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra.

Farmers will cut the fruit and separate pods and they will be provided polythene covers in which they can put the fruits for sale. “We are providing them zip-lock covers so that they can sell the fruit hygienically. We have decided to sell them in pod dozens,” she said.

Small pods will cost Rs20 a dozen while medium and large ones will cost Rs25 and Rs30.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bangalore-s-mango-lovers-head-to-lalbagh_1697138

GMR Infra to open 2 toll roads by July

BANGALORE, MAY 30:
GMR Infrastructure Ltd plans to operationalise two toll road projects by July-end.

The two projects are Hungund (Bagalkote)-Hospet (Bellary) highway toll road project in Karnataka and Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway toll road project in Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference to announce the company's fourth quarter performance, Mr Arun Kumar Sharma, CEO GMR Highways, said: “The Hungund-Hospet project is the company's first project in Karnataka. This road will be partially operational by July.”

“The Karnataka project is a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) toll project with a concession period of 19 years (which includes the construction time of 30 months). The project cost is Rs 1,650 crore and we are involved in design, construction, development, finance and of this 99.05 km stretch on NH 13,” he added.

The company won the project through an international competitive bid from the National Highways Authority of India, this project is being developed by the consortium of GMR Group and Oriental Structural Engineers.

HYDERABAD-VIJAYAWADA

The second road project to be operational is the Hyderabad-Vijayawada project. This will be thrown open by July-end. The project in Andhra Pradesh, built at an estimated cost of Rs 2,200 crore, is also on BOT Toll basis covering a distance of 181 km on NH-9.

Mr Sharma said “The project entails designing, engineering, financing, procuring, constructing, operating and maintaining of the four-six lane of the Hyderabad-Vijayawada section in Andhra Pradesh.”

The project is being implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by the group for a concession period of 25 years.

source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3476742.ece

For a taste of the north

Situated snugly on a road that hosts a variety of restaurants, Have More is a desi delight for all paratha lovers. Nothing fancy about the ambience, but don't judge it by its cover. Just take a peek at the menu card: capsicum paneer paratha, dal paratha, chicken paratha, keema paratha... the list is endless.

"The restaurant was started nine years ago. People come here to simply enjoy the food. The typical North Indian taste attracts the crowd," said A Kumar, restaurant manager.

More than 14 different types of rotis and a series of non-vegetarian gravies to choose from, this restaurant keeps people craving for more. The most sought after vegetarian dishes are paneer tikka, butter naan, aloo onion naan and dal makhani. And for non-vegetarians, kalmi kabab, Afghani chicken and tawa chicken are the must-haves here.

A typical meal for three costs an economical Rs 400 and is quite filling. All the rotis are served with a bowl of white butter cut into small cubes. The parathas themselves ooze butter and are a treat for the taste buds. But when it comes to the veg gravy, paneer butter masala, one of their signature dishes, isn't quite up to the mark.

Lassi is another attraction here, tall and cool and reminiscent of a Delhi bylane. The newly introduced mango lassi is a big sellout. "The rush is on weekends, when bachelors and students staying in hostels come here," said Kumar.

The place is small and cannot cater to more than 30 people at a time. Kumar says Have More has another branch in Jayanagar, which is also doing well. "We North Indians like South Indian food, and South Indians want to try out North Indian food, so we do our best to bring out the typical flavours and keep customers satisfied," he said.

What foodies can look forward to at Have More is the spread of starters, main course and the sweet signoff. The tinge of desi ghee will linger in your mouth as a reminder of the good meal. Bon appetit!

Have More

65, 1st floor, 80 Feet Road, Near MS Ramaiah Hospital

Phone: 23416869

Meal for three: Rs 400

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/For-a-taste-of-the-north/articleshow/13756957.cms

Discover actor Rajkumar as a person

BANGALORE: When he was alive, he strode as a colossus across the Kannada film industry. Six years after his death, the legacy of thespian Rajkumar lives on undimmed.

On Saturday, a book 'Person Behind the Personality', based on narratives by his actor-son Puneet Rajkumar, was released here. Parvathamma Rajkumar bought the first copy for Rs 1 lakh, and many others present at the function also bought copies for the same amount.

"It took me 3-4 years to collect photographs of Appaji from various places across the state. We have printed 3,000 copies and the money collected through sales will go to a trust and it'll be given to Kannada schools for their development. Ever since I started the Kannada version of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', I have begun to realize the importance of education," Puneeth said on the occasion.

Rajkumar's other son Raghavendra said the book is an account of how the matinee idol as a human being dealt with various roles in real life. Litterateur Baraguru Ramachandrappa said Rajkumar is perhaps the only person on whom 67 books have been written.

PBS gets award

At the same function, Parvathamma Rajkumar presented the Dr Rajkumar Sauharda Prashasti to three persons, including veteran playback singer PB Srinivos, who has sung hundred-odd songs for Rajkumar before the legendary actor himself started singing in his films.

"He used to call me as 'shaareera' (voice) and describe himself as only 'sharira' (body). I'm happy to receive this award," the octogenarian singer said. Veteran theatre artiste Ranganayakamma and film director Chi Datturaj were also given the award which carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a memento.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Discover-actor-Rajkumar-as-a-person/articleshow/13755505.cms

To die and be reborn in writing

Like a banyan tree, author UR Ananthamurthy has drawn myriad thirsty minds to his sphere of knowledge. This sphere is a haven of invigorating thoughts, branching into sparkling lights of wisdom, as the world learns of the author's first literary work, Preethi Mruthyu Bhaya.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/To-die-and-be-reborn-in-writing/articleshow/13755296.cms

CET: To select seats go online this year

Event: Pre-counselling by Deccan Herald, Prajavani a huge success


Students appearing for counselling to gain admission to professional courses through the Common Entrance Test (CET) -2012 will have to select their seats online.

Instead of the previous practises, where the candidates had to go the CET cell for gaining admission, students will now be given a key through which they can select their college of choice by logging on to the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) website, said CET cell public relations officer Narasimhamurthy.

He was speaking at the pre-counselling session organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani in association with Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, State Bank of India and Crystal Paark Inn at Jagan Mohan Palace here on Saturday.

Helpline centres

Addressing the jam-packed audience, he said in order to streamline the process 12 helpline centres have been opened across the state including one at Mysore, through which students would have to get their documents verified.

The KEA has appointed a nodal officer Shyamala, who would be working at the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI).

After verification of documents, students would be given a green card along with a key code.

The key code should be used to login and select the college of your choice.

Selection of courses

Also, a handbook and CD on how to select the seats would also be given to students.*
There would be 1384 options using which the students can select the course and college of their choice.

Narasimhamurthy said the list of colleges and seats would be announced after seat matrix is announced by professional bodies such as AICTE and MCI. An acknowledgement from the nodal officer would be issued once the documents are verified.

The helpline centres have been equipped with audio visual equipment to help students to become familiar with the online selection system.

On completion of the selection of seats, students can decide if they are satisfied with the college and course or want to join other colleges.

No change in COMED-K

Meanwhile, COMED-K representative Dr N Kishore of M S Ramaiah Medical College, said the earlier practise of manual counselling would be continued this year.
He urged students to visit www.comedk.org to know more about the developments.
He said during the COMED-K counselling, students can either give a photocopy of green card issued after verification in CET and a set of records of the photocopy.

‘Work hard’

Earlier, inaugurating the programme, deputy commissioner P S Vastrad said there is no alternative to hard work. He told students to choose subjects based on their interests. Despite being in a competitive world, students have a variety of options to choose from, he added.

The Printers (Mysore) Limited general manager (circulation) S Shivaramakrishna, manager Jagadish K Meti, Prajavani chief reporter Ravindra Bhat, Deccan Herald bureau chief N Niranjan Nikam, Prof Devaraj of Acharya Institute of Technology, State Bank of India regional manager T R Ugalavat and Crystal Paark Inn managing director T R Chandrashekar were present.

Websites of CET, COMED-K

For details on counselling, successful CET candidates may visit www.kea.kar.nic.in or contact 080-23462599, 23462758, 23461575, 23564583 for details.
For details on COMED-K visit www.comedk.org.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254058/cet-select-seats-go-online.html

NMPT handles record cargo

A record quantity of 1710 TEUs was handled at New Mangalore Port in a single voyage in the container vessel- M V Tiger Mango which called at the Port on May 31.

This is the highest number of containers ever handled at the port from a single voyage surpassing the earlier record of 1512 TEUs handled on November 9, 2011 from the vessel M V Tampabay. Out of the total 1710 TEUs, 995 were imports and 715 exports. Major items of import are raw cashew and export consists of coffee, cashew kernels, fish and fish products, candles, etc.

M/s Bengal Tiger Lines are the Feeder Line Operators and M/s Delta Infralogistcs Pvt Ltd (HML) the agents of the vessel.

Chairman Dr P Tamilvanan has stated that the port is witnessing steady growth in container traffic, thanks to the pro-active marketing efforts made by the Port management coupled with the infrastructure addition created during the past few years like expansion of container yards, container handling equipments like reach stacker’s, increased number of reefer plug points, concretisation of roads, simplified documentation system etc.

This has yielded positive results in fostering the container movement to the port from the hinterland which is evident from the fact that from 9646 TEUs handled in 2005-06, it has grown to 45,009 TEUs in 2011-12.

During the current year 2011-12 till date, 7818 TEUs is handled as against 7281 TEUs handled during the corresponding period of previous year.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254043/nmpt-handles-record-cargo.html

Opt for core branches, engineering aspirants told

Plan for specialisation in post graduate courses: Prof Gowda

Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE) principal Prof B Sadashive Gowda advised students to opt for core branches such as civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics, electronics and communication, computer science and chemical engineering while opting for a course during the upcoming CET, COMED-K counselling sessions for engineering colleges.

He was speaking at the pre-counselling programme organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani at Jagan Mohan Palace here on Saturday.

Mentioning that there are 200 colleges plus eight second shift colleges in the state, he said 60,000 graduate every year in Karnataka, while ten lakh pass out in the country.

Even though Nasscom has estimated that at least ten lakh engineers are needed each year, only 25 per cent meet industry requirements and are readily employable.
Criteria

Explaining criteria for students to chose the college, Prof Gowda called on them to have a look at the infrastructure and faculty. Research centres set-up at the institution and also ranking.

Prof Gowda provided information on ‘Core branches: Specialisation and opportunities.’

Opportunities

Civil engineering: Construction technology and management, ceramics and cement technology, environmental engineering. Opportunities in construction industry, roads, highways and maintenance.

Mechanical engineering: Automobile, industrial engineering management, industrial production, mining, precision management, tool engineering. Opportunities in manufacturing industry, refrigeration and air conditioning, power generating stations, automobile industry and IT companies.

Electrical and Electronics: Electronics and communication, electronics and instrumentation technology, telecommunication. Opportunities in electronics and manufacturing industry, power generation and distribution, military applications, satellite communications and IT companies.

Computer science, information science: Opportunities in IT companies.

Chemical engineering: Petrochemical, polymer, silk, textiles. Opportunities in pharmaceutical engineering, petroleum firms, pesticide manufacturing companies.

Architecture: Opportunities in town planning, buildings, highways.

Aerospace: Aeronautical engineering. Opportunity in IT companies, Airports Authority of India and armed forces.

After joining engineering colleges, Prof Gowda asked students to strengthen leadership qualities, maintain good percentage and study to the full potential with passion.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254055/opt-core-branches-engineering-aspirants.html

Beautifying a battered city

Battered roads, unkempt pavements, creaky flyovers, rusted railings... Bangalore isn’t anymore a pretty sight. Not if you trust the broke civic agencies to clean up the mess and restore a semblance of the City’s charm of yore.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/03/bangalore-city_1.jpg

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254115/beautifying-battered-city.html


Stuck in the Victorian Era


“All art is quite useless,” Oscar Wilde, a prominent figure in the Aestheticism Movement of the late 19th Century, said in his novel, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’.

B S Yeddyurappa, in a written reply to the Legislative Assembly, had even said the paintings help in educating people.........

""Providing some artists work and getting something done seriously are two different things. What is happening now is disturbing, there is nothing to comment."

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254114/stuck-victorian-era.html

Palike to use Israeli technology for garbage-to-wattage plan

Kitchen waste to be turned into biofuel for generating electricity

The BBMP is looking to overcome the growing problem of garbage disposal, by utilising the 3,000 tonnes generated each day in the City to produce power.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/03/power.jpg

The Palike has decided to turn its landfills into alternative power units. Even as its projects to turn the Mandoor and Mavallipura landfills into power generating units are yet to be realised, BBMP plans to have two more such units using garbage.

Garbage will be converted into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) through a new technology. The kitchen waste will be turned into biofuel to generate power. An Israeli technology - using water to segregate the waste and then generating power from it - is being employed. Sources said one of the units will come up at Kammanahalli and a request for proposal has been floated for the purpose.

Also, BBMP will set up an automated garbage processing unit with a capacity of 750 tonnes in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. According to sources, while the RR Nagar plant will not generate power, it will have the capacity to produce RDF, which can be used for generating power.

“The RR Nagar plant will help us restrict the number of vehicles carrying garbage, moving towards the north of the City (where all three major landfills are located at Mandoor, Mavallipura and Terrafarms) as the garbage processing unit is proposed at RR Nagar in the south,” said a Palike official.

Meanwhile, approval has been sought from the Palike council for the 10-MW Mavallipura power plant. According to BBMP sources, the company has got the approval from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has promised to provide water for the power plant. “The matter has come up before the BBMP council, and it will be cleared shortly,” said the official.

The Ramky company had been promised 100 acres to set up a power generation unit, but the Palike has been unable to find land, due to the opposition from villagers to allot land for the project, said the official.

The Mandoor landfill - which was already handed over to a Andhra Pradesh-based contractor - has run into technical difficulties and requires an additional investment of Rs 5 crore. “We had a meeting with officials of the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy and have sought their assistance. The matter should be resolved soon,” said another senior Palike official, who refused to be quoted.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254112/palike-use-israeli-technology-garbage.html

Siddaramaiah welcome to join BJP: CM, Eshwarappa

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Saturday said he would talk to BJP high command if Congress leader Siddaramaiah wishes to join the party.

“If Siddaramaiah wishes to join the BJP, I will discuss it with the party high command,” he told reporters during his visit to the City on Saturday. “He is a good parliamentarian. However, he is a misfit in the Congress,” he added.

Open mind

In Tumkur, State BJP president K S Eshwarappa told mediapersons that the party would consider it with an open mind if Siddaramaiah wants to join the party.

“Siddaramaiah is a politician with self respect and he will not tolerate dictatorial attitude. In spite of him expressing discontentment openly, the Congress party has not made any attempt to convince him,” Eshwarappa said.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254099/siddaramaiah-welcome-join-bjp-cm.html

If this Happens - it would be clean sweep for BJP in 2014. It seems lot of Congress candidates waiting to shift their base to BJP.

This year, 8mm deficiency in pre-monsoon showers

Wondering why Bangalore and many other parts of the State did not receive normal pre-monsoon showers this year? Blame it on the not-so-favourable weather system that existed in the last few months.

Going by the statistics of the Bangalore Meteorological Centre, normal pre-monsoon rainfall (average of cumulative total of rainfall in the months of March, April and May) for Karnataka is 123.4 mm. However, for the year 2012, the average stands at 114 mm. This means that there has been a deficiency of 8 mm this year.

Bangalore Meteorological Centre Director B Puttanna said the main reason was the shifting of surface trough, which covered the State plateau, towards east in the month of May. Due to this, discontinuity in the north east wind did not occur, which in turn resulted in the shortage of pre-monsoon showers. In fact, this year, pre-monsoon showers were above normal in the month of April and in the months of March and May, there was a shortfall.

According to Bangalore Meteorological Centre officials, monsoon is expected to hit the State by June 4 or 5 in the coastal region. Puttanna said there has been no delay in arrival of monsoon. Normally, it is on June 4 or 5 that the monsoon hits the State and it will be the same this year too, he said.

There has been some delay in monsoon reaching Kerala. However, by June 4, clouds are likely to set in both Kerala and Karnataka simultaneously, he added.

Explaining the reasons behind the marginal delay in the arrival of monsoon, Puttanna said it is mostly due to the lack of depression over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. Consequently, the wind speed necessary to carry the clouds has not been generated. “Also we didn’t see cyclone formations over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea during the month of May, which has not allowed the air surface to descend,” he added.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials have already said that there is no room for concern over the sowing of kharif (summer) crops like paddy and pulses as the delay in monsoon is only marginal. In the last six years, the southwest monsoon has hit Kerala between May 26 and May 31.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254082/this-year-8mm-deficiency-pre.html

‘Welfare programmes for weavers’

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BANGALORE: “More than 9,000 weavers from Karnataka alone have benefited from the Rs 3,884 crore waiver package given as handloom loans in the 2012 budget,” Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi said on Saturday.
She was speaking after inaugurating an exhibition-cum- sale of artifacts at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE) at M G Road on Saturday. Lakshmi, along with the Vice President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Rani Satish, inaugurated the exhibition.
The minister said that schemes such as the Gurushilpi Parampara have already been implemented for the artisans. The ministry has also held craft clusters in different parts of the country, according to her.
When asked if there are any steps being taken by the ministry to protect the interests of the silk weavers in Karnataka, she said that it would not be feasible to do anything for this section alone as she had to keep the entire community of weavers in mind, but such sentiments were understandable.
Commissioner for Textiles and Director of Textiles, D A Venkatesh who was chief guest on the occasion said, “Our products are hand-made and traditional, so it is crucial for the weavers that we showcase their work. Such exhibitions and marketing through them is very important for the growth of any industry.”
Handloom and home decors crafted in indigenous style by artisans from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh were on display.
H G Srinivas, an artisan who specialises in block printing with synthetic and natural dyes demonstrated the technique of block printing on fabrics, said, “We work with just 50 printing blocks and generate over 500 designs.”
According to Rani Satish, with more options when it comes to education and choosing a desired profession, it has become difficult to retain the younger generation of artisans. “In ten years, we may not have any weavers left. The new generation of weavers are leaving their family profession and are switching over to other occupations. More than giving incentives, the government needs to do something just to retain our weavers’ section,” she said.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/%E2%80%98welfare-programmes-for-weavers%E2%80%99/397792.html

KRS, Kabini levels dip to 10-Yr low

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/6/3/kabini-th.jpg

MYSORE: Bangalore and Mysore regions are likely to witness water scarcity with reservoir levels touching a 10-year low. There will be no water for standing crops for rest of the season as the catchment area is yet to receive rains both in Kodagu and Wayand in Kerala.
The present level at both Krishnaraja Sagar in Srirangapatna and Kabini dam in H D Kote will be utilised to meet drinking water needs of Bangalore, Mysore and other towns in Mysore and Mandya districts.
KRS level has fallen to 72.22 ft as against 91.9 ft against maximum of 124.8 ft during the previous year. The nine ft live storage in the reservoir will meet drinking water needs for two weeks.
Farmers are the worst affected as the irrigation department that had released water to semi-dry crops in the Cauvery achkat area has stopped discharge of water to irrigation canals from June 1. “We will not be in a position to give water to crops as the level is not enough to meet drinking water needs,” said an official.
Paddy and sugarcane grown in VC canal areas and also in a few parts of Mandya district are worst affected. But officials maintain that they can only help farmers if there is good rain in the catchment area and inflow rises over the weeks.
The situation in Kabini has also worsened with water level dipping to 2,256.68 ft as against 2,260 ft during the corresponding period last year. The reservoir with maximum storage of 2,281 ft is the lifeline to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu farmers. The delay in monsoon has seen an inflow of 74 cusecs and outflow of 700 cusecs for drinking purpose.
The irrigation department has given water for crops on 17,500 acres as against 1.26 lakh acres in Mysore and Chamrajnagar districts as there has been a steep fall in the reservoir level in last couple of months.
The situation would worsen and affect water supply to Bangalore city if there are no rains for next two weeks. The drought situation in both the districts has affected normal life.


source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/krs-kabini-levels-dip-to-10-yr-low/397832.html

Coffee table book on Rajkumar makes history

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FAMILY PORTRAIT: Actor Puneeth Rajkumar (far right) releases the book on his father, actor Rajkumar, in Bangalore on Saturday. Also seen are his brother Raghavendra Rajkumar, aunt Nagamma, mother Parvathamma Rajkumar and brother Shivarajkumar

It's not every day that people fork out several times the cover price for a just-published book. Also, it's not every day that a son brings out a coffee table book in his father's memory. But then, the father happens to be a recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award who had considerable impact on Kannada cinema.

Saturday was a day of mixed emotions for the late actor Rajkumar's family, when the youngest son, actor Puneeth Rajkumar, proudly showed off the 272-page, well-produced book he co-authored, at a function at the Taj Vivanta here.

Dr. Rajkumar: The Person Behind the Personality is a record of the legendary actor's life and career, and is packed with no less than 1,750 photographs, many of them never published before. It was an attempt to preserve the soul of the thespian for posterity.

It is a labour of love for Mr. Puneeth, who teamed up with Prakruthi N. Banavasi, an educationist, to bring out the bilingual coffee table book to the thespian's fans in Karnataka as well as the diaspora.

Replete with anecdotes and incidents that shaped Rajkumar's persona, it tracks his early life, childhood, adolescence, early career in company drama and then cinema, his stint as a singer as well as defining moments in his personal life and the Kannada film industry itself.

Mr. Puneeth, whose day job is acting, said he tried to understand his father through the eyes of his mother, brothers, family and friends. “It is not a documentation of Dr. Rajkumar's life, but simply unveils the persona of the great artiste through the words of those who knew him from close quarters,” he said.

The book, priced at Rs. 3,000, was released by his mother Parvathamma and aunt Nagamma, his father's sister. The actor's second son, actor-producer Raghavendra Rajkumar, said the family had conceived the book way back in 1997, but the project gained momentum only after Rajkumar's demise in 2006. “Already there are 67 books in Kannada and English on [our father]. Though we were toying with the biography, it was Appu who took the lead.”

He, and the oldest brother, actor Shivarajkumar, announced that the proceeds from the book's sales would be channelled to Kannada schools that are in a bad shape. Ms. Parvathamma herself bought the first copy by paying Rs.1 lakh. Many in the film industry cheerfully parted with anything between Rs.25,000 and Rs.50,000 for the honour.

K.T. Raghunathan of Vasan Publications, the distributor, said this was the first coffee table book in Kannada of international standards.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3483929.ece

From food festivals to art shows, a fun weekend in Bangalore

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/slideshow_from-food-festivals-to-art-shows-a-fun-weekend-in-bangalore_1675749#top

City gets new hospital



Medi Hope, a super speciality hospital and research centre has been set up in Bangalore at Indiranagar, Malleshpalya. Founded by Dr Amit Agarwal, it is designed and constructed using advanced technology, it claimed.

Having a capacity of 200 beds, with prominent surgeons and excellent infrastructure, the hospital complies with international guide lines and provides advanced medical treatment.

The hospital is equipped with modular seamless operation theatres, OTs with laminar air flow and laminar shields, 1.5 Tesla MRI, 64 slice spiral and cardiac CT scan, bone densitometry, etc.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/251737/city-gets-hospital.html

KRS, Kabini levels dip to 10-Yr low

http://expressbuzz.com/Images/article/2012/6/3/kabini-th.jpg



source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/krs-kabini-levels-dip-to-10-yr-low/397832.html

Hopeless situation man...:ohno:

Time to spend huge on tank/lake rejuvenation

Karnataka takes 40 days to OK projects

BANGALORE: The Karnataka government is ready to roll out the red carpet for the Global Investors Meet later this week, but its famed single-window clearance mechanism is taking longer than other southern states and Gujarat.

Karnataka, which follows a two-stage clearance mechanism , takes 40 days to sanction clearances for a project to start. In comparison, Andhra Pradesh takes 33 days, Tamil Nadu 34 and Gujarat 35 days, according to the Public Private Partnership India report.

In this edition of GIM, Karnataka seeks to attract an investment of Rs 6 lakh crore. But the commissioned rate holds a mirror to the reality: Only 4% of the projects for which pacts were signed in the previous edition of GIM took off in Karnataka. Gujarat's 2009 Summit recorded 16% rate, said a recent CII-Athena Infonomics India report.

High-speed train plans may get the nod

MANGALORE: Big-ticket projects that are coming before the GIM 2012 are high-speed train linking Mysore-Bangalore-Chennai and a 30-km tunnel through Shiradi Ghat to facilitate four-laning of Bangalore-Mangalore NH 75. Chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda said setbacks in previous GIM have been studied to make this edition bigger and better. He told TOI 16 big Indian industrialists, trade delegations from Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and Germany are expected. Dismissing reports about low percentage of implementation of MoUs signed in GIM 2010, CM said of the 392 MoUs signed, 34 have been implemented and 140 are in the pipeline. The rest are pending due to constraints faced by government, he said.


source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Karnataka-takes-40-days-to-OK-projects/articleshow/13794503.cms

Jeewaswaraa state gets new-age anthem

The mesmerizing voice of playback singing, SP Balasubramanyam aka SPB, crooned 'Abhimaana , vishesha abhimaana, Namma naadendare, namage praana...' with gusto. He joined filmmaker Maya Chandra's efforts to give Karnataka its new-age anthem, 'Kannada Jeewaswaraa' , an initiative commissioned by the state's information department.

"After the popularity of 'Mile sur mera tumhara' , we wanted to create a similar concept to highlight the art, culture and traditions of Karnataka. We turned to Maya, and what she has produced has turned out to be very appealing," said Bevinamarada KS, director, information department.

Maya, who conceptualized the video and co-directed it, said: "Our existing anthem, Kuvempu's 'Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujathe' , is a great literary work. We wanted to complement it with music that will create a sense of belonging among the young, cosmopolitan population of Karnataka. When I approached Jayant Kaikini, he came out with astounding lyrics. The song makes us feel proud of our state."

Kaikini agreed that his lyrics are in sync with today's Karnataka. "They are in tune with the fact that Karnataka is an open environment - not limiting and all-inclusive . It talks of 'janapada' Kannada , 'navayuga' Kannada, 'mahileya aathmasaakshi ' Kannada. The key line is of course 'Namma vachana bahu vachana' - plurality is our main character," he said.

Adding lustre to this inclusiveness is a team of musicians and singers of diverse sensibilities. "I roped in Abhijit Shylanath, an upcoming and talented music director, to set 'Jeewasawaraa' to tune. He, in turn, worked with musicians like Fayaz Khan, Vijayprakash of 'Jai Ho' fame, Ajay Warrier, B Jayashree, Bruce Lee Mani, Prakash Sontakke and MD Pallavi. We've been in talks with L Subramaniam , Kavitha Subramaniam and SPB to join in the melody. We were thrilled when SPB agreed to be part of the anthem," said Maya. "I liked the spirit of the lyrics; it isn't limited to a region. So putting it to tune came naturally and along the way, musicians brought to the table their own style," said Shylanath.

Ajay Kumar, co-director of the video, underlined 'Jeewaswaraa' with the energy of Karnataka's unexplored precincts and heady mix of cultures. "Maya and I worked with the understanding that Karnataka is not just about Kannada - there's Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam and a host of other languages. Keeping in sync with the rhythm, we worked with common people, upcoming artistes and musicians of repute to add flavour to 'Jeewaswaraa' ," he said.

Official anthem

Karnataka's official anthem is 'Jaya Bharatiya Jananiya Tanujathe' , penned by Kuvempu. It was officially adapted as the state anthem in 2004 and popularized by Sugama Sangeeta exponents like Mysore Ananthaswamy and C Ashwath.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Jeewaswaraa-state-gets-new-age-anthem/articleshow/13793630.cms

Students develop electric wheelchair controlled by eyes

This ‘Wheelie’ helps

Here is some good news for victims with severe paralysis, amputees and other physically challenged individuals who are trying hard to balance their lives on wheelchairs.

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Students of R V Engineering College have developed a first of its kind eye-gesture controlled electric wheelchair, which has the capability of taking commands from eyeball movement to help the person on the wheelchair move along the desired direction.

The product named “Project Wheelie”, which is in its final stages of completion, is expected to be of great help to especially those with spinal cord injuries and Progressive Motor Neuron Diseases (PMND) cases, wherein chances of losing muscle functionality below the neck is high, due to which the subjects are constantly dependant on others for their mobility.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Project Wheelie team member Satish Ravishankar, who is awaiting his final semester results, said the product is the result of team effort and struggle for the past one-and-a-half years.

“In many cases of severe paralysis, ocular (eye movement) control is either not affected or affected last. Keeping this in mind, we have developed a cost-effective solution in order to assure victims of paralysis a greater degree of independence and better quality of life,” Satish explained.

Nikhil Mysore, another member of the team, said similar equipment developed by others so far, depend on image processing technology to achieve targets, which is quite expensive. Through Project Wheelie, we propose a system wherein a person on the wheelchair needs no support to move along. Here we capture the eye movement through Electro-Oculography (EOG) and it works on the bio-medical technique, he added.
Other members of the team –– Govind Ram Pingali, Theja Ram Pingali and Niyanth Krishna Polisetty –– said the gesture of Stephen William Hawking, who is almost completely paralysed and communicates through a speech generating device, inspired and challenged them to take up such a project.

When questioned about the security mechanism that will protect the person on the wheelchair when s/he is approaching an obstacle or threat, Sathish said: “With enough sensors in place, the product assists the user in safe and collision-free mobility. Not just that. Wheelie also keeps track of his or her vital health statistics, generates alerts and notifications, which effect arrival of timely medical attention when required.”

Project Wheelie has already won accolades. It is the finalist for the “Young Engineers Award”, a national event conducted by Mahindra Satyam, to be held this month, and national finalist of Innovator-2011, an initiative of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The team members said they have also got appreciations from Nimhans, which is thinking about adopting the technology, to help out patients with mobility disorders.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254333/students-develop-electric-wheelchair-controlled.html

Lack of land hits construction of bridges across railway lines

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Traffic near Yelahanka Railway crossing in Bangalore on 11th, February, 2012

BBMP making efforts to acquire land for these structures

These bridges under and above the railway tracks (ROBs and RUBs) in Bangalore would have considerably eased traffic congestion on many trunk routes if they were in place.

However, the efforts by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the South Western Railway (SWR) to put them in place are not yielding the desired results. The reason is non-availability of land either to construct the bridges or in some cases, to construct the approach roads.

Some of the level crossings where these bridges are proposed are crucial as they handle voluminous traffic and are located on prime roads.

Take the example of the level crossing at Allalasandra, which is located at the intersection of Yeshwanthpur-Yelahanka railway line and the old National Highway 7, which connects Yelahanka, Doddaballapur, Hindupur and beyond.

Even though more than half of the traffic moving via this level crossing has shifted to the newly laid four-lane National Highway 7 (towards Devanahalli), thousands of vehicles still continue to use this level crossing on their way to Yelahanka, New Town, Doddaballapur and beyond. With Yelahanka New Town and Doddaballapur Road developing fast in terms of residential layouts and industrial units, the road has been witnessing steady increase in the volume of traffic.

PENDING

An ROB with two lanes of 7.5 m each, proposed at a cost of about Rs. 23 crore on cost-sharing basis between BBMP and SWR at this crossing, is pending for want of land. About 6,000 sq m of land is required to construct this ROB as well as the approach roads.

Another level crossing that requires an underbridge is at the intersection of Bangalore-Yelahanka railway line and Kodigehalli-Tindlu Main Road.

The Kodigehalli main road connects National Highway 7 with Vidyaranyapura and surrounding areas, including Yeshwanthpur and is being used as a short-cut route by many motorists. However, the narrow road and the frequent closure of the railway gate disrupts vehicular movement on this stretch.

A two-lane (7.5 m each) RUB, proposed on cost-sharing basis at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 crore is yet to be taken up for want of about 3,500 sq m of land.

One ROB at RPC Layout and Bapujinagar and another RUB at Bapujinagar across the Bangalore-Mysore Railway line are being delayed for want of about 5,000 sq m of land.

These bridges would have provided unhindered movement of traffic between Mysore Road and Vijayanagar and surrounding areas, besides decongesting Mysore Road.

Similarly, ROBs at Jakkur, Sarjapura, Byappanahalli and Hoodi and RUBs at Kengeri, Hejjala and Krishnarajapuram are also being delayed for want of land.

Sources in the SWR told The Hindu that work on the ROB at Jalahalli, proposed in partnership with the Bangalore Development Authority, and the one at Allalasandra proposed jointly with BBMP will commence soon with the available land.

The South Western Railway is hopeful of getting the remaining land during the progress of work.

Meanwhile, sources in BBMP said that the palike is making earnest efforts to acquire the land required for these structures.

“We are exploring the possibility of offering transferable development rights (TDR) at the initial stage. If the owners do not accept TDR, we will have to go for acquisition of land after paying guidance value as compensation,” the sources said.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3489008.ece

Meet demands Netravati water for southern Karnataka districts

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The Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, along with Different party leaders former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Home Minister R Ashok and former Minister D K Shivkumar felicitating Adichunchanagiri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji during the Guruvandan Programme organised by Karnataka State Okkalige Community at Bangalore Palace Grounds on Sunday.

Vokkaliga leaders — political and religious — who spoke at the mammoth gathering on the occasion of Guruvandana (paying obeisance) to Adichunchanagiri Math seer Balagangadharanatha Swami, organised by the Vokkaligara Sangha, have demanded that both the Union and State governments permit diversion of Nethravati river for the benefit of people in Davangere, Tumkur, Chickballapur, Kolar, Ramanagaram, Bangalore rural and urban districts.

The event was attended by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda; External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna; the former Chief Minister and MP H.D. Kumaraswamy; the former Union Minister and actor Ambareesh; writer D. Javare Gowda; Home and Transport Minister R. Ashok; D.B. Chandre Gowda, MP; N. Chaluvaraya Swamy, MP; the former KPCC working president and MLA D.K. Shivakumar; and Kumara Chandrasekharanatha Swamiji and Nanjavadhootha Swamiji and many Vokkaliga legislators.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Kumaraswamy raised the demand for diversion of Nethravati waters to solve the drinking water needs and irrigation requirement of farmers in the southern districts of the State, which have Vokkaliga concentration.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that when members of a technical committee on the issue sought support of D. Veerendra Heggade, he had told them that he was not opposed to diversion of the river, provided there was no damage to the ecology and environment in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji, Sri Nanjavadhootha Swamiji and Mr. Ashok strongly advocated for diverting the Nethravati to these districts, where the water table had gone down to more than 1,000 feet.

Mr. Ashok said that the people had forgotten Sir M. Visvesvaraya, who built K.R. Sagar and Kempe Gowda, who built Bangalore.

He also wanted the Chief Minister to declare Kempegowda jayanthi as an official function.

Mr. Shivakumar said Adichunchanagiri Math was running 391 educational institutions across the State. Vokkaligas, he said, had given their lands for developing Bangalore.

Mr. Chaluvaraya Swamy said that the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda could not attend the function as he was unwell, but had sent his respects to the swamiji.

Replying to the felicitation, Balagangadharanatha Swamiji and Nanjavadhootha Swamij said that no one could antagonise Vokkaligas. The latter urged the Centre to confer Padmabhushan on the Adichunchanagiri Math seer.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3489011.ece

Bangalore University gets an improved website


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Official launch after preliminary user feedback: Prabhu Dev

Bangalore University has finally got a new and improved digital brochure. Despite a delay of almost five months, the beta version of the university's new website, http://www.bangaloreuniversity.ac.in/, is up and running. The university had aimed at launching the website in January.

Developed at a cost of Rs. 15 lakh, the website boasts of a search facility, news and events on the home page, department information in tabular form along with courses offered and detailed pages about the faculty members.

Vice-Chancellor N. Prabhu Dev said that a soft launch had been done and the website would be officially launched once they received the preliminary user feedback.

According to an official closely involved in the construction of the site, the new website, unlike the previous one, bub.ernet.in, uses the National Knowledge Network's server. “All contents related to the university will be on this website. The new site is hosted elsewhere as there were a few problems hosting it in our server,” the official said.

The website is hosted by Talisma, an external agency which has been given the responsibility of maintaining and upgrading the website for the next one year.

Older versions of the university's website had attracted criticism from students for not reflecting any relevant information about them or for them.

Apart from being seen as the first step towards e-governance, the new website may pave way for centralised admissions and student email accounts with the university's domain in the next phases.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3488981.ece

Pick from the goodies basket

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Nature's Basket has all things good and healthy

It is called the Godrej Nature's Basket and has its flagship store in Koramangala.......

source:http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3483576.ece

Fall in line and stick to your lane

BANGALORE: Better stick to your lane while driving or be ready to get penalized. Traffic police are now planning to get strict with lane discipline. As part of the campaign, they have identified 12 locations in the city where lane discipline will be enforced. On these junctions, police will undertake road markings, install road studs and segregate lanes with tubular cones.

The 12 junctions to be covered are: Queen's Statue Circle, Anil Kumble Circle, Basaveshwara Circle, Shivananda Circle , Cauvery Emporium junction, Bashyam Circle, South End Circle, KR Road-Cubbon Park junction, UCO Bank junction near Forum Mall, Trinity Circle, Web's junction and Sony World junction, Koramangala.

Kicking off the campaign on Monday, police commissioner Jyothiprakash Mirji said, "Anyone with a driving licence should know and follow traffic rules. Lane indiscipline often leads to traffic deadlocks, especially at junctions," Mirji said.

MA Saleem, additional commissioner of police, (traffic), pointed out how lack of lane discipline leads to accidents.

"We have seen commuters mindlessly switching from one lane to another, posing threat to those behind him," he said.

Deadline ends on tinted glasses

Mirji said the time for removing black-tinted glasses from four-wheelers has run out and those who haven't got them fixed will be booked Wednesday onwards. "There will no extension in deadline. We will book offenders for the first two times and for the third, their licence will be recommended for suspension," he added.

Mark these

Keep to the left if you are taking a left turn Stick to road markings and follow lane rules No criss-crossing

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Fall-in-line-and-stick-to-your-lane/articleshow/13832662.cms

New BDA chief takes charge

Pradeep Singh Kharola took charge as new BDA Commissioner on Monday. Outgoing Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena handed over the charge to him and wished him success.

An MTech-holder and IAS officer of 1985 cadre, Pradeep has worked as Commissioner of Commercial Taxes for a long time and has good knowledge of revenue generation and planning areas.

He is a native of Dehradun in Uttar Pradesh.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254610/bda-chief-takes-charge.html

Asia's largest aerospace hub near Bangalore soon

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Leading infrastructure developer Sun Forest City Ventures Ltd. will build one of Asia’s largest hubs for the aerospace industry near Bangalore with an upfront investment of Rs.10,000 crore ($1.8 billion), a senior official said Monday.

"The state government has approved the Rs.10,000-crore investment proposal of Sun Forest City to set up the mega project with a complete eco-system for aerospace industries in three phases near the Bangalore international airport," state Industry Secretary M.N. Vidyashankar told reporters here.

To be built in about 1,000 acres - around 14 km from the airport and 44 km from the city - cluster project 'Vayu' is expected to provide direct jobs to 242,000 people and house domestic and overseas aerospace firms in an integrated space with world-class infrastructure facilities.

"We have identified the land and issued preliminary notification to farmers for acquisition of their lands at the prevalent market rate. The aerospace hub will complement the aerospace special economic zone (SEZ) being set up near the airport for the private sector," Vidyashankar said.

"The centre will take advantage of the defence offset policy to manufacture and supply components and sub-assemblies," he added.

The company will sign an agreement with the state government at the two-day Global Investors’ Meet (GIM 20-12) June 7-8 for formally launching the project.
Sun Forest City is a joint venture between the entrepreneurial venture capital and industrial group (Sun) and Forest City, a leading real estate enterprise in the US.

The joint venture partners with governments, corporations and institutions to plan, build and operate mega infrastructure facilities for industrial development and employment creation.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254466/asias-largest-aerospace-hub-near.html

Wood can still beat plastic

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As the world battles to shun materials that harm the environment, nonetheless essential, a team of City scientists has achieved a breakthrough by successfully combining environmentally-friendly materials such as wood, clay and fibre with plastic......

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254607/wood-can-still-beat-plastic.html

State experiences monsoon trailer

Coastal Karnataka, Bagalkot, Belgaum, Gadag get drenched

Many districts of coastal and North Karnataka received heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms on Monday, setting the stage for the arrival of monsoon in the State.

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source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254598/state-experiences-monsoon-trailer.html

Govt’s sop opera precedes GIM

Special package of incentives, concessions for projects worth Rs 250 cr and above

In an effort to attract investors ahead of the second edition of Global Investors’ Meet (GIM), the State government has extended a special package of incentives and concessions for projects worth Rs 250 crore and above coming up outside Bangalore.....

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254594/govts-sop-opera-precedes-gim.html

Dams, power plants huge threat to Western Ghats

We may be looking at climate change and all the resulting hardships, but Bengaluru continues to lose its trees to subways and signal-free corridors while the authorities show little concern for the damage they are doing to its environment. For a while there was hope as the eighties saw widespread chanting of the mantra of sustainable development, but the change , if any, has only been for the worse as natural resources continue to be plundered everywhere in total disregard for green concerns.

Karnataka which translated sustainable development to mean allowing mini hydel projects to come up in the core areas of the Western Ghats, is today paying the price in more ways than one. Worse, at least six major projects including dams, roads and power plants are threatening the sanctity of the ghats which will fortunately soon be declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, giving conservationists hope that this will take the pressure of them and protect the rivers they are home to. But there is growing concern as although governments came up with the idea of afforesation to compensate for the trees that were cut to make way for developmental projects, the results have been far from satisfying.

“The Western Ghats have tremendous genetic value and any damage done to them is irreversible. They support our economy by providing us water for drinking and agriculture. The protection of forests around Talacauvery where the river Cauvery originates is crucial for our survival and economic growth,” underlines Professor N A Madhystha, an expert on the Western Ghats.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/dams-power-plants-huge-threat-western-ghats-630

Transport dept no show at GIM

At a time when all government agencies are busy promoting projects that are in the pipe-ine for the forthcoming Global Investors Meet (GIM), the Transport Department hardly has anything to show for itself.

There is only one project for which the department is looking for private investment though that too might fail to impress investors as the department is facing land scarcity in Bengaluru. The investors participating in GIM- 2012 would be inclined to invest in Bengaluru-based projects given that Namma Bengaluru is a favourite brand for private investors as the city is an IT-BT hub.

In GIM-2010, most foreign investors had shown interest in projects planned for Bengaluru while those in other cities in Karnataka had caught less attention. This time too, it is expected that a number of investors will be interested in Bengaluru-related projects. Speaking to this newspaper, Commissioner for Transport, Mr T. Sham Bhat said: “We don’t have any projects in the pipe-line that could be shared at the GIM. The basic problem is that we don’t possess land in Bengaluru though we have land in other parts of the state. Investors are more interested in investing in Bengaluru projects. We are just showcasing the details of a project: ‘fitness testing centre’; however, in this case too, the land is not available in the city.”

It is said that the projects showcased in the GIM will be taken up on a Public- Private- Partnership (PPP) model. The state government will provide equity in the form of land, while the projects will be executed by private players and a number of government agencies have already listed projects for GIM 2012. The booming IT-BT industry, rising real-estate projects, high profits from ventures are few of the reasons why investors are always interested in Bengaluru.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/transport-dept-no-show-gim-326

Land for Telugu institute: Somanna

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Noted Kannada Actors Dwarakish, Malasree and Karnataka Telugu Academy Chairman Dr A Radhakrishna Rajau at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bangalore on Monday


Housing Minister V Somanna on Monday said that land will be provided to Karnataka Telugu Academy to set up an institution for the development of Telugu language and culture in the state.

Speaking at a programme organised by the academy to mark the 90th birth anniversary of N T Rama Rao, late actor and chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, he said, “The contribution of Telugu people to Karnataka is immense. It was the movement in Andhra Pradesh that inspired Kannadigas to launch regional parties. In the past, Telugu people had approached us to set up an institution, but it did not work out. Now I assure you that a piece of land will be identified for the purpose in Surya Nagar. The Housing Board has already developed 10,000 sites there and has sold 5,500 sites with proper documents. The institution can apply and the government will do its best to help the Telugu Academy to make a mark here.”

Appreciating V Somanna’s gesture, Dr A Radhakrishna Raju, chairman of Karnataka Telugu Academy, said, “Karnataka has the largest Telugu population after Andhra Pradesh. We have no difficulty in understanding Kannada. Both the state governments have a lot in common in terms of culture and tradition. The Academy will grow many fold in the coming years and will make Karnataka a well recognised and well developed state with Telugu people’s contribution.”

The academy presented Dr N T Rama Rao National Award to Kannada actor-producer Dwarakish and actress Malashri in recognition of their services to the film world. Speaking after receiving the award, both the artistes showed their multilingual skills and thanked the Academy. They also released Smruthi Darshini, a DVD on legendary actress Savitri.

Former minister M Raghupati, industrialist from Vijayawada Koganti Satyanarayana and former chairman of the Karnataka Film Industries Development Corporation R V Harish were present.

source:http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article535566.ece

When will the wheel have its way?

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Bangalore has become a cyclist’s nightmare but there are nascent efforts to turn things around.


source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3492574.ece

Feeding the cycling fad is a pricey products line

Rise in import duty leads to up to 25 p.c. hike in cycle prices

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source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3492573.ece

New BDA chief takes charge

Pradeep Singh Kharola took charge as new BDA Commissioner on Monday. Outgoing Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena handed over the charge to him and wished him success.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254610/bda-chief-takes-charge.html

Dehradun is not in uttar pradesh

All roads lead to Mysore

June 6, 2012 By Khushali P Madhwani DC



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Party-goers of the supposed pub capital of India have made peace with the 11 pm deadline. Not by attending the parties in the city but by driving down to Mysore for the exciting parties week after week. It won’t be too long before Mysore becomes the pub capital of India. DJs also like to play at parties for the crowd there as the deadlines are longer. Nikhil Chinapa, DJ Rohan Kapoor, DJ Clitus, Rohit Barker and Nawed Khan are DJs that have played in Mysore and have a great deal to say about the amazing vibe there.

Sanath Shetty, an entrepreneur says, “We want to party till the wee hours of the morning. In Mysore, we get great music, fantastic food and have an amazing time with an insane crowd. We feel at home.” DJs from across the globe have also been performing at Mysore often.

Youngsters head to Fluid Lounge, Road at Sandesh the Prince and Sprint Lounge in Silent Shores most often because that is currently the most happening place. Off late, these parties have been getting over at 1.30 am on weekends. “On Friday nights, they play crazy Bollywood numbers that my friends and I really enjoy. We go to Mysore for the mind boggling party vibe. After the insane party there, we head to Raasta on Mysore-Bengaluru highway. We eat a satiating meal there and head back to Bengaluru at 6 am,” says Sidharth John, a business analyst.

Ask them about the DJs they look forward to hearing and these youngsters promptly respond. “DJ Pavaka’s house tunes are very popular and an amazing pick. DJ Edison, Freddy and Anvesh are also a good listen,” says Jay Dadlani, an operations analyst.

DJs enjoy playing for these crowds as well. DJ Nawed Khan says, “There is newfound love for Mysore. Personally, I had a fantastic time. The turn out was great. Surprisingly, the people were well versed with the music. Whenever there is a big international artist, the party gets even more insane. People enjoyed the high energy tunes that I played. I don’t think they are ready for deep and experimental music yet.”

The only drawback many notice is the lack of many clubs. “Getting more clubs would mean that more youngsters will get used to the idea of clubbing in the city,” says Nawed. Many feel that the ambience of a club in Mysore is a lot like Bengaluru. Nawed adds, “This shows that Mysore is on the partying map of the country as well now.”

On a working day, youngsters go to a place in the city after work and grab a drink. But, “The thing with Bengalureans is that they have gotten used to the idea of coming in early and leaving early. For a change, to beat the traffic and to skip the drama of dealing with cops who check for drunk driving, these youngsters would rather venture out of the city,” says Viraj Suvarna from Take 5.

This trend is catching on mainly on weekends as these youngsters make it a point to hit the highway. “Even though the parties on weekdays are great as well, we avoid going because of work. If given the opportunity we would love to,” says Sanath.

Best head to Madikeri,even better for these fellows



BTW gentem likes Mysore and loves night parties.Best place for him.Have you tried out anytime gentem? :cheers:

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/bengaluru/all-roads-lead-mysore-903

Dams, power plants huge threat to Western Ghats



source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/dams-power-plants-huge-threat-western-ghats-630

:ohno:

All roads lead to Mysore

June 6, 2012 By Khushali P Madhwani DC



Best head to Madikeri,even better for these fellows



BTW gentem likes Mysore and loves night parties.Best place for him.Have you tried out anytime gentem? :cheers:

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/bengaluru/all-roads-lead-mysore-903

State excise laws apply to both banglaore and mysore same way. But seems it is not enforced in mysore :cheers: I tried lobbying with renukacharya for extension of night deadline at least on fridays and saturdays only, but could not see through. Heard even mangalore no enforcement of deadline, this bloody shankar bidary spoilt the party earlier bangalore was a much better place :bash:

State excise laws apply to both banglaore and mysore same way. But seems it is not enforced in mysore :cheers: I tried lobbying with renukacharya for extension of night deadline at least on fridays and saturdays only, but could not see through. Heard even mangalore no enforcement of deadline, this bloody shankar bidary spoilt the party earlier bangalore was a much better place :bash:

Anyway welcome to mysore:cheers:,there is this nice the heritage pub (http://hoteltheheritage.com/index1.html) my friends say it has a much better ambience compared to many bangalore pubs.One advantage in Mysore,You can drink heavily and go to ur home peacefully without much traffic or policemen around in Mysore.

Modern retail: Small town India checkmates metros


Tier II towns are in the midst of a retail revolution, where
supermarkets and hypermarkets are booming, offering a wide array of choices and cool comfort to shop. For retailers, doing business here means lower rentals and other costs. Priyanka Golikeri puts you on the inside track.

For IT professional Meena Sarma, living in Mysore no longer implies a small-town existence. The historical city has everything, from corporate parks and hotels to dazzling malls.

Being a shopaholic, she is glad that from salad dressings and Dutch cheese to the latest apparel and footwear brands, everything is available within reach, the precincts of her neighbourhood or office complex, just like in any other megalopolis.

A welcome change, says Sarma, as this was not the scenario some years ago. Earlier, we could shop only at neighbourhood mandis and local stores, she says. “As there were hardly any supermarkets and hypermarkets within easy reach,” she adds.
This meant stocking up on her favourite food and clothing brands during every visit to Bangalore. Nowadays, the 28-year old, who earns `35,000 monthly, prefers buying groceries and perishables from any of the organised outlets dotting her street.

At least thrice a week, she ends up making a trip to the supermarket, spending an average `200-300 per visit. In contrast, her visits to the local kiranas have come down to a trickle.
“Unless it’s a sudden realisation of oil or flour getting over at home, I don’t visit the provision store next door.”

Sarma likes the air-conditioned ambience, the discounts on MRP given on certain products, not to forget the spread of international savoury and dairy food.

Tier II towners like Sarma, who breeze into retail outlets twice or thrice a week, are a chief reason behind the surge in growth in modern trade in non-metros. Data by Nielsen show that tier II markets like Surat, Indore, Jaipur, Vizag and the like are witnessing rapid growth in modern trade (see table). Not only are these places registering strong double-digit numbers, but are often clocking more growth than established markets like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Like the metropolitan shopper, tier II and III town shoppers also display the same purchasing power and willingness to buy a wider category of brands, say experts. Jamshed Daboo, CEO, Trent Hypermarkets, says there is a distinct trend towards shopping in a modern environment that offers a variety of local and international products. Trent has 15 hypermarkets measuring 35,000-80,000 sq ft, including those in small towns like Aurangabad, Surat and Kolhapur.

Others like Spar have outlets in towns like Coimbatore, Vijaywada and Mangalore spread across 35,000-40,000 sq ft.

Likewise, the Bharti Walmart joint venture also has a presence in tier III towns like Ludhiana, Guntur, Meerut, Agra, Amravati and the like. It operates 17 wholesale cash-and-carry stores spread across 50,000-100,000 sq ft in such places. “Often, breakfast cereals, canned food, jams and salad dressing are hot favourites with customers,” says Daboo, adding that all the stores stock products by British retailer Tesco – with which Trent has an agreement – and other international goods priced between `30-500 per unit.

Devangshu Dutta, CEO of consulting firm Third Eyesight, says tier II towns have done well for retailers primarily because rentals and other associated costs are lower while competition from modern trade is limited.

“But the challenge is to ensure there is repeat purchase and basket sizes are gradually upgraded with people buying more rather than splitting their baskets across stores,’’ says Amitabh Mall, partner and director, Boston Consulting Group.

The consumer basket is often split between stores as people still prefer to go to traditional stores for certain products. “Like buying rice from mandis or fruits and vegetables from the local sabziwalla,” says Mall.

Also, though stores in small towns exude optimism, at times the productivity is just marginally below those in metros, according to experts. General outlets in metroes spread between 80,000-1 lakh sq ft witness monthly footfalls exceeding 6-10 lakh. But in small towns, the picture is slightly different, as stores are smaller in size and population less.

Dutta says a small town may not be able to support a store more than 15,000-25,000 sq ft, even with a similar “one-stop-shop” offer.

Says Viney Singh, MD, Max Hypermarket India, “Our stores in small towns have an average footfall of 150,000 per month and this is growing at about 5%.’’

http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_modern-retail-small-town-india-checkmates-metros_1698625

GIM will have players from 30 countries

Germany, Japan lead the pack; eye investments in Karnataka

The second edition of Karnataka’s Global Investor Meet (GIM) 2012, will have business delegations from 30 countries including Japan, Mexico, Bavaria and Italy.

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The biggest among the foreign delegation will be from Japan. A 50-member delegation comprising representatives from 23 major and medium industries from the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ will explore business and investment opportunities in Karnataka at the two-day meet scheduled to be held at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) from June 7.

According to official sources, members of the delegation will look for collaborations with Indian companies in metal casting, foundry, energy, agrochemicals and food processing sectors. The state government, in a “gesture of friendship”, is likely to announce the setting up of a 500-acre township exclusively for Japanese expats at Vemagal in Kolar.

The state government will also explore possibilities of availing the Japanese expertise available in the field of consultancy for execution of high speed railway projects.

Mexico and Bavaria are bringing in business delegation comprising 30 members each. For the first time Italians will make their presence felt at GIM with a business delegation of 10 members.

A consortium of Singapore-based companies have shown interest to establish an integrated township in one of the districts of North Karnataka. The proposals are likely to take a final shape at the investors meet.

As for the Indian presence, the meet will witness the participation of several big players including JSW Group, Aditya Birla Group, Bharat Forge, Tata Steel, L&T among others. In all, the state government plans to ink 300 MoU during the meet. Ahead of the two-day meet, GIM Expo, a trade exhibition, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday.

According to the organisers, the expo will provide a platform to leading corporates, Public Sector Units, Micro Small Medium Enterprises. Some of the focus areas include aerospace, defence, automobiles, health, education, energy, agriculture and tourism.

Top bureaucrats, policy-makers, heads of government departments and undertakings too will participate.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254881/gim-have-players-30-countries.html

State pushes for PPP in infrastructure

Undeterred by past experiences, govt to promote 190 projects worth Rs 2.24 lakh cr


Although the State government has been chanting the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mantra for years, the response from the private sector has been lukewarm.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/254870/state-pushes-ppp-infrastructure.html

GIM 2012 to focus on infrastructure

With the second edition of the Global Investors’ Meet (GIM) all ready to roll, the BBMP has set its sights on getting foreign investment for infrastructure in the city. As many as 12 projects have been lined up for the public, private partnership (PPP) module, which could see investors plough in over `1,057 crore into the city. Building of skywalks with escalators at various spots in Bengaluru to help pedestrians cross busy roads and constructing abattoirs are on its list of projects for foreign investment. The civic agency has floated a Registration Of Interest (ROI) for converting municipal solid waste into energy through water based segregation followed by anaerobic digestion at a plant on 19 acres of land in Kannahalli near Magadi Road and has also drawn up a project for converting municipal solid waste into Grade 2 low sulphur diesel (aviation fuel, jet fuel and diesel for automotive use). A green waste/kitchen waste collection and management centre in the city is on the cards too through a joint venture.

The Bengaluru Development Authority has extensive plans as well to ease congestion in the city with the help of foreign investors. On offer for investment are the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, encompassing the outer ring road, the elevated road from Benniganahalli near the Namma Metro’s integrated transport hub to Mekhri Circle and between Vellara Junction and Varthur Kodi, and housing projects at the Arkavathi layout. As far as the PRR is concerned the authority plans to work out the modalities and financial aspects of the project depending on the feedback from the interested company, according to sources. Investors will be encouraged to provide monetary compensation too, they add. The BDA reportedly hopes that housing in the Arkavathi layout with its good transportation network will prove a hit at the GIM.

The BMRC is meawhile inviting investors for phase 2 of Namma Metro, stretching from IIM(B) to Nagawara with 18 stations enroute and R.V. Road to Bommasandra with 16 stations enroute, specifically in the area of systems and operations. Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry president, J.R. Bangera, feels that while Bengaluru cannot play host to major industries any more for want of land, it can look for growth in research and development, aerospace and biotechnology. “The brain power resource is available in abundance and can be made use of,” he observes.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/gim-2012-focus-infrastructure-977

Nirani pins hope on GIM-2012

In an effort to create an investor-friendly atmosphere in Karnataka, the state is not only holding the two-day-long Global Investors Meet(GIM) but is also facilitating loans through banks and financial institutions to clear projects.

In an interaction with Express, Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani on Tuesday said that for the first time, these efforts by the state had evoked interests in investors. “Karnataka is the first state in the country to extend loan facilities to investors. Even Gujarat has no such facilities,” said Nirani and added that despite volatile political situation in the state and global economic slowdown, GIM would attract over Rs 6 lakh crore investment proposals.

He added that owing to the absence of iron and mining sectors in GIM-2012, the government had estimated to receive around Rs 5 lakh crore investment proposals. “But, after the positive responses to our road shows, we could even touch Rs 7 lakh crore,” said Nirani.

According to him, proposals from sectors like power infrastructure, automobile and food processing are getting impetus with large number of investors showing interest. Besides these, traditional investors from Information Technology, Bio-Technology and Aerospace are inking around Rs 1 lakh crore investment proposals, the minister said.

As many as 600 companies from over 32 countries are taking part in GIM-2102.

source:http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article537273.ece

Sadananda non-committal on early Assembly elections

Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda was non-committal on the prospects of early elections to the State Assembly and merely said: “We are gearing up to meet any eventuality.”

Responding to questions from mediapersons during his brief technical halt at the Jindal airport here on Monday, Mr. Gowda, while endorsing the views of BJP State unit president K.S. Eshwarappa giving a call to the party workers to be prepared for early elections, said: “The Election Commission will decide as to when elections should be held. However, the possibility of calling for early elections is more with the Congress, known to play tricks, mounting pressure on Election Commission in this regard and we don't want to take any chance and be prepared to face any eventuality.”

Mr. Gowda clarified that he had never invited Congress leader Mr. Siddaramaiah directly to join the party. “I had said that if he (Mr. Siddaramiah) desires to join the BJP, the matter could be considered. We follow a system in our party and no individual can take decisions on issues of importance,” he said.

The Chief Minister did not wish to comment on the cash-for-bail episode stating that he would not like to comment on issues which were under investigation or in the court of law.

He said that Cabinet expansion would be held after the elections to the Legislative Council. “But for the elections, the process should have been completed much earlier,” he said.

About giving representation to Bellary district in the Cabinet, which was promised by him during his electioneering for the byelection to the Bellary (Rural) Assembly Constituency held in November last, Mr. Gowda said he would take a decision in the matter in consultation with the senior leaders of the party.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3492522.ece

KRS feeling low, may leave Bangalore high & dry

here’s some discomfiting news for Bangaloreans. Water level at the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir (KRS) in Mysore—which supplies water to Bangalore, Mandya and Mysore districts—has dipped to an alarming low of 70 feet, the lowest in 12 years.

According to officials, the low water level at the KRS is due to the delay in the monsoon. “The reservoir has not filled up since there hasn’t been any rain. Outflow from the dam stood at 2,225 cusecs of water, while the inflow is only 258 cusecs,” said Vijay Kumar, executive engineer, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited.

With catchment areas seeing no rain, the dam’s gates are currently being opened only to meet the drinking water needs of the three districts. “Water from the dam is released into seven canals,” explained an official of the KRS dam. “But on Thursday, officials concerned decided not to release water into Devaraja canal, Chikka Devaraya canal, Virija canal and Bangara Doddi canal. On Saturday, water supply was also halted for three other major canals of the KRS—the Visvesvaraya canal, Right Bank Low Level canal (RBBL) and Left Bank Low Level canal (LBLL).”

Though the reservoir can hold up to 49 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water, there is only 8 tmcft of water in the reservoir.

Water rationing in B’lore?
Currently, Bangalore receives 900 mld (million litres daily) of water from Cauvery and Kabini reservoirs. “Even if one of them sees an alteration in water levels, it will affect the city as 98% of water is drawn from these dams,” said T Venkatraju, engineer-in-chief, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. If there is no rain in thecatchment areas soon, there are chances of water being rationed for the city. “As of now, we can manage the situation for 15 more days. We are expecting rainfall within the next 10 days, which may help us in getting water from KRS and Kabini,” Venkatraju said.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_krs-feeling-low-may-leave-bangalore-high-and-dry_1698287

Anyway welcome to mysore:cheers:,there is this nice the heritage pub (http://hoteltheheritage.com/index1.html) my friends say it has a much better ambience compared to many bangalore pubs.One advantage in Mysore,You can drink heavily and go to ur home peacefully without much traffic or policemen around in Mysore.

hmm, we dont drink and drive not because of traffic police, but instead we dont want to kill people on road :cheers: Let us see a weekend pubbing at mysore looks good option that there is no night deadline..

Mother cards becoming popular in Karnataka

The rate of maternal and neo-natal deaths across the state has come down due to awareness on the importance of institutional deliveries. The rate, which was 213 per one lakh pregnant women in 2004-06, has come down to 178 in 2007-09 due to the government’s initiative to promote institutional deliveries.

According to Dr Amrutheswari, deputy director (maternal health), department of health, many initiatives were taken to create awareness among pregnant women on the importance of institutional deliveries. As part of this initiative, the department has issued 15 lakh Mother Cards during the last two years (2010-11 and 2011-12) across the state for the benefit of pregnant women. “We are encouraging pregnant women to admit to the primary health centres for deliveries,’’ she said.

To create awareness among women in rural areas on institutional deliveries, village health and sanitary committees (VHSCs) were formed. The state government has been allocating Rs10,000 to each village panchayat to use it for health-related programmes. “All these years, the VHSCs were not active. The untied fund (Rs10,000) had been utilised for other works. Now, the VHSCs have been insisting upon village panchayats to utilise the untied fund for the benefit of pregnant women. The VHSCs will meet once in a month and arrange cultural programmes and interaction programmes with doctors,’’ said HL Mohan, Project Director (VHSC).

The Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) had played a key role in preparing a module for the training of VHSC members on health-related matters. Emphasising on the importance of Mother Cards, Mohan said that such cards would be a great help for mothers who migrate to cities from taluks and villages for livelihood.

“The Mother Cards have become popular among women. Such cards will have the data about the mother and the child. Those will be useful whenever they visit hospital in cities for vaccination. These cards play an important role in taking measures to prevent maternal and infant mortality rates,’’ Mohan added.

Many village panchayats are organising baby shower programmes for the benefit of pregnant women from economically weaker sections. “The village panchayat members organise these functions as part of promoting institutional deliveries. They will present gifts to pregnant women during the baby shower programme,’’ said a health department official, adding that the Bharatiya Gnana Vignana Samith (BGVS) is also involved in promoting institutional deliveries in Doddaballapur and other areas.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_mother-cards-becoming-popular-in-karnataka_1698012

Inspiring others comes easily for this babu

Bangalore-based bureaucrat Srivatsa Krishna is one of the inspirations of the theme of Dibankar Banerjee's film Shanghai, slotted for release this Friday.

For Srivatsa, who grew up on filter coffee - he drinks six to eight cups a day - a chance meeting with Banerjee at a Mumbai coffee shop led to his playback debut in Bollywood. "Dibakar and I were debating opponents in college. When we bumped into each other at the coffee shop, he asked me 'Do you still sing as well as you did in college?'. I told him I didn't think so. But he asked me to come around to his studio the following day," says Krishna.

He rehearsed for a day, but obviously that was enough for he was chosen to sing the Vishnu Sahasranamam for Shanghai. And also become an inspiration for the story, which is based on the life of an IAS officer.

Suddenly, everything Krishna's grew up is at a confluence - coffee, Sahasranamam and his dying father's wishes. "My father died the same night I was leaving for Stanford in 1987. I received his letter two weeks later, where he'd stated his two wishes for me - to do the IAS and to cut my own album," Krishna says.

Srivatsa, a topper from the 1994 batch, is among the few Tam Brahms after TN Seshan and PV Rajaraman to take up the administrative services. It took him three attempts to top the exam. "It was a struggle until I achieved it for we lived on a family pension of Rs 900 a month after my father's death. The debut in Shanghai is not quite an album of my own, but certainly a starting point," he says.

But life has been full of starting points for him. For, among his many educational qualifications, he holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is currently pursing a joint PhD at IIM-Bangalore and IIT-Madras.

His voice is amazingly dexterous. "When I was 19, I could sing the entire scale of the harmonium from the lowest sa to the highest sa. When AR Rahman visited me, he told my wife, 'Make him sing soft love songs to you every day.' I discovered then that I couldn't hit the top note which I could do in college and school without training. I could sing any song of Kishore Kumar or Mehdi Hassan," says Krishna, as he renders Kishore's 'Wo shaam kuch ajeeb thi', with minor coaxing.

As his rich voice resonates with classical fervour, we hear that he's currently training under two gurus. "MV Hegde teaches him Hindustani and Chintapalli Srinivas, Carnatic," says Krishna, who felt the Lord was giving him a calling when Banerjee approached him to sing after all those years.

For a man who juggles many roles as administrator, student, musician and author, God and destiny are the backbone of existence. "I believe it's most important to be a good human, good son and good husband. Succeeding here is far for more important than succeeding professionally, for without it, the latter has little meaning," he says.

With Shanghai's release just a day away, Srivatsa is understandably excited.

WEF honour

Srivatsa was honoured by the World Economic Forum at Davos as a Global Leader for Tomorrow, in part for his work as part of Chandrababu Naidu's 'A' team in bringing in significant investments into India from Microsoft, GE, HSBC, Oracle to name just a few, when they created the Cyberabad miracle.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Inspiring-others-comes-easily-for-this-babu/articleshow/13878257.cms

Karnataka not wrong in attempting to divert Mhadei: Parrikar

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said there was nothing wrong in Karnataka's attempts to divert the Mhadei River waters because the BJP government in the neighbouring state was just defending their rights.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/07/file-diversion.jpg

"What they (Karnataka) are doing is right because they are defending their rights," Parrikar told reporters here.

The CM, however, said he will fight for the interest of Goa.
"I will be defending my rights. We have moved the Supreme Court pleading for directives to give adequate resources for the inter-state water dispute tribunal," he said.

Both the states have been locked in a water dispute over the diversion of Mhadei River water, which originates in Karnataka and meets Arabian Sea near Panaji in Goa.

When asked whether he will try to work out an amicable situation over the dispute, Parrikar said any government in Karnataka, either BJP or non-BJP, will have the same approach towards Mhadei River diversion.

"Their attitude would be the same," he said.Don't two brothers fight over property ? Same way both BJP governments are fighting over Mhadei, he commented.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255184/karnataka-not-wrong-attempting-divert.html

City’s IT sector still hungry for mega investments

Bengaluru will continue to be a growth story in the IT sector, and the Global Investors Meet 2012 will see one of the biggest investments in the IT sector, expected to be in the region of `10,000-crore, M.N. Vidyashankar, Commerce and Industries Department, Principal Secretary told Deccan Chronicle.
“IT is going to grow in Bengaluru and the proof of this is one of the biggest investments, in Asia will be made in the GIM 2012. One single company, one of the biggest in the world, will invest Rs 10,000 crore in a project,” he said.

Top Indian IT companies like Infosys, TCS and Wipro, and ‘big tickets’ companies like Ascendas will be participating in the global meet. Karnataka is considered the computer capital of the country and a centre of high-tech industries, especially software. Bengaluru is popularly known as India's Silicon Valley, and most large software companies have set up shop here, operating out of state-of-the-art facilities.

India's IT industry, with Bengaluru firms forming the largest component, is now worth an annual $100 billion and growing at 14 per cent a year. However, policy stagnation and political instability may be taking their toll. With Infosys setting up campuses in Pune and Chandigarh, and BT major Biocon setting up a manufacturing unit in Visakhapathnam, there is speculation that companies may be moving out of the state.

“Yes, there have been cases of companies opening shop in other states. However, that has been purely because of logistical reasons and in no way will affect the growth story of Bengaluru,” Mr Vidyashankar says. IT exports this year have touched Rs 1.35 crore, and in GIM 2012, IT companies with an investment potential of about Rs 82,000 crore will be participating. “There is huge potential available in Bengaluru for the growth of IT companies. The existing MNCs will grow provided political conditions are favourable. This year, IT growth is expected to be around 10 to 12 per cent. Even the global investments have been higher than the GDP,” said Infosys co-chairman Kris Gopalakrishnan.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/city%E2%80%99s-it-sector-still-hungry-mega-investments-288

Rwanda eyes Karnataka as tourism hotspot

If all goes well Karnataka could soon find itself a hot favourite with tourists from Rwanda. In what could be a win-win move for both the state and the African country, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) may soon be drawn up to help their tourism industries.As a stepping stone, Rwanda has showcased some of its attractions at the BIEC, organised as part of the Global Investors Meet 2012.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, High Commissioner of Rwanda to India, Williams Nkurunziza said his country was excited to tie up with Karnataka in tourism. "We could bring our people to hotspots in Karnataka and learn about the glorious legacy of the state and throw up our own attractions to tourists from here. Rwanda is known for its thousand hills and the gorilla species which are on the verge of extinction. Much of the country is mountainous and is home to the highest peak in the volcanic Virunga chain, which is protected by the Volcanoes National Park," he added.

Already, discussions have been held between the two governments and a couple of delegations have visited Rwanda. "We are getting warm support from the Karnataka government and the MoU will be signed shortly,” Mr Nkurunziza said. To boost tourism in Rwanda, the visa process is being simplified and applications will be processed within a couple of days. “We feel that giving visa on the spot is better than the visa on arrival process. Airline services are available from Dubai to Kigali," the high commissioner noted. While Rwanda has investors from Karnataka in medical services, education and rice production, it is now looking to share expertise in technology with it, according to him.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/rwanda-eyes-karnataka-tourism-hotspot-287

Where water projects spring from

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01105/07BG-NHTB-JALBHAVA_1105430f.jpg

It houses the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB), which designs and implements water supply projects for over 200 urban local bodies (ULBs), 44 city municipal councils, 74 town municipal councils and 68 town panchayats in Karnataka. It also functions to provide an effective sanitation system to these areas........

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3497078.ece

Home away from home, rules and everything

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01105/07BG-NHTB-HOSTEL1_1105432e.jpg

Degrees of independence: Working women staying in hostels in BTM layout negotiate with office hours and hostel rules for their share of a social life

Even with their curfews and high price tags, PGs and hostels in BTM Layout are the best bet for students and young professionals

A locality such as BTM Layout has more than its fair share of residents who have migrated to the city, some as students or young professionals. Its proximity to software companies on the Outer Ring Road, Bannerghatta Road and Hosur Road, as well as colleges in Jayanagar and Koramangala, make it a prime area for paying guest accommodations (PGs) and hostels.............

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3497087.ece

A vine to chew and cook with

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01105/07BG-NHTB-BETEL2_1105416g.jpg

Supported growth: Betel is a perennial, evergreen climber, which grows well with plenty of rainfall.

Water in which betel leaves are boiled is a mouth freshener, says Thilaka Baskaran

Some years ago, I planted a betel vine next to our garage wall. In a year, the vine covered the rough wall completely. I had enough to supply neighbours and friends. Ever since, I have been growing betel vine and now I have a flourishing one trailing on a drumstick tree.

CULTURAL VALUE

Betel vine is commercially cultivated in many South Asian countries. Betel leaf is valued for its medicinal properties and cultural value. In India, it enjoys pride of place in most traditional ceremonies and social occasions. Chewing a mixture of betel, arecanut and slaked lime has been a practice for thousands of years. It is not clear how the combination of betel and arecanut came about, but archaeological evidence suggests that they have been together for over 4,000 years.

This perennial, evergreen climber requires plenty of rainfall.

It is grown as a cash crop in most parts of India and each region has its special variety. The varieties cultivated in Karnataka are ‘kariyale' and ‘Mysoreale'. Based on the brittleness and taste, betel leaves are classified into pungent and non-pungent varieties. The mild tender leaf variety is preferred in the south. For an average home, one or two vines are adequate.

CLING TO GROW

Dig a pit 75 cm in length, width and depth. Put in well-matured manure, handfuls of powdered neem cake, leaf manure and wood ash. If you can buy a rooted sampling, plant it in the pit. If it is a cutting, it should be a healthy stem, a metre long with two or three nodes. Dip the rooting end in a rooting mixture and bury it one node deep in the soil. Press the soil around the planted cutting firmly. Frequent watering is needed but make sure there is no water logging.

Young shoots will appear in a month. Ensure a support to climb on. It could be a thick bamboo, a tree or a rough wall. When the vine comes in contact with the support, it produces adventitious roots to cling with. To keep it in place, tie the vine to the support with thin jute ropes at intervals. Betel vine is a heavy feeder so fertilize with nitrogen rich organic manure on alternate months.

Ayurveda recommends betel leaf as a digestive, carminative, anti-inflammatory and wound healer. Water in which betel leaves are boiled is a mouth freshener. The introduction of tobacco as a combination with betel is harmful.

In Thai and Vietnamese cuisines, betel is a popular ingredient in salads, fritters and as a wrap for steaming meat and fish.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3496999.ece

99 dosas on wheels


http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01105/07BG-NHTB-DOSA1_1105421e.jpg

A clever, rational approach to fusion cuisine, adding value to the humble dosa, is what sets this joint apart

Bannerghatta, Tavarakere and Madiwala, or BTM Layout, as it is popularly known, is just like its name, an eclectic mix of cultures, home to people from all corners of the country. So, the eateries here are also a melee of different tastes and flavours........

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3497018.ece

Some Good News for older generation and Native Kannadiga's as well as those who are in love will local culture of Karnataka.

After Guddadha Bhootha, Now from June 16 onwards Malgudi Days is being shown once again on satudray and Sunday Hope they use same 9:30 PM slot. ( Janasri News Channel )

Directed by the Ace erstwhile actor and ever lasting Youth Icon of Karnataka Mr.Shankar Nag. ( Santhosh akkae Hadu Santhosh akkae )

MalGudi - Gets it name from Malleswaram and Basavanagudi the episodes are based on stories more from these areas and shooting also done in those locales.

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A concrete plan for Kanakapura Rd’s last surviving green patch
Bangalore Mirror (http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/201206072012060701292234773c9faa2/A-concrete-plan-for-Kanakapura-Rd%E2%80%99s-last-surviving-green-patch.html)

http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/Repository/22/publish/10/201206/201206072012060701292234773c9faa2_20120606210306440f4e6f04d_pic_original.jpg
One of the oldest surviving green patches on Kanakapura Road off Banashankari temple in Bangalore South will soon get a concrete face. The lush Nilgiri plantation, popularly known in the area as ‘Sarve Topu’, owned by the Khodays, has been transacted for a joint development agreement.

The 40-odd acres of plantation, which is part of a former glass factory, is being proposed for mixed use development — residential complex, IT spaces and a high-end mall. The land costs nearly Rs 12 crore per acre.

As Bangalore East has reached the saturation point in terms of realty development and Bangalore North towards Devanahalli is getting clogged, developers are now eyeing the Kanakapura Road.

The stretch between Sarakki and Talaghattapura connecting the state highway, which was once a village, is the most happening place, thanks to the Namma Metro cutting through the corridor. The adjoining areas, where the real estate prices had hit rock bottom, have woken up after the BMRCL announced and commenced the construction work.

The who’s who in the industry — Mantri, Puravankara, Brigade, Sobha, Nagarjuna and the latest entrant, Prestige Estates, are making a beeline to the place.

One of the early birds on the stretch were the Khodays, who set up a brewery and glass factory from 1972 onwards. A popular yesteryear watch brand, Hegde and Golay, was the first to set up its factory here.

Says Hari Khoday, the senior-most member of Khoday family and managing director of Khoday India Limited, “Prestige is doing a joint development project with us on our property.”

The 70-year-old reminisces the days when the area lacked even bus facilities. “When I came here in the 1960s, there were no buses. Farmers got the KSRTC to ply buses to the area. Though the stretch was a village, it woke up during 2005 onwards. We put up our brewery and glass factory after getting the land allotted by the area development board,” he says.

Majestic Developers managing director S A Rehman, who has an office at Sarakki Gate on the Kanakapura Road, said during 2002-03, the property price was around Rs 1,000-1,200 per sqft. In the subsequent years, it was around Rs 2,000/sqft. Besides the Metro, the corridor also saw a lot of good schools coming up.

“Once the Metro was announced and the road widening work commenced, the property prices shot up. With big realty houses stepping in, the corridor has seen a real boom. Now the prices are in between Rs 3,000-3,850 per sqft,” says Rehman, who has been in the realty industry for a decade.

Karnataka not wrong in attempting to divert Mhadei: Parrikar

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today said there was nothing wrong in Karnataka's attempts to divert the Mhadei River waters because the BJP government in the neighbouring state was just defending their rights.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/07/file-diversion.jpg



source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255184/karnataka-not-wrong-attempting-divert.html
Mature from parikkar..i like this man, he and raman singh are the best CM's of BJP...

A concrete plan for Kanakapura Rd’s last surviving green patch
Bangalore Mirror (http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/201206072012060701292234773c9faa2/A-concrete-plan-for-Kanakapura-Rd%E2%80%99s-last-surviving-green-patch.html)
Is it the silverbirch plantation he is talking about or the brewery?
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=12.8876492&lon=77.5652065&z=17&l=0&m=b

This is a bumper for khodays, metro right in front...huge value now..i hope they build a big IT park instead of residential...but sad to see such lush greenery go...

Mature from parikkar..i like this man, he and raman singh are the best CM's of BJP...

:cheers: Digambar Kamath was so sick as the CM of goa

Bangalore will have no water from June 12 to 14 (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Bangalore-will-have-no-water-from-June-12-to-14/articleshow/13915520.cms)
TNN | Jun 8, 2012, 06.20AM IST
BANGALORE: All taps in Bangalore will go dry from June 12 to 14. BWSSB is shutting down all pumps of the four stages of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) to install power connections for Cauvery Stage 4 Phase 2.

T Venkataraju, BWSSB engineer-in-chief , says: "As we are nearing completion of CWSS Stage 4 Phase 2, we've to take power connections for our pumping stations . KPTC has agreed to give connections on June 12 and execute interlinking works for pumps of other three stages of CWSS. We will shut down pumps at 10am on June 12, and hope to switch on at June 13-14 midnight."

Taps will run dry till June 14

The KPTC work to install power connections for Stage 4 Phase 2 of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme (CWSS) will take 20 to 24 hours, and water will be available to parts of the city till the evening of June 12.

Pumps work on a 48-hour cycle. Hence, if they are switched on June 13-14 midnight, it will take at least five hours to fill the pipelines. Factoring in the 98-km distance between the pumping stations and Bangalore, the earliest the city can get water is the evening of June 14.

BWSSB supplies 900 million litres per day. CWSS Stage 4 phase 2 is expected to meet a shortage of 500 MLD.

The June 12-14 water shutdown in Bangalore has citizens fuming. They say the BWSSB should have planned better. "Such a shutdown has never happened in the past. The BWSSB should have done their work in a phased manner. This cannot be an excuse to cause inconvenience to the entire city," says Ravindra Nath Guru, secretary of Consumer Care Society and resident of Banashankari 2nd Stage.

Says KS Mani, president, ITI Layout Residents' Association , Mathikere: "There is no end to citizens misery. We are at the mercy of the agencies. Just about everyone is helpless , including the corporator, who tells us to be content with the water we get for one hour. We expect rain in a couple of days and hope to store as much we can."

Uma Venkataraman, a resident of Bull Temple Road, says: "We hardly use Cauvery water because we have a good borewell. But my neighbours face shortages and they take water from my well. But on the three days when there will be no water, the problem will be acute in my neighbourhood. We will also have some problem getting drinking water.

On the other hand, BBMP's newly added areas, which don't get Cauvery water , depend on private tankers and borewells.

An entirely Indian touch to INS Vikramaditya

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01106/08BGMACHINE_1106849f.jpg

The dosa-making machine at CFTRI in Mysore

Six dosa-making and three idli-making machines have been installed on the aircraft carrier

Even as aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, formerly Admiral Gorshkov, is getting ready for pre-induction trials, it has seen the successful demonstration of a product that is exclusively Indian.

For, a group of engineers from Eskay Enterprises, Bangalore, has installed six dosa-making machines and three idli-making machines on board INS Vikramaditya and just returned from Arkhangelsk region in Russia where the ship was docked. It will help serve traditional Indian delicacies to the Indian crew once the ship is commissioned.

The automated dosa and idli making technology was developed by Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and Eskay Enterprises is one of the licensees authorised to manufacture the automated machines.

Sources told The Hindu that initially CFTRI was contacted by the Defence authorities with a request to install the machines on board Admiral Gorshkov which was being overhauled and retrofitted with modern equipment to emerge in its new avatar as INS Vikramaditya.

“But CFTRI being a research institute does not have the mandate for bulk manufacturing of products though it develops the technology. Hence, we asked the Defence Ministry to contact one of our licensees in Bangalore who participated in the bid and was chosen for installation,” the sources said.

S. Krishna Murthy, who owns Eskay Enterprises, said that he obtained the technology from CFTRI and upgraded it for commercial viability before releasing it the market. Both the dosa-making and idli-making machinery have been installed in 12 ships of the Indian Navy so far. “But installing it on board the INS Vikramaditya was privileged work. We have just returned from Russia, and the automated dosa and idli-making machines will be fine-tuned once the ship is handed over to India in December,” Mr. Krishna Murthy said.

The automated technology will enable assembly-line production of 400 dosas and 1,000 idlis an hour on each machine and will cater to the nearly 2,000 crew members who will be on board the ship. Mr. Krishna Murthy said that eight wet grinders have also been installed for grinding rice and other ingredients for batter.

The technology was developed by the CFTRI in 1998 and since then has proved to be popular in major industries where catering for a large workforce requires mass production. The machines have been so designed that they take care of all operations pertaining to making a dosa such as spreading batter to the requisite size, oiling, cooking and even dispensing curry and chutney. The automated technology also ensures that hygienic norms are observed in the kitchen as it obviates manual labour during mass production of idlis and dosas of uniform taste.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3501663.ece

Allotment of lake area stayed

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday directed the Revenue Department, which has allotted 25 acres of lake area to various departments, not to allot the sites formed in the remaining 10 acres of Doddakere lake in Kanakapura to anyone until further orders.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna passed the interim order on the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by agriculturists from Kanakapura, Sampath Kumar and others.

The petitioners have said that the Doddakere was spread in the area of about 35 acres 26 guntas. However, the Revenue Department, which ought to have protected it, was itself instrumental in allotting it to various government departments.

The PIL said 7 acres of the lake area was reserved for government offices, 4 acres for the Judicial Department, 6 for the Horticulture Department, 2 acres for APMC, among others. The petitioners said the remaining 10 acres of the total lake area was now earmarked for sites to those whose properties were acquired to widen a road in Kanakapura town. They pointed out that diversion of lake area for any other purpose is banned by the courts.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3504039.ece

This is nothing related to Bengaluru, but a very interesting fact that will amaze all the Bengalureans. Did not know where else to post, so posted it here.

http://www.masthmysore.com/mysore-road-unbounded-royalty

You may be excited to know that there are many roads and streets across the world in different continents, that are named after our Mysore!! To name a few, there’s one in UK, one in New Zealand and 3 in South Africa

In the page given by the link, you can see how Mysore Road looks in UK, New Zealand, South Africa and finally, namma Bengaluru!!:cheers:

The June 11 Legislative Council biennial elections in Karnataka for 11 seats assume significance in the ongoing political scenario.

However, both ruling BJP and Opposition Congress are sure to win six and three seats respectively based on their strength in the Assembly. JD(S), the other Opposition party is sure to win one seat.

But the remaining one seat which is contested keenly by a Congress candidate and an Independent supported by the JD(S) has evinced keen interest. Each winning candidate needs 19 first preference votes to be declared elected in the first round. The BJP has 119 member, Congress 71 and JD(S) 26 and Independents 7 along with one nominated member and the Speaker in 225 member Assembly.

As far as ruling BJP is concerned, the party has put up a united front as three candidates supported by former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa have made it and are sure to win. The decision of the party high command to accommodate three Yeddyurappa supporters to the election has given a breathing space to Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda who has been facing a severe rebellion by Yeddyurappa. Embattled Lingayat leader Yeddyurappa who has toned down his rhetoric for a change of Chief Minister has been giving statements of early elections to the State which assumes significance in the ongoing political crisis.

A supporter of Yeddyurappa told The Pioneer that the former CM was happy about the selection of candidates to council elections. However, he said that they want a change of leadership to face the early Assembly elections. He said, “Our leader is happy about selection of candidates to the council. I am happy the high command has finally realised that Yeddyurappa is the leader. It is also true that he has to lead the party in case of an early election. However, we are still working on change of leadership.”

Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda who has taken a task of image building of the rattled party has been optimistic about council polls and finds an opportunity for the party to put up a united face to subdue the efforts of the Congress trying to make a comeback. Gowda told The Pioneer that the party was united and sure to win the council polls. He also said the BJP can fight the Congress in its all efforts to come back to power. According to political observers, the just concluded two-day second edition of the Global Investors meet 2012, which has over 400 MoUs with an anticipation of Rs over 6 lakh crore investment has really elevated the image of the warring BJP.

However all is not well in the Opposition Congress which has just seen an open dissention by a powerful Kuruba leader Siddaramaiah. In fact he resigned as the Leader of the Opposition recently ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the State. Siddaramaiah’s dissention was an indication of the knots in the Congress. For Congress, Karnataka is an important political spot as they have been losing badly in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Karnataka assumes political significance and observes feel that Congress has been waiting for an opportunity in the

BJP’s political muddle to come back to power.

The final list of candidates comprises six candidates of the BJP — BJ Puttaswamy, Vimala Gowda, DS Veeraiah, Raghunath Rao Malkapure, MB Bhanuprakash and Somanna Bevinamarada; four of the Congress — Motamma, Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi, K Govindaraju and MR Seetharam; one of the JD(S) Aga and Suresh as an Independent supported by the JD(S).
http://dailypioneer.com/nation/71641-bjp-woos-lingayats-rebellion-dogs-cong.html

This is nothing related to Bengaluru, but a very interesting fact that will amaze all the Bengalureans. Did not know where else to post, so posted it here.

http://www.masthmysore.com/mysore-road-unbounded-royalty



In the page given by the link, you can see how Mysore Road looks in UK, New Zealand, South Africa and finally, namma Bengaluru!!:cheers:

You know Mysore was the name of Karnataka state itself earlier. So, many things are named after Mysore in Karnataka like Mysore Bank, Mysore Minerals, etc.

The British who came to India and then migrated further to Australia, New Zealand, Africa, etc have named the towns, villages with the places of India from where they migrated. For example, there is a town in Australia with name Mangalore and forumers here have posted Mangalore Airport, Australia picture in Mangalore Airport thread.

Bangalore Creek Canyon (http://www.tdmskp.com.au/guide/index.php?title=Bangalore_Creek_Canyon)
Bangalore Falls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_of_Australia)

Later when Indians migrated they might have named shops, restaurants, etc after Indian names.

This is nothing related to Bengaluru, but a very interesting fact that will amaze all the Bengalureans. Did not know where else to post, so posted it here.

http://www.masthmysore.com/mysore-road-unbounded-royalty



In the page given by the link, you can see how Mysore Road looks in UK, New Zealand, South Africa and finally, namma Bengaluru!!:cheers:

Wait maadi,Namma Mysore road will be the best in Bangalore with two level flyovers and a metro link till kengeri :banana:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--BaYfBiS3A0/TzDoMLveKYI/AAAAAAAAGXE/kuNX3kWsMJU/s1600/rsz_1nayndahalli_jn_fly_over.jpg

http://dailypioneer.com/nation/71641-bjp-woos-lingayats-rebellion-dogs-cong.html

Now that GIM 2012 is finished, the real Nataka of BSY will start in the state.

will KA go into early elections, within few days we can see BSY being arrested
for is irregularities done by him as ex-CM

Traffic offences to go paperless across Karnataka

BANGALORE: Come June 11 and Karnataka will perhaps become the first state in the country to have paperless traffic enforcement in totality. In a bid to ensure transparency in booking cases against traffic offences, Black-Berry services will be extended across the state. DGP Lalrokhuma Pachau said BlackBerry and Bluetooth printers for traffic enforcement have been successful in Bangalore for four years, which encouraged them to extend the services to all districts.

From June 11, all paper challans and police notices will be phased out for Blackberry and Bluetooth printers, he added. A centralized database has been setup atthe StateData Centre for this purpose, he added. "This will enable real-time monitoring of traffic enforcement, bring in transparency, eliminate discretion and reduce malpractices by police officers which exist in the present system," he added.

Nearly 250 traffic personnel, from the rank of assistant sub-inspector, sub-inspector to inspector, will start using Blackberry for traffic enforcement. This will be in addition to the 750 already in operation in Bangalore.


Once I have seen a Traffic policeman collecting a fee 100/- for traffic signal jump. when asked for a return receipt . He informed that, he has entered in Blackberry and their is no need of any receipt. But what is the Guarantee that he has entered into the system and Money is going to Govt or his personal Kitty.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Traffic-offences-to-go-paperless-across-Karnataka/articleshow/13946501.cms

Aerospace firms see huge potential in India

India will be the fastest growing country for air travel over the next 10 years, since there is a lot of scope for its economy to develop, according to David Dufrenois, head of sales (India), Airbus (EADS).

Delivering a key note address on “Global perspective on opportunities in aerospace” at a seminar on “Aerospace & Defense, Karnataka: The aerospace hub of Asia”, Dufrenois said India has 3.8 million population per aircraft. “There is a huge potential for the growth of air travel in the country, since more and more middle-class people are opting for air travel. However, it is lower when compared to China, which had a similar volume of air travel a decade ago,” Dufrenois said.

Srinivasan Dwarakanath, vice-president, international cooperation, Airbus, in his address said that around 2,000 people from India had been working with Airbus supply chain and every Airbus A320 aircraft was partly made in the country. “We have trained 950 people and completed 117 courses at our training centre,” Dwarakanath said.

Chris Rao, vice-president, Goodrich Aerospace Services, spoke on “Aerospace industry in Karnataka - need for an ecosystem”. He said India would remain uniquely placed to address the immediate and pressing margin pressures of international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). “India should focus on providing the talent, not just for the local industry but also international companies. The low-cost labour that is available in the country will remain competitive till 2020 and beyond,” Rao said.

Aroon Raman, managing director, Raman FibreScience Pvt Ltd, said nine firms submitted investment proposals worth $94.2 million to establish manufacturing units in state’s aerospace-cum-aviation sector.

“Dynamic Technologies is establishing greenfield manufacturing facility at Aerospace Special Economic Zone near Bangalore International Airport. Wipro will establish an aerospace SEZ at the proposed Aerospace Park, and Mahindra Aerospace plans to set up a plant to manufacture four, 10 and 20 seater aircraft, at their upcoming facility at Naraspur in Kolar district,” Raman said.

He said Karnataka plans to come up with dedicated aerospace policy. “It will be first of its kind in the country. There is lot of potential for aerospace and related industries in the state. India’s first aerospace SEZ has become operational at Belgaum,” he added
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_aerospace-firms-see-huge-potential-in-india_1700128

Cupid doesn’t love Cubbon Park anymore!

Beating a hasty retreat

Removed from the maddening roads and the moral police, Cubbon Park once offered love-struck couples unbeatable serenity, privacy and a refreshing silence.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/09/cubbon-park.jpg

But then, the City’s explosive growth invaded the green expanse, noisy vehicles occupying with abandon every inch of the roads that crisscrossed the Park.

Lovebirds beat a hasty retreat. Years later, they could now get a second chance, if the Horticulture Department’s novel plan gets into action mode.

The department has finalised an action plan to develop 92 acres of hitherto ignored area inside the Park. Over 150 varieties of flowering plants and trees will be grown with wide lawns.

“We have also identified tree varieties like Perfume Tree, Shorea Talura (Jalari in Kannada), Mesua Ferrea (Suragi in Kannada), which are known to spread fragrance up to two kilometres. Saplings will be planted this month,” M Jagadish, Department’s Deputy Director (Cubbon Park), told Deccan Herald.

‘No privacy’

Now, lovers would definitely love that privacy. Ask Nitin and his fiancee, Chitra, who used to visit the Park at least thrice a week before opting out.

“There is no corner left in the Park where you can escape the vehicles and the noise they generate. With the road stretch between Balbhavan and Central Library (earlier a walker’s path) opening for vehicles to facilitate Namma Metro works, traffic movement has increased in the last few months,” says Nitin.

For Sunandha Iyengar, a senior citizen and morning walker at Cubbon Park, memories of it as a lovers’ paradise go back to 1980’s when Mani Ratnam’s debut movie, “Pallavi Anu Pallavi”, was released.

The famous song “Naguva Nayana Madhura Mouna” from the Anil Kapoor starrer was shot in Cubbon Park. The film ‘Pallavi Anupallavi’, she said, had captured the beauty of the Park very well.

“Today, when I visit Cubbon Park, I see hardly any lovers. Scenes such as couples dropping into the park, walking hand in hand are becoming rare,” she said.
Jagadish agreed that vehicular movement has gone up by at least 13 per cent in Cubbon Park, after the Metro work began.

With more visitors during weekends, the inconvenience to serenity-seeking couples has only gone up. Yet, Jagadish wouldn’t agree they have stopped turning up at the Park completely. “Couples now restrict themselves to the fringe portions, particulary near the High Court and the Central Library,” he said.

The Deputy Director is certain that the Park will regain its lost glory in a year and a half, when plants start flowering.

Love might bloom once the green cover is restored. And once the Metro work is completed, many road stretches would be closed. Cupid should love it!

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255654/cupid-doesnt-love-cubbon-park.html

Karnataka showcases tourism at GIM

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Karnataka, trying to hard sell its tourism sector globally, did some aggressive marketing of its heritage sites, coastal lines, religious places and wildlife spots to the prospective investors at the second edition of the Global Investors Meet on Friday. The State government inked agreements promising private investment of about Rs 35,000 crore.

Karnataka, in terms of tourist inflow, occupies fourth position in the country, while Andhra Pradesh stands first. In 2010, Karnataka witnessed 3.85 crore tourist footfall, while it went up to 8.46 crore in 2011 due to aggressive marketing of tourism sector. The aim is to reach 10 crore by in the next couple of years.

If the promises made at the GIM over the last two days stands true, seaplane service, an international golf course in Mangalore, an ayurvedic health resort in Hampi and more will come up. Maritime Energy Heli Air Service of Mumbai signed an MoU with the State tourism department to invest Rs 96.50 crore to introduce seaplane facility.

Vishwanth Reddy K, Director of Tourism Department, said the company intends to introduce the amphibian plane service not only in the coastal but also areas where water bodies such as dams and reservoirs are situated.

“For seaplanes, there is no need for airports. Aeroplanes directly takeoff and land on water. Dams like Almatti and reservoirs besides coast can be used for promoting seaplane toruism,” he said.
Lata Krishna Rao, Principal Secretary, Tourism, while addressing a session on tourism at the GIM, said the State is keen on attracting private investment for golf course development across the State. As the State has good weather for major part of the year, golf can be tapped as a potential tourism destination. Opus Hotel & Resorts has tied up with the government to develop a hotel with a golf course in Mangalore. It is expected to invest Rs 1,681 crore. There are about 18 golf centres in the State, and Bangalore alone has four.

The officer said the State is coming out with a Tourism Trade Act which can help investors understand the government polices and requirement of the sector better. The draft Act would be circulated among the stake-holders for feedback before finalizing it. Her response came when a representative of Brigade Hospitality group said that his company invested money to build a resort in Chikmagalur. But it has not progressed even after many years due to protests by green activist. It is better if the government makes it policies clear, he said.

The tourism department has invited public private partnership (PPP) for developing 18 tourism projects. Vishwanath Reddy said that for all these 18 projects, the government would be offering land on lease. “We want Monsoon tourism to be promoted in a big way.
Augumbe in the Malnad region has no basic amenities for tourists. So, we have private investors to develop highway amenities. Similarly, we want to develop Pearl Valley in Anekal with a resort offering adventure sports and urban entertainment. Badami needs a five star hotel. Even Jog requires an eco resort/adventure sports. We are sure of getting investments. On Friday, nine investors made commitments to invest Rs 2,487.23 crore,” he said.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255446/karnataka-showcases-tourism-gim.html

3 major gas pipelines to pass through Bangalore

Natural gas can emerge as one of the preferred sources of energy for industrial and commercial use in Karnataka with three major gas pipelines passing through Bangalore within the next four years, a top Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) official said.

Speaking at a seminar on the energy sector organised as a part of Global Investors Meet - 2012, A K Machanda, Executive Director (Gas), IOC said the newly sanctioned five million tonne per annum gas terminal at Ennore in Tamil Nadu will have a pipeline link to
Bangalore and is likely to be completed in 2016.

Also, Gas Authority India Limited (GAIL’s) LNG pipeline between Kochi LNG import terminal and Bangalore is likely to be commissioned next year. He said the 1,370-km Dabhol – Bangalore Natural Gas Pipeline, which will form a key segment of the Indian national gas grid will be commenced after the monsoon. GAIL will be ready to supply gas to industrial users by September this year.

Official sources said GAIL has already entered into supply agreements with several industrial users.

Companies including Toyota Kirloskar Motor and ITPL are in the process of setting up gas-based captive power plants.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255636/3-major-gas-pipelines-pass.html

‘Pride of Karnataka’ honour for 5


The problem of poverty in India can be solved only by creating jobs and through entrepreneurship, said Infosys chief mentor Narayana Murthy.

He was speaking after receiving the ‘Pride of Karnataka’ award conferred by the NGO Round Table India on Friday. The award was conferred on five people including Murthy. Litterateur S L Byrappa, former cricketer Anil Kumble, artist Yusuf Arakkal and cine actor Ramya are the other recipients. Justice Shivaraj Patil gave away the awards.

Byrappa urged youngsters not to forget their mother tongue as it was a person’s identity.
“An artist and an entrepreneur must be allowed to work individually. Government intervention in these fields only kills the beauty of the business,” he added.

Arakkal dedicated the award to Karnataka and said that it was Bangalore which nurtured him and made him the person he was today.

Kumble encouraged the youth and said that education and sports must go hand-in-hand to build a fantastic nation. Actor Ramya pledged to support the Round Table India initiatives.

The NGO focuses on providing basic infrastructure to primary education in rural India through their national project ‘Freedom Through Education.’ It mainly reaches out to the underprivileged children.

They have successfully built over 4,200 classrooms and 1,430 schools by raising Rs 100 crore through various fundraising initiatives, directly benefiting over one million children.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255642/pride-karnataka-honour-5.html

Autonomous body to ensure funds for infrastructure

The State government is contemplating setting up “Infrastructure Board”, an autonomous body, to ensure investment in infrastructure sector on a sustainable basis.

In his presentation to sum up the proceedings of the GIM-2012, Chief Secretary S V Ranganath said the board would come into existence once the Infrastructure Bill is passed by the Legislature.

The bill will provide for creation of Karnataka Viability Gap Fund to the tune of Rs 500 crore to aid projects.

At the same time, the Board will ensure sustainable investment in areas like road and water supply providing infrastructure backup for industries, he said. The government will set in place an investors relationship management system by appointing officers who will remain in “constant connect” with investors.

The government was also contemplating to provide bulk approvals by Pollution Control Board for industries and also take measures to curb multiple spot inspections by various departments.

To ensure timely delivery of services, the government is planning to include industries department under the Sakala scheme, he said.

Land acquisition

Ranganath said on Thursday the government was working on a comprehensive plan to speed up land acquisition for industries and at the same time make it more transparent.

“We are working on a slew of measures that include appointing more land acquisition officers, providing more powers to special deputy commissioners and streamlining the entire process of land acquisition,” he said, addressing a convention on “Doing business in Karnataka and international success stories.”

He said one of the main grievances of industrialists was there was delay in allotment of land through the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board.

“We plan to provide clearance from the pollution control board simultaneously with the allotment of land, thus doing away with the need to apply for environmental clearance separately. We are also contemplating to give clearances for power and water connections, while sanctioning land,” Ranganath said.

He said the government was planning to fix a time limit for completion of inspections by various departments, before giving approvals for projects.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255631/autonomous-body-ensure-funds-infrastructure.html

Hop, skip and fly off lakes

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_horizontal/article-images/Untitled-3_39.jpg.crop_display.jpg

Bengaluru may have thought up with different ways to beat the traffic on its crowded roads, but its planners have never come up with this : Amphibian planes to skim through its lakes, landing with equal ease on water and land to make commuting in the city plain sailing.

In a first of its kind project in the state, amphibian planes ,may now be used to promote tourism both in its coastal belt and in a city like Bengaluru , thanks to its many lakes.

A sea plane company, Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd has put forward the idea and is hoping the service will take off in Karnataka soon, now that it has signed an Expression of Interest (EOI) for Rs. 198 Crore with the government during GIM-2012.

"We have indentified Belandur Lake and TG Halli reservoir to start the service . Since the plane can land both on land and water, Bengaluru’s lakes can be utilised for commuting across the city.

We are ready to launch the service as soon as possible. We need around 45 days to conduct feasibility tests and 90 days more to launch it, ” says a Maritime spokesperson , revealing the company has an amphibian plane facility in the Andamans which costs Rs. 2600 for a 20 minutes journey. "However, the fare for a ride on a amphibian plane can vary from state to state," he adds.

Marime hopes to introduce the service on the beaches of Mangalore and other parts of coastal Karnataka in the first phase.

It is also exploring the possibility of introducing an amphibian plane service for Krishnarajasagara in Mysore, giving tourists a panoramic view of the dam and Brindavan Gardens.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/hop-skip-and-fly-lakes-875

Nirani, the man behind GIM: A rags to riches story

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_vertical/article-images/Untitled-2_59.jpg.crop_display.jpg

“I am only 46. I still have another 20 years to go before I meet all my goals. This is only a warm-up! " That's Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani, Industries Minister in the Sadananda Gowda government, first-generation entrepreneur turned successful industrialist, and the driving force behind GIM 2012.

“GIM is not just about investments and industries alone. It is about nurturing a generation of young entrepreneurs," says Nirani, son of a sugarcane farmer who did not finish school but saw his son graduate from engineering college and set up a string of businesses that turned him into a powerhouse, the Sharad Pawar of Bagalkot.

What sparked off as a youthful challenge to outdo role model, then Congress MP from Bagalkot S.T. Patil, set him on the path to success.

“I accomplished everything Patil had done and overtook him by becoming a civil engineer, a successful industrialist and Cabinet minister. My house is twice the size of his," crowed Nirani.

Born to Rudrappa and Sushilamma at Basav Hanchnal in Bilgi taluk of Bagalkot district, Nirani was always a go-getter.

Starting a tractor-trailer manufacturing unit at Mudhol in 1996, in 1997, he established a sugar factory near Mudhol, which is now the single biggest sugar factory in India, while his sugar industry provides direct employment to 2,000 youth and helps 40,000 sugarcane growers of Bijapur and Bagalkot districts.

Turning around a defunct cement factory in Halaki-Ningapur village of Mudhol in 2001, set off the setting up of a string of cement factories at Kunchipur in Chitradurga, a cooperative bank and an educational trust in Hubli-Dharwad and now a media house.


source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/nirani-man-behind-gim-rags-riches-story-873

‘State may have its own supply of CNG'

In the next two months, the state may have its own supply of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which will be piped from Dabhol in Maharashtra.

Executive director of project development in Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) P K Pal said, “The Dabhol-Bangalore pipeline will be commissioned after the monsoon.”

He was speaking at a seminar on power at GIM on Friday.

The Kochi-Bangalore pipeline is expected to be operational by 2014-2015 while Ennore-Bangalore pipeline would take an additional year to be completed.

Pal announced that GAIL had completed purchase agreement formalities for a natural gas pipeline from Galkynysh field in Turkmenistan, which will pass through Afghanistan and Pakistan before entering India.

source:http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article539312.ece

State promises fast clearance for lands

Following the poor implementation of projects announced in GIM- 2010, the state government has assured investors of speedy clearances of land and other requirements.

Chief Secretary S V Ranganath said that the government will do all they can to retain investors’ confidence. He said that the industries department would implement Sakala.

Charting out a four-point strategy for the same, he said that online payment of taxes would be facilitated and a centre for intellectual property rights and Karnataka ICT centre will be set up among other provisions.

According to him, inspections will have to be completed within a stipulated time and multiple inspections will not be conducted.

Ranganath also said that the banking community will finance any viable project worth Rs 3 lakh crore.

He informed that the agency for procuring lands would have to ensure that necessary clearances were granted before handing over the land to the industrialist.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that all necessary land amendments would be introduced to ensure a speedy delivery mechanism.

According to him, changes would be made in Section 109 of Land Amendment Act.

source:http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article539313.ece

‘1,000 toilets for Bangalore'

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to construct around 1,000 public toilets in the city based on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Speaking at a session on housing and urban development at Global Investors Meet (GIM) here on Friday, BBMP Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda said that the civic authority had already identified the places where public toilets are to be built and was scouting for private partners.

The BBMP is also planning to build around 200 skywalks for pedestrian crossings.

Owing to the growing demand of electricity in the city, the BBMP is planning to generate power by using solid waste.

“Everyday around 5,000 tonnes of solid waste is being generated in the city. We want to utilise it for power generation,” said Gowda.

source:http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article539314.ece

Operation Lotus wilts in Karnataka

Excise Minister M P Renukacharya contradicted state BJP president K S Eshwarappa’s statement that money and muscle power led to the forming of the BJP government.

Attributing the government’s success to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s astute leadership and the party cadre, he said: “Those who have joined the saffron party are held in high esteem.”

The minister, however, averred that making sweeping statements against leaders such as C M Udasi, Umesh V Katti and V Somanna who had joined the party recently cannot be justified.

On some party legislators who have sought convening of an immediate meeting of the BJP legislature party, he said: “Deciding on it would be the prerogative of the BJP’s central leaders.”

source:http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article538564.ece

Marathahalli: Whitefield's bridge to the CBD

A sizable chunk of the Marathahalli-Sarjapur stretch is covered with IT companies, and approximately one lakh IT-related employees work in the area.

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That the IT boon resulted in Bangalore's real estate growing exponentially is no hidden secret. Several areas once considered sleepy hamlets were given a complete makeover by the entry of several IT-based companies. One such locality is Marathahalli. Considering its proximity to the Old HAL Airport which was an essential part of the IT boom in the 90s, several technology-based companies decided to make their presence felt here. With the Outer Ring Road passing right through the heart of Marathahalli, connectivity was never an issue.

Today, approximately 20 million sq. ft of commercial and retail space covers the Marathahalli area. A sizable chunk of the Marathahalli-Sarjapur stretch is covered with IT companies and approximately one lakh IT-related employees work in the area. This makes the development of any residential project hot property in the area. Marathahalli today can be considered an extension of the main city of Bangalore. There are several people who prefer its central location to Whitefield and that has also given a fillip to the area.

LOOKING CLOSER

Every builder worth his salt has a presence on this stretch. Though the main roads are largely saturated, the adjacent and inner roads are open to construction and there are several projects coming up here and are being lapped up by the public.

Of course infrastructure is another aspect that needs to be looked into. As such most builders make their own arrangements for the provision of power to their projects. Power lines are drawn from nearby substations.

As far as water is concerned, despite the demand in the area, it is not yet connected with the Cauvery water supply network. Promises of beginning the supply this year may be delayed till 2013-14. Though contractors have been hired for the job, the going is rather slow.

Traffic snarls are common in the area but this is largely due to the construction activities that are taking place. As and when projects are completed, these bottlenecks will clear up for themselves. With the completion of service roads, a signal-free corridor will be built which will add to the connectivity factor. Roads are rather congested right now especially around the Marathahalli-Sarjapur junction. If more attention is paid to the improvement of public transportation, considering the large techie population, there are chances of an improvement in the traffic flow.

Civic amenities are not in place right now and most home owners make their own arrangements.

GOOD RETAIL INFRASTRUCTURE

There are several good schools such as Ryan International School, Air Force School and Greenwood High on the Sarjapur stretch. Fortis Hospitals and VIMS specialty hospitals ensure that medical care abounds.

Innovative Multiplex was Bangalore's first multi-screen set up and came up in this area. It has massive retail infrastructure ensuring the area is self- sufficient.

Marathahalli can be viewed as a bridge between Whitefield and the rest of Bangalore. The quality of the constructions coming up here is top notch and you get your money's worth.

Should the government complete its end of the bargain as far as work on bridges and side roads goes, Marathahalli will be an ideal location to live in.

(The author is the Head, Sattva Real Estate Solutions, a real estate market research group. He can be reached at mahesh@sattvagroup.in)

source:http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article3504790.ece

When 80 p.c. of a country watched him perform

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He has performed in 254 countries and finds mention in the Limca Book of Records as the Most Travelled Indian Musician. Not only that, he performed in all these countries in a span of just six years, six months and 22 days.

Bangalore musician Benny Prasad narrated the experiences on his musical journey at the launch of ‘This is Life', an initiative by the clothing brand, Scullers, here on Friday.

The 36-year-old's most memorable performance was probably the one in the Pitcairn Islands, a country with a total population of 66 people. “Of the 66, 58 turned up. I was glad to have performed for more than 80 per cent of the country's population!”

The self-taught guitarist, who fuses elements of Indian classical and jazz in his music, said he learnt music by listening to musicians in these two genres. “I'm hugely inspired by Indian rhythms. I play them on my guitar, which is essentially a western instrument. This, I think, is what strikes a chord with my audiences.”

He once did 50 countries in a year and gave 300 performances in 240 days, sometimes even in three different countries the same day. His audience comprised people from slums, old-age homes, prisons, war zones and more.

He recalled a 69-hour journey he undertook to Antarctica to perform for the geologists there.

His goal is to touch the lives of people through music and inspire them to be thankful for the wonderful gift that is life.

Asked what he does when he is not playing his guitar (which he calls Bentar), he riposted: “When I'm not playing, I'm probably on a flight. That's when I sleep.”

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3505979.ece

A dirty business goes green

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The facility enables people of the area to recycle waste, including difficult waste streams like e-waste and low-grade plastic.

Here's is a community that takes its garbage seriously. Koramangala is getting a new integrated waste management system — Kasa Rasa — which will make it easier for people of the area to recycle waste.

The Rs. 40-lakh facility, to be inaugurated on Saturday by BTM Layout MLA Ramalinga Reddy, will enable people of the area to recycle waste, including difficult waste streams like e-waste and low-grade plastic.

Range of options

A press release said the facility has an organic waste converter (OWC) to compost food waste, a shredder and curing tank, space for secondary sorting of waste and storage for pick-up by recyclers.

Aiming to integrate waste pickers to improve their working conditions and income, Kasa Rasa has been developed in association with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), CHF International, Caterpillar Foundation, Center for Social Action, Saahas, Robert Bosch Engineering Solutions and Tetra Pak India Pvt. Ltd.

The operations of Kasa Rasa @ HTW (High Tension Wire) will be managed by Sahaas, an NGO actively involved in waste management in Bangalore since 2001. “Bangalore needs to be constantly reminded that the city generates almost 5,000 tonnes of waste every day. This huge volume of garbage cannot be disposed of at dumpsites or landfills. It can and should be converted to resources. With support from all the stakeholders, Kasa Rasa can come up in each ward in the city. This will give us a clean city, which is both waste sensitive and garbage free,” said Wilma Rodrigues, founder member of Saahas.

Green message

A series of events to spread the green message has been planned over the weekend at the waste management centre at 5th Block, Koramangala Industrial Area. “This day is not just about the inauguration facility, but it is also about public participation and awareness, said Ms. Rodrigues.

To increase community involvement in the process, a daylong event, Green Storm, has been organised. Workshops will be conducted for children to teach them about composting at home. Films will be screened on waste and its conversion into resources. There will be demos of how to segregate waste, tree planting with compost, exhibition of products made out of recycled material and so on.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3505981.ece

A concert with Haridasa sahitya

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Ananya Cultural Academy's special music programme, HaridaasaroLirisu, on Saturday evening at the Ananya Sabhangana is in memory of R.V. Susheela Bai, Ananya Raghavendra's mother, a music connoisseur who never ever in her life missed her daily recitation of a Haridasa sahitya.

RARE KRITIS

The classical programme, to be presented by T.S. Sathyavathi, is a meticulously devised two-hour collection of kritis of the dasas. The singer says she chose the rare kritis not usually explored on the concert platform. “The assortment is taken from the book, Haridaasa Kirtana Sudha Saagara, by the erudite N. Chennakeshavaiah who must have been closer to the saint composers for bringing out this valuable compilation of their rachane.”

Dasa sahitya propagates the literature of the saint composers of Karnataka who enriched Kannada religious literature with their hymns. Karnataka's Haridasa movement, spanning nearly six centuries, brought the esoteric Vedas, Upanishads and the Puranas within the reach of the common man in lyrical form in simple Kannada. Some of the movement's luminaries are Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa, Vijayadasa, Sripadaraja, Vyasaraja, Vadiraja, Gopaladasa and Jagannathadasa, and this lineage produced several hundred saint-composers. This movement, with hymns preaching devotion to God, is considered one of the turning points in India's cultural history.

IN RAKTHI RAGAS

Says Sathyavathi: “My concert will have all the shastriya aspects of alapane, neraval and kalpana swaras. Out of the eight Haridasa compositions, I have chosen one for a trikaala pallavi. Time-tested rakthi ragas, which are mentioned in the text, melodically [convey] the powerful sahitya. This original flavour suits the antiquity of the compositions. I did not want injustice done by choosing to render them in modern ragas.”

AMBABAI'S HYMNS

Haridasa composer Ambabai's hymns are set to tune in Poorvikalyani by Sathyavathi herself, a ghana raga panchaka for Kanakadasa's kriti set to music by R.K. Srikantan, and a Vadiraja composition in Yadukulakambhoji set to music by Chintalapalli Venkata Rao would also be part of her presentation.

“If musicians don't include the repository of this Kannada sahitya in our concerts, we would [not be doing justice] to our rich culture and its future,” says Sathyavathi.

HaridaasaroLirisu is at the Ananya Sabhangana, 91/2, 4th Main, Malleswaram, on June 9, 6.30 p.m.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3505986.ece

Realistic planning, local sensitivities


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An unsustainable plan and design that is not sensitive to local needs will ultimately lead to disintegration, feel real estate professionals Kamal Sagar, Christoph Fischer and V. Naresh Narasimhan who spoke at the Germany-India ‘Talk of the Town' series

source:http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article3504804.ece

Rs1,800-crore boost for Bangalore Metro

Even before Phase 2 of Namma Metro is sanctioned by the Central government, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has received a loan of Rs1,800 crore from the Housing and Urban development corporation (Hudco) as an MoU was signed between BMRCL and Hudco at the Global Investors’ Meet 2012.

The project, which has been approved by the state government, is an extension of all four reaches of Phase 1. It also includes two new lines, covering 72 km. It is still awaiting the clearance of the Central government.

“Hudco presently has a lending capacity of Rs1,800 crore to any individual institution. Hudco had lent the BMRCL Rs700 crore for Phase 1 of the project and is presently thinking of providing another Rs500 crore,” N Sivasailam, managing director of BMRCL said.

“This is an honour. An organisation like Hudco putting their trust in us like this will also be a boost for other investments,” he added.

On the approval of Phase 2 of the project by the Centre, Sivasailam said that it should be given in another two months or so. “We have made presentations to the finance department and the planning commission and to Kasturi Rangan, member secretary of the planning commission and Karnataka in-charge. We are hopeful of getting an approval soon,” he said.

source:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=92205192#post92205192

Aerospace firms see huge potential in India

India will be the fastest growing country for air travel over the next 10 years, since there is a lot of scope for its economy to develop, according to David Dufrenois, head of sales (India), Airbus (EADS).

Delivering a key note address on “Global perspective on opportunities in aerospace” at a seminar on “Aerospace & Defense, Karnataka: The aerospace hub of Asia”, Dufrenois said India has 3.8 million population per aircraft. “There is a huge potential for the growth of air travel in the country, since more and more middle-class people are opting for air travel. However, it is lower when compared to China, which had a similar volume of air travel a decade ago,” Dufrenois said.

Srinivasan Dwarakanath, vice-president, international cooperation, Airbus, in his address said that around 2,000 people from India had been working with Airbus supply chain and every Airbus A320 aircraft was partly made in the country. “We have trained 950 people and completed 117 courses at our training centre,” Dwarakanath said.

Chris Rao, vice-president, Goodrich Aerospace Services, spoke on “Aerospace industry in Karnataka - need for an ecosystem”. He said India would remain uniquely placed to address the immediate and pressing margin pressures of international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). “India should focus on providing the talent, not just for the local industry but also international companies. The low-cost labour that is available in the country will remain competitive till 2020 and beyond,” Rao said.

Aroon Raman, managing director, Raman FibreScience Pvt Ltd, said nine firms submitted investment proposals worth $94.2 million to establish manufacturing units in state’s aerospace-cum-aviation sector.

“Dynamic Technologies is establishing greenfield manufacturing facility at Aerospace Special Economic Zone near Bangalore International Airport. Wipro will establish an aerospace SEZ at the proposed Aerospace Park, and Mahindra Aerospace plans to set up a plant to manufacture four, 10 and 20 seater aircraft, at their upcoming facility at Naraspur in Kolar district,” Raman said.

He said Karnataka plans to come up with dedicated aerospace policy. “It will be first of its kind in the country. There is lot of potential for aerospace and related industries in the state. India’s first aerospace SEZ has become operational at Belgaum,” he added.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_aerospace-firms-see-huge-potential-in-india_1700128

Traffic offences to go paperless across Karnataka




Once I have seen a Traffic policeman collecting a fee 100/- for traffic signal jump. when asked for a return receipt . He informed that, he has entered in Blackberry and their is no need of any receipt. But what is the Guarantee that he has entered into the system and Money is going to Govt or his personal Kitty.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Traffic-offences-to-go-paperless-across-Karnataka/articleshow/13946501.cms

Then Bluetooth printers are for which purpose?

Wait maadi,Namma Mysore road will be the best in Bangalore with two level flyovers and a metro link till kengeri :banana:

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This is an old plan. This was before metro came into picture. The actual picture will be not be as grand as this.

This is an old plan. This was before metro came into picture. The actual picture will be not be as grand as this.

it is the same plan sir:cheers:

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Anybody willing to joine me someday to click pics of this junction from some nearby hi rise?We will get a fantastic view of these concrete snakes.

it is the same plan sir:cheers:


What I meant was the underpasses shown there and the roads to connect Mysore Road (from Mysore) to Banashankari side seem to be doubtful as that representation does not have the metro track and al older plan (the track you see are railway tracks). So they might have shunned the underpass part plan.

What I meant was the underpasses shown there and the roads to connect Mysore Road (from Mysore) to Banashankari side seem to be doubtful as that representation does not have the metro track and al older plan (the track you see are railway tracks). So they might have shunned the underpass part plan.

hmm let us see...BTW Mysore road will be the best,NICE flyover is opening soon.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2011/01/11/metro.jpg

That looks like a more realistic graphic ( don't know if that is officially released by BBMP/BDA or the one done by the newspaper)

Anybody willing to joine me someday to click pics of this junction from some nearby hi rise?We will get a fantastic view of these concrete snakes.

I'm game for it :cheers: Shreyas ????

hmm let us see...BTW Mysore road will be the best,NICE flyover is opening soon.

Which one?

I'm game for it :cheers: Shreyas ????

I would love to...but exams are going on now so busy for another week :ohno:

I would love to...but exams are going on now so busy for another week :ohno:

No problem we will wait for you all.... :) BTW i want them to start girder works on the piers along mysore road.

F9jeL35sK_g

Actor-director Enagi Nataraj passes away

DHARWAD: Noted actor-director Enagi Nataraj passed away on Saturday morning at his residence after a brief illness , bringing to an end a forty- year career in theatre.

Nataraj, 54, director of Dharwad Rangayana, is survived by nonagenarian theatre personality father Enagi Balappa, mother Laxmidevi, wife and two sons.

Nataraj, who was suffering from complications related to the liver and kidney, was being treated at a private nursing home for a week. His body was brought to Rangayana campus in Dharwad where dignitaries, artistes, writers and others paid their last respects. The body was taken to his native Enagi village in Bailhongal taluk of Belgaum district for the last rites.

Acting came naturally to Nataraj as his father Enagi Balappa owned a professional theatre company and toured the state performing dramas. Nataraj first acted as a child artiste in Basaveshwara Mahatme. He was the first batch trainee of Ninasam of Heggodu.

Nataraj carved a niche for himself with his excellent acting in Kannada plays 'Haddu Needida Haadi', 'Nata Samrat', 'Jagajyoti Basaveshwar', 'Burjwa Gentleman', 'Policeriddare Echharike' and 'Oedipus', among others. He started a theatre troupe 'Mela' but it was shortlived.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Actor-director-Enagi-Nataraj-passes-away/articleshow/13985220.cms

It's raining colours in Bangalore's football-crazy 'Little Brazil'

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Its-raining-colours-in-Bangalores-football-crazy-Little-Brazil/articleshow/13985295.cms

Now, weather queries are just a call away

MANGALORE: Planning a school picnic? Want to start sowing crops? Thinking of holding a musical entertainment night in the open? Chances are people involved in these and other activities would have called up the help desk of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre ( KSNDMC), Yelahanka.

With weather mostly unpredictable, information handed out here is helping many people across Karnataka plan their activities. Given the increasing number of calls the help desk is receiving from people from all walks of life in general and farmers in particular seeking weather information, central authorities have converted it into 24x7 operatin from June 11. The desk currently has two telephone numbers (080 - 22745232 and 22745234) and this will be upgraded with 10 additional numbers within a month. "Most calls are about whether it will rain, how bad it will be and when it will rain," VS Prakash, director, KSNDMC, told STOI.

Once, help desk staff got interesting queries about rainfall from the same village. While one caller wanted to know if it would rain for he had planned a family function, another farmer had the same query because he had undertaken crop sowing.

When the query is specific to likelihood of rainfall vis-a-vis sowing, Prakash told STOI the centre based on weather patterns recently advised farmers in North Karnataka not to undertake dry sowing as chances of rainfall in the region were slim. Farmers, as a thumb rule, resort to sowing based on local knowledge of weather patterns anticipating another shower. But if this fails, they're more likely to incur heavy losses, he explains.

Staff at the help desk said, "While we receive calls from all over Karnataka, most callers are from Kushtagi taluk in Koppal."

A few callers seek information related to temperature and humidity as well, for this information helps them make an informed decision about sowing, explains Vijay, a help desk staffer. Various government agencies keep in touch with the centre to help chart their course of action, Prakash adds.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Now-weather-queries-are-just-a-call-away/articleshow/13985175.cms

Indian Institute for Human Settlements to set up its first campus in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Though education sector didn't receive a good response in the much hyped second edition of Global Investors Meet, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) signed a MoU with the state government to establish a national research and innovation university in the city.

IIHS will set up its first campus in Bangalore in 55 acres of land, in Kengeri at a cost of Rs 250 crore. Programme for working professionals' head attached to IIHS Satish Selva Kumar told TOI: "The land has been allotted by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the proposal for national university status is under process."

As soon as the central government gives the status of national university to IIHS, four year Bachelor in Urban Practice and two year Masters in Urban Practice courses will be offered by IIHS, he said.

These innovative courses on urban practice will be started within couple of years, students will be taught interdisciplinary skills required for planning, development and management of cities, towns and villages in India as there is need for urban planning experts because it is expected that by 2050 close to half of India's population would be living in urban areas.

Eligibility: II Pre-university from any stream is the eligibility to pursue bachelor in urban practice, while degree from any stream is the eligibility to pursue masters in urban practice.

IIHS is yet to ascertain minimum eligibility marks as it is waiting for the national university status approval from the center.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Indian-Institute-for-Human-Settlements-to-set-up-its-first-campus-in-Bangalore/articleshow/13959905.cms

Three held for selling adulterated milk

The Wilson Garden police have arrested three people supplying adulterated milk to the City from Tamil Nadu.

The arrested are Tyagaraj, 38, Shanmugam, 35 and Bhaskar, 49, all from Erode district in Tamil Nadu.

The police had launched a drive following complaints of adulterated milk being supplied from the neighbouring state.

They had recently caught a milk tanker supplying milk brought from Tamil Nadu, to hotels and roadside tea stalls on eighth cross, Wilson Garden. KMF officials came to the spot and tested milk samples in the tanker.
The officials said the milk had been adulterated with caustic soda, urea and sugar. The officials said that the milk had high fat content and low SNF value.

The police have seized the tanker containing a large quantity of milk. On sustained interrogation, the arrested said that they brought milk from Venkateshwara Milk Dairy in Tamil Nadu. The owner of the dairy has been identified as Dhanashekhar.

On March 25, Siddaramappa, DCP (West), while on night rounds, had arrested seven people and seized about 10,000 litres of adulterated milk in Kalasipalyam. In that instance also, the milk had been supplied by Dhanashekhar.

The police have taken up the case with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu. Dhanashekhar is reported to be absconding.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255862/three-held-selling-adulterated-milk.html

Karnataka govt mulling takeover of Nithyananda's ashram: Minister

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The Karnataka government was planning to take over the ashram of controversial self-styled godman Nithyananda at Bidadi near here taking into view alleged objectionable activities taking place there, Law Minister Suresh Kumar said today.

"The government is mulling to take control of the administration of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam situated at Bidadi for alleged objectionable activities taking place there," he told reporters at Dharwad, over 400 km from here.

He said the government was also planning to appoint an administrator for the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, located in Ramanagara district.

Kumar's comments came in the wake of a clash between activists of a Kannada organisation protesting against Nithyananda and his disciples at the ashram yesterday.

The protests broke out in the backdrop of recent allegations by a US-based woman that she was sexually abused by him for five years, a charge denied by him.

Earlier, police had registered two cases against Nithyananda and others in connection with an altercation between his followers and a section of media during a press conference at his ashram on June 7. Nithyananda is already facing criminal charges, including rape, after a slew of complaints were filed against him in 2010 after some local TV channels telecast purported videos of the self-styled godman in a compromising position with an actress.

Suresh Kumar said he would discuss the issues concerning Nithyananda ashram with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Home Minister R Ashok.

Amid the developments, District in-charge Minister C P Yogeshwar visited the ashram area today, SP Anupam Agarwal said. Meanwhile, protests against Nithyananda were held in several places across the state.In the city, journalists staged a protest demanding action against those involved in the alleged assault of a TV reporter, shouting slogans against Nithyananda.

The agitators, who burnt an effigy of Nithyananda, also demanded a thorough probe into the various sexual assault cases that have been filed against him so far.

Similar protests by pro-Kannada organisations were held in Davanagere, Mysore and Bellary.

In Bellary, agitators burnt an effigy of Nithyananda and submitted a memorandum to District Commissioner Amlan Biswas.

Agarwal said police were investigating into the altercation and appropriate action would be taken against those found guilty. He said the whereabouts of Nithyananda was not known yet.

The SP said Yogeshwar had directed him to submit a detailed report on the June 7 incident to Deputy Commissioner Sriram Reddy.
Facing the heat, Nithyananda in a message to his followers said he was not on the run and 'touring places.'
"I heard about the problems caused in the Bidadi ashram by the anti-social elements, but thanks to timely intervention of the Bidadi and Ramangara police, all matters are under control," he said.
Nithyananda said none can stop them from doing "good spiritual and social work" and all his charitable work, including 'Annadaanam' (free meals) would continue.
Protests against the self-styled godman were held in Mysore and Davangere also.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255726/karnataka-govt-mulling-takeover-nithyanandas.html

Master plan ready to make City flood-free

The BBMP has prepared a grand plan to save Bangaloreans from rain woes during monsoon by revamping storm water drains.

However, residents will have to wait for another five years to see it becoming a reality.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, BBMP Chief Engineer (storm water drains) H C Ananthaswamy said the master plan for revamping storm water drains in the City has been recently approved by Palike’s Technical Advisory Committee.

It will be sent to the State government after discussing at the BBMP Council. The idea behind the project is to make Bangalore flood-free. Scientific methods will be followed in deciding the width of the SWD, depth, silt accumulation and retaining wall.

Sources in the BBMP said the master plan involves revamping of SWD extending up to a length of 856 km across the City.

The cost of revamping the storm water drains in greater Bangalore is estimated at Rs 3,500 crore and the Palike plans to spend Rs 521 crore on revamping the drains in the core city, said a senior official.

Ananthaswamy added that it will take five years for the project to be completed and it is different from the SWD remodelling work already being implemented under JNNURM.

However, promises made by the authorities on making Bangalore flood-free are yet to be fulfilled. In 2010, the then Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had assured Bangaloreans that encroachments on main SWDs would be removed.

In 2011, BBMP had claimed that it would come out with an action plan to find a permanent solution to flooding.

Over Rs 400 crore has already been spent on remodelling SWDs in Koramangala, Hebbala, Challaghatta and Mysore Road.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255849/master-plan-ready-make-city.html

‘B’lore must have more IT product companies’

In order to secure its position as the hub of IT industry, Bangalore must have more IT product companies, said Managing Director of SAP Labs India V R Ferose.

Delivering a special address during a seminar on “The Opportunities and Challenges in IT and ITeS in Karnataka,” held as part of GIM 2012 on Friday, he said product companies can emerge only when there are a large number of start-up companies.

“We need to have at least 10,000 start-ups. The general theory is that only one per cent of start-ups will finally survive, to emerge as product companies like Apple, Twitter and Facebook,” he said.

Though Bangalore is called a Silicon Valley, it was no match to the Silicon Valley of the US which has witnessed development not only in IT and ITeS sector, but also in arts and humanities.

In order to ensure that Bangalore became a Silicon Valley, multiple areas should flourish. For this, there was a need for collaboration between the companies and universities. “Nothing can happen in isolation. Collaboration is everything,” he said.

Vice-Chairman and CEO of ZenSar Technologies Ganesh Natarajan, who spoke on ‘Innovation in IT Services and Opportunities in and for Karnataka,’ said Indian IT companies have become tactical producers of good things.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/255843/blore-must-have-more-product.html

Divine intervention boosts tourism figures

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Taking a cue from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka includes pilgrims to compute visitors

Only a miracle can more than double a business in a year. And this is what has happened to Karnataka's tourism industry, which has reported a spectacular increase with the numbers more than doubling in just one year — from 3.85 crore in 2010 to 8.46 crore in 2011. So what is the miracle? Pilgrimage centres.

Taking a cue from Andhra Pradesh, which takes into account the huge influx to Tirupati-Tirumala to compile its tourist inflow, Karnataka's Tourism Department has also computed visitors to 49 religious destinations to boost its figures.

NEIGHBOUR'S ENVY

Always a neighbour's envy, Tirupati-Tirumala, with its celebrated Venkateshwara shrine, receives over 3 crore pilgrims annually and is the single largest contributor to Andhra Pradesh's total tourist inflow figures.

In 2011, Karnataka began adding religious destinations, including its famed temples, popular and politically powerful religious maths, dargahs and gurudwaras, among others, to its tally.

The tourist inflow into the State, which had dipped to 3.29 crore in 2009 from 3.75 crore in 2008 because of recession, had picked up in 2010 to 3.85 crore. But in 2011, it totted up an eye-popping 8.46 crore, thanks to religious tourism contributing 3.49 crore, which accounts for a massive 41.3 per cent.

Justifying the change in the pattern of data collection, a senior Tourism Department official told The Hindu that Andhra Pradesh's tourism figure was high mainly due to the addition of tourist inflow into Tirupati-Tirumala and other religious destinations. “When they are adding pilgrimage destinations, so can we. Even other States are also doing it,” the official said.

Further, he pointed out: “The Union Tourism Ministry has directed States to add pilgrimage centres in the list as any movement of people from the place of their residence could be considered as travel.” Pilgrimage tourism was also on the rise across the country, he added.

THE PILGRIMAGE CENTRES

Pilgrimage towns from where data has been collected include Sringeri and Horanadu (Chikmagalur district), Nanjangud (Mysore), Yediyur and Goravanahalli (Tumkur), Banashankari (Bagalkot), Melkote (Mandya), Kollur and Udupi (Udupi), and Dharmasthala, Kateel and Kukke Subramanya (Dakshina Kannada). The religious maths include Suttur Math in Mysore, Siddaganga Math in Tumkur, Siddaroodha Math in Dharwad, and Gavi Math in Koppal.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3509752.ece

Bus-stop removed to ease traffic

To ease traffic congestion on Bellary Road connecting the city and Bengaluru International Airport, the traffic police have removed the BMTC bus-stop situated near the Air Force Headquarters Training Command on Bellary Road.

A press release said commuters, from Sunday, can use the bus-stops near the CBI office or the one on Ramana Maharshi Road, opposite the Palace Grounds.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3509916.ece

MSRIT celebrates golden jubilee

With the M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT) completing a half century of existence, its alumni joined in the celebrations here on Saturday evening.

The reunion was kicked off with Tallam Venkatesh, president, MSRIT Alumni Association (MSRITAA), talking fondly about his days in the engineering institute as he welcomed the special guests — Anil Kumble and Sajjan Jindal — and the other alumni present. Mr. Jindal, the Managing Director of JSW Steel, was happy to be back at his alma mater after 30 years. Recounting his college days, he shared that his days at MSRIT taught him to never accept failure or shy away from hard work, and helped him grow as a person.

Congratulating MSRIT on its golden jubilee, Mr. Kumble, who is an alumnus of the R.V. College of Engineering (RVCE), appreciated the alumni's contribution to the institute. The alumni association said it was looking to be able to give more scholarships to students. The MSRITAA has also initiated a book bank scheme and funding of research projects, among other activities.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3509920.ece

Shirady Ghat will be shipshare during monsoon: CM

PUTTUR: State government will not allow National Highway 75 snaking through Shirady Ghat — the lifeline that connects Mangalore, headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district to state capital Bangalore, to deteriorate beyond its present condition. The state division of National Highways will take up the task of filing up potholes on the Ghat stretch in the next 10-days, and ensure that rain water does not flow on the road and is diverted to the gutters.

In addition, the NH division will also complete the process pertaining to utilisation of Rs 21 crore maintenance and repair grants released by the Union Government by end of October and take up this task from November, said CM DV Sadananda Gowda. Interacting with reporters after inspecting NH 75 along Shirady Ghat, some 110-kms from the district HQ on Sunday, CM said maintenance and repair works will be completed by April next.

CM directed K Jaiprakash, chief engineer, National Highway zone, Bangalore to ensure that Shirady Ghat is motorable during this monsoon. "There are no mines lorries this year to add to the general wear and tear of the roads," he said adding that the state government will give adequate funds for maintenance if the Centre is not willing to do so. "A road that connects the CMs home district cannot be in a bad shape and sends out wrong signals," he said.

CM also instructed Surendra Kumar, project director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and Jwalendra Kumar, manager (technical), NHAI, Hassan and Jaiprakash to submit him with monthly reports on the works undertaken to keep Shirady Ghat motorable. Reacting to request from Surendra Kumar for a meeting on Shirady Ghat, CM directed Jaiprakash to get in touch with ISN Prasad, his principal secretary and arrange for the same.

CM later told reporters that the four-laning proposal of Bangalore-Mangalore NH 75 through Shirady Ghat is unlikely to get timely clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. Surendra Kumar pointed that NHAI would require 144 hectares of forest land passing through Shirady Ghat for four laning work. Shirady Ghat incidentally is part of the Western Ghats, that is considered one of the eight biological hotspots in the World.



source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Shirady-Ghat-will-be-shipshare-during-monsoon-CM/articleshow/14001155.cms

Mango bites: A party for the king of fruits

BANGALORE: Scrumptious, juicy, fleshy - the king of fruits made for a mouthful and a heartful for many a mango lover of the city. Sunday's Mango Party at Ranga Shankara was the 10th edition of the annual event.

The king was present in all its avatars , with the organizers having made it mandatory that every participating family had to come with a kg of the fruit.

baneshan, langara, rathnagiri, khudadad, rajgiri and sugar baby. Not to miss the popular badami and raspuri.

Mango Party is Ranga Shankara's way of celebrating summer. The theatre invites people every year to join the party by bringing in a kg of the fruit.

"Mango is a social fruit and Ranga Shankara believes that it is best savoured only when had in groups and with family. I used to eat 12 mangoes every day," said Arundhati Nag, founder of Ranga Shankara.

The fruit, in its various avatar, were dipped in a pool of water before making for that sinful bite.

"The mere mention of mangoes was enough to bring them to the party," homemaker Malavika said, pointing towards her kids who nibbled away at the fruit.

Mayank M, a private company employee and a native of Bengal, however felt a few varieties were missing. "I expected the collection of gulab khas and hame sagar, the popular varieties from North India."

"I would also love to have corn festival in the same way, as corn is equally popular," she added.

Playwright Girish Karnad said he was born in Sirsi, the home of mangoes and nothing could stop him from attending the party.

The festival culminated with a story reading session for children. Arundhati Nag said they plan to host a corn party on the same lines.

source:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=929102&page=360

BEML chief suspended by Defence Ministry

BEML Chief V R S Natarajan was today suspended by the Defence Ministry in connection with the Tatra case on a CBI recommendation after former Army Chief Gen V K Singh levelled allegations that he was offered Rs 14 crore bribe to clear a deal for 600 trucks.

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The move comes a few days after the Defence Ministry issued a show cause notice to the BEML Chief for slapping a defamation notice against Gen V K Singh without its permission.
"The Government has put the CMD of BEML V R S Natarajan under suspension following a recommendation by the CBI that he should be kept away from the post to ensure fair investigation. The CBI is currently investigating into various charges against Natarajan," Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said here.

"The charge of CMD has been given to P Dwarkanath, the senior most functional Director in BEML," he said.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256125/beml-chief-suspended-defence-ministry.html

Shopkeepers’ lobby stalls median work in Malleshpalya

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This is yet another example of how commercial interests take precedence over public interest.

There have been a number of accidents on the five-km-long stretch of Malleshpalya main road in Indiranagar traffic police limits, resulting in a few deaths and injuries to many others in the past few months.

Following this, the traffic police began constructing a road median to prevent accidents, a couple of weeks ago.

But, this created ‘hurdles’ for the business interests of a few shopkeepers in the vicinity.

They allegedly pressured Krishna, the corporator from C V Raman Nagar (ward 57), to stall the construction of the road median and told him that they would incur losses if the median came up.

Their contention is that there would be no parking space on either side of the road, preventing customers from coming to the shops, if the median is constructed. Krishna is said to have prevailed upon the police to stop the median work.

The Malleshpalya main road starts at Malleshpalya junction and culminates at the Kaggadasapura Road. The shopkeepers occupy much of the space on both sides of the road for parking vehicles, thus hampering vehicular movement.

Often, there is rash and negligent driving by motorists on this road, leading to accidents. Nine accidents, including two fatal ones, were reported in the last couple of months. One person was killed in an accident a month ago. Following these incidents, the police decided to construct a median to ensure lane discipline on the road.

Krishna has a rather unconvincing defence for his opposition to the construction of a median. He says, “The Malleshpalya junction is a meeting point for four roads, but three roads don’t have medians.

Only the road that connects the Malleshpalya junction and Malleshpalya main road from the opposite direction has the median. The construction of the median will lead to accidents as drivers of vehicles entering the road may not be able to see the median properly,” he said.

“The road is only 55 feet wide. The construction of the median will consume the parking space. I stalled the median construction 10 days ago. I spoke to the jurisdictional police and local MLA S Raghu before stalling the work,” he said.

The corporator did not allow the police to go ahead with the median construction work, though the police said they would provide parking space on one side of the road.

A pharmacy owner, on condition of anonymity, said he was in favour of the median construction.
N K Chandrashekhar, owner of BVK City Taxi, the office of which is situated on the main road, said: “The median should be big enough so that drivers can easily view it, especially at night.”

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256063/shopkeepers-lobby-stalls-median-work.html

Shirady Ghat will be shipshare during monsoon: CM



source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Shirady-Ghat-will-be-shipshare-during-monsoon-CM/articleshow/14001155.cms

"A road that connects the CMs home district cannot be in a bad shape and sends out wrong signals,"

The CM may be more worried about continuous supply of LPG to his kitchen in Bengaluru and diesel to his car.

National CET to have separate rank lists

The proposed national Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to undergraduate engineering courses will produce separate rank lists: one for central institutes and another for state-level colleges.

The state list will be drawn only of students who write the CET in their respective states. The senior secondary (II PU) syllabus of each state would form the basis for that list, Vineet Joshi, Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), said.

That means, any deficiency in the pre-university course syllabus will have little bearing on the chances of students who aspire to study at state-level institutes.

The clarification is expected to relieve students who fear they would be at a disadvantage while writing the proposed nationwide test because of the shortcomings in the syllabus they have studied in II PU.

The national test, to be held in 2013, would be based on the syllabus under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), from which Karnataka’s syllabus differs by about 20 per cent. Students, teachers and parents were worried ever since it was announced on June 6 that the State will not conduct its own CET next year; instead it will go with the ‘one-nation, one-test’ policy.

Syllabus deficiency

Absence of clear guidelines from the Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) and deficiency in the syllabus were the most worrying factors.

The CBSE chief says any difference in syllabi is unlikely to affect the students, especially those who want to get into state-level institutions.

“The variance in curriculum will have little effect,” Vineet Joshi told Deccan Herald over phone.
Students should also take heart from the fact that admission to all state-level colleges will be as per the reservation policy of the respective governments.

Domicile will be another factor in admission. At present, a student should have studied for at least seven years (between Class 1 and II PU / 10+2) in a government or government-recognised institute and passed the SSLC / Class 10 examination in Karnataka to be eligible for a state-level college.

Rashmi V Mahesh, Commissioner, DPUE, also allayed fears of the students.

Every effort was being made to ensure a “level-playing field” between students from the State and the rest of the country, she said.

But students would need to follow the NCF syllabus if they eye admission into central colleges.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256046/national-cet-have-separate-rank.html

Monsoon: Make it a boon?

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source:http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article540099.ece

Bangalore: This car delivers 240 km/litre

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Members of Team Inferno from MVIT College with their car ‘Drona’ in Bangalore.

Tired and frustrated over the increasing fuel prices? A team of 11 engineering students claim to hold the key to unlock the door to more economical and happier drives.

Team Inferno from Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology (MVIT) has developed a prototype of a car which delivers a mileage of a whopping 240 km per litre.

Team Inferno is one of the 12 teams from India participating in the Shell Eco Marathon, scheduled to be held from July 4 to 7 at Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Their car, named Drona, will compete with cars developed by 150 other teams from Asia.

“We started brainstorming over this from September last year. The actual work on the car started in February. We were determined to develop a car that delivers a super mileage, which is one of the requirements of the competition,” said Avinash Hegde, a first year Mechanical Engineering student and a member of Team Inferno.

Drona’s prototype, as of now, can accommodate one person. The extraordinary mileage is achieved with a modified Bajaj engine, aluminium chassis, electronic fuel injection, aerodynamic design, direct transmission and other factors.

“The prototype has been developed with the competition in mind. We have not thought about factors such as suspensions as the tracks at Sepang are flat,” added Nischal Muralidhar, another Mechanical Engineering student.

The prototype uses glass-fibre reinforced plastic for its outer body and can race up to 60 km per hour.

“The prototype is ready and will be on its way to Malaysia for the marathon. We have spent nearly Rs 2.5 lakh on this,” said Avinash.

Nischal added that this was not the last of Drona. “We know there is a great potential. With the help of sponsors, we are determined to come up with another version that can deliver better mileage in city conditions,” he said.

source:http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article540276.ece

‘Germany wants to know India’s traditional culture’

If you think Indian students’ interest in Germany as an education destination was a one-way traffic, you will stand corrected. For there are more than 20 research chairs in Germany dedicated to studies on traditional India.

Days ahead of the grand Indo-German Urban Mela in the city, Deputy Consul General of the German Consulate Hans-Gunter Loffler said that Germany’s interest in learning traditional side of India’s culture was on the rise. Loffler said, “The basis of the Indo-German diplomatic relations that has completed 60 years is to understand each other better. The basis of our relationship is the interest from the German side towards old India, its languages, archaeology, history and so on.” He said that there was a “huge” fascination towards traditional Indian culture in Germany.

“Even historically, we have had many German scholars who came here and studied different languages. Ferdinand Kittel (Kannada), Max Mueller (Sanskrit), Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg (Tamil) and Harmann Gundert (Malayalam) came here to study Indian culture. They would not have done so without deep respect for Indian culture,” he added.

He said there were three research chairs for Kannada in the universities of Munich, Wurzburg and Heidelberg. Loffler added that secondary education was increasingly becoming a part of the Indo-German relations.

He said, “There is a growing cooperation at school level between both nations. We feel that our children need to know more about India, and many schools here are tying up with schools in Germany. When I spoke to a few German children who visited Bangalore, they were thrilled!” he exclaimed.

Besides entertainment attractions, a unique feature of the Indo-German Urban Mela will be the Youth University.

Entry to the Indo-German Urban Mela is free. The extravaganza will take place at Palace Grounds between 10 am to 10 pm from June 22 to July 1

source:http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article540288.ece

Waters Corporation celebrates silver jubilee

The first analytical science solutions company to start direct operations in the country as early as 1997, Waters Corporation India celebrated its silver jubilee recently in the city. Addressing a press conference, the honchos of the company discussed their growth and expansion plans in the country.

The expansion plans involve business advantages for laboratory dependent organisations by delivering practical and sustainable scientific innovation. These enable significant advancement in healthcare, environmental management, food safety and water quality.

source:http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article540291.ece

Guess maadi :)

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/s320x320/166530_10150891832073553_1352757919_n.jpg

^^ Vidhana Soudha??

^^ Vidhana Soudha??

wrong :banana:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6708981987_85cc140321_b.jpg

idhe alva :)

^^:cheers:

Expect good rain from tomorrow in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Will it, will it not? The wait for monsoon continued in the city on Monday, with the occasional drizzle not intensifying and dark clouds diffusing as swiftly as they had gathered. However, the weatherman predicted good rain in a couple of days.

B Puttanna, director, in charge, Bangalore Met Department, said: "From Monday onwards, conditions are favourable for good rain. All these days, strong gusty winds blowing from the surface made the rain clouds disappear. Now that winds have started blowing from Bay of Bengal, we can expect good rain from Wednesday."

This year, monsoon hasn't been the usual in Karnataka, especially north-interior and south-interior regions. Rainfall has been 40-85% scarce during the first 10 days of the monsoon, which officially began on June 1. The department has predicted good rain in the state from June 14, but admitted that the deficit can't be covered.

Agro-meteorologist MB Rajegowda said farmers needn't worry about rain deficit as yet. "For interior regions, good rain is a must in the second week of July. That is the season for sowing crops. Normally, in June first week, we just expect two showers. It rains in some parts, but actual monsoon begins only in July."

The department has predicted cloudy sky and light rain in the next 48 hours in Bangalore city and airport region.

DROP BY DROP

* Coastal Karnataka received 119 mm of rain since June 1, 40% short of the normal 217.9 mm

* South-interior Karnataka (Bangalore and 15 districts) got 12.1 mm, 73% short of the normal 44.6 mm

* North-interior Karnataka has taken the worst hit, recording 84% deficit.

* Since June 1, north-interior areas received only 5.7mm rain as against the normal 34.4 mm.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Expect-good-rain-from-tomorrow-in-Bangalore/articleshow/14043419.cms

More funds promised for Shiradi Ghat road repair

Sadananda asks NHAI officials to start work in September to improve the Shiradi Ghat stretch, so it remains motorable during monsoons.

The State Government will release additional funds to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure National Highway 75 (Bangalore to Mangalore) remains motorable at Shiradi Ghat stretch during the monsoon, said Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Sunday.

On his way to Bangalore after casting his vote in the South-West Graduates' Constituency in Puttur, the Chief Minister inspected Shiradi ghat, the notorious section between Shiradi and Sakleshpura.

“Except for a couple of places where potholes are emerging, the road is in a good condition. But, we must remember that heavy rains have not yet started, and since mining activity has stopped in Bellary (from where iron ore was transported to New Mangalore Port), fewer heavy vehicles travel on this road,” he said.

NHAI officials who updated the Chief Minister about the work being done on the road were present. “We have received Rs. 22 crore to maintain 47 km of the Ghat section. Remaining work will be taken up between October and February,” said K. Jaiprakash, Chief Engineer for the Highway Construction.

Mr. Gowda directed the officials to finish tender processes, mobilisation of resources and back office work during the monsoons, and to start construction by September when the rains subside.

“If the NHAI needs additional funds to close potholes and maintain the road, the State Government is ready to release the money required,” he said.

The Chief Minister told NHAI officials that the drains should be built on the side of the road or even if completed should be cleared to prevent flooding of the road.

When Surendra Kumar, Project Director for the Bangalore-Mangalore Highway, told Mr. Gowda of the difficulties in acquiring approval from the Forest and Environment Ministry for the four-laning of the Ghat stretch, the Chief Minister said: “These approvals will take at least 10 years. As a Member of Parliament, I have raised this issue many times before and still couldn't get approval.”

Instead, Mr. Gowda said an alternative route that would involve a tunnel through the Ghats was being considered. “Two meetings have been held with JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) to build a 22-km tunnel. This may cost us more than Rs. 3,000 crore,” he said.

The Chief Minister said clearances would “not be a problem” as the tunnel would be “bored underneath the forests”. “Only clearances are needed for the entry and exit of the tunnel. The Mumbai-Pune Highway was cleared within three months, and we expect the same here,” he said.

While saying that tourism would be in focus in the Dakshina Kannada district, Mr. Gowda said 600 acres of government land in Padubidri would be allotted for “some employment training centre”.

source:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=929102&page=361

Suvarna Soudha expected to be ready by month-end

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Work on the Suvarna Soudha, which is located on 127 acres in Halga-Bastwad villages off thePune-Bangalore National Highway 4, commenced on August 12, 2009.

State government plans to hold its monsoon session there

Work on the Suvarna Soudha is in the final stages of completion.......

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3512533.ece

Cultural centre to showcase unique culture of Kodavas

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The Kodava Cultural Centre at Balugodu near Virajpet in Kodagu

Work is in full swing on a sprawling 15-acre land at the sleepy and picturesque Balugodu, 6 km from Virajpet in Kodagu, for a unique Kodava Cultural Centre. It will reflect the Kodava heritage and tradition and function as a venue for various programmes organised by the Kodavas......

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article3512483.ece

Special talent earns him a Limca Book entry

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Puttur Suresh Nayak being felicitated by members of Karnataka Parents’ Association for Mentally Retarded Citizen.

Puttur Suresh Nayak can reel off phone numbers at a stretch

Who says a high intelligence quotient (IQ) is required for a great memory? Puttur Suresh Nayak, mentally challenged at birth, is set to earn a place for himself in the Limca Book of Records for reeling off 204 telephone numbers within 30 minutes.

What makes this record special from the others is the fact that Mr. Nayak has an IQ of 22, which is below the normal range of 90 to 110.

This 40-year-old has a mental age of 3.6 years and a social age of 6.6 years.

WON PRAISES

Although the official confirmation for the record has not yet been received, Mr. Nayak successfully demonstrated his talent in front of the World Memory Contest arbitrator on June 7 at Vijaywada. Mr. Nayak also earned praises from Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda last weekend when he demonstrated his talent before him.

J.P. Gadkari, secretary, Karnataka Parents Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens (KPAMRC) said: “Suresh is a shining example: there are many more like him. We hope to give them their rights and opportunities.” Mr. Nayak's brother, Umesh Nayak, spoke on the need to bring the people with learning disabilities into the mainstream.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3516359.ece

Go online and grab your seat

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There will be real-time updates of the seat matrix on the KEA website or through bulletins at the helpline centres

The results of the Common Entrance Test (CET) are out but that is only half the battle won. For, the next step is a crucial one where students get to choose the course and college of their choice. This year's batch has it easy or difficult, depending on how prepared the students are, as the counselling process is going online. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has introduced the procedure through which the allotment of seats will be made in the order of merit and preferences of the candidates. The physical counselling centres will be turned into helpline centres.

The All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) for admissions to National Institutes of Technology (NIT) among other colleges, and the Joint Entrance Test for admissions to the Indian Institutes of Technology have already implemented online counselling.

Here is how the process works: The first step, beginning June 25, would be the verification of documents. Students will have to visit the helpline centres, where the documents will be verified, originals returned and attested copies will be kept. An acknowledgement card and a verification slip will be given.

While the documents required vary for different categories of students, the basics are SSLC / 10th standard marks card; II PUC / 12th standard marks card; the candidate's study certificate; rural study certificate if the candidate is claiming rural quota: Kannada medium study certificate if claiming Kannada medium quota: caste / income certificate issued by the Tahsildar if claiming reservation benefits. The candidate should produce the computerised caste / category and income certificate obtained not prior to six months from the last date of submission of CET-2012 application form for claiming the reservation benefit.

The candidate will be given secure ID and password, which allows him/her to access the counselling page of the KEA website. The candidate has to enter options of the disciplines he/she is eligible for in the website. The candidate can enter choices (unlimited) from the seats available, entering the codes given for preferred college, category (General, SC/ST, etc.), course (codes for medical, engineering, etc.) and discipline in the course required. Those eligible for both medical and engineering can opt for colleges in both fields. Based only on availability and merit, the student is given his or her most preferred seat within the rank obtained.

MOCK ALLOTMENT

On July 19, a mock session of seat allotment will be conducted to prevent mistakes and to give an opportunity for the candidate to change the selection. As the data used in this will be the current rank list, the seats allotted to the students will be an accurate projection.

The seat allotment will start with medical, followed by ISMH (Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy), engineering and architecture. Once the seat is selected, the candidate is given seven days' time to accept the seat. There will be three rounds of counselling, wherein a student can join the college, seek a better option, or surrender his seat and apply again in the next round. Unallotted or surrendered seats will be pooled in for the next round.

There will be real-time updates of the seat matrix on the KEA website or through bulletins in the helpline centres.

The announcement of the real allotment will be made on July 25. Between July 26 and 29, students will be given time to confirm the allotment, and for payment of fees and receipt of admission order. July 29 is the last date for reporting to college.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/education/college-and-university/article3509431.ece

KEA officials paint a clearer picture of CET

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A panel of experts taking questions at The Hindu EducationPlus career guidance programme as students and parents listen in rapt attention.

As expected, most queries from the participants were related to the Common Entrance Test (CET).

To cater to anxious students going through the transition from II PUC or Class 12 to undergraduate courses, the floor was thrown open to participants at The Hindu EducationPlus Career Counselling session in Bangalore on Sunday for them to clear all doubts with experts. Presumably, there were questions galore.

As expected, most queries from the participants were related to the Common Entrance Test (CET). With the counselling process all set to commence from June 25, beginning with the verification of documents, the Karnataka Examinations Authority's (KEA) public relations officer D.S. Narasimha Murthy was flooded with queries. Some students wanted to know how foolproof the software adopted for the new online counselling process was, while others wanted clarity on which documents to bring for verification.

NEET

One parent wanted to know if the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) would be implemented the next academic year. To this, Mr. Murthy said the KEA was prepared for the eventuality as training modules for the all-India entrance exam for admissions to medical courses were ready.

There were several quota-related questions. Mr. Murthy, to one of them, clarified that those applying under the OBC quota can also select seats under General Merit. However, if the merit is high, seat will be allotted under GM first, he added.

About eligibility, a parent asked if the requirement of seven-year study certificate in Karnataka had to be a continuous one or if an intermittent seven-year study in the State was enough. He was told that an intermittent stay was also fine, as long as it added up to seven years.

Many students were unclear about the document verification process. A parent wanted to know if the student was required to be present in person during the verification procedure. The answer was yes.

Courses

There were a lot of questions for the other experts in the panel, including general education expert Ameen-e-Mudassar, who is also director of Cigma India, Bangalore. There was a classic case of a student aspiring to pursue mass communication, but whose parents were unwilling to let him do so. Mr. Mudassar advised him to “follow his heart” and go ahead and join the course he wanted to. The student was also asked to convince his parents about his decision before going ahead.

Adding to this, K. Rajnikanth, the former principal of M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT) said it was important for students to find out whether they can excel in the chosen field, as an average ability in the same would not serve the purpose.

Mr. Rajnikanth, who was also asked about the scope for medical engineering in India, admitted that the course, which basically entails applying engineering to medical problems, was yet to catch up in the country with regard to placements and research. He added that there were better opportunities for the course abroad.

Answering a question about biotechnology, K.S. Sridhar, HOD, Mechanical Engineering, PES College of Engineering, confessed that no biotechnology company was coming to Bangalore, as a result of which biotechnology students ended up being employed in IT companies.

Loans

Raghava Suvarna, manager, State Bank of India, was asked questions related to educational loans, including why the interest is so high. To this, he replied that students can pay only the principle amount and not the interest.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3515179.ece

BEML proposes, DNA exposes

The Tatra truck deal, which proved to be VRS Natarajan’s nemesis, is not the only transaction in which the CMD of government-run BEML was involved. DNA has published eight stories on Natarajan’s murky deals. Following are excerpts from the reports published by DNA earlier.

Flouting norms
The BEML Employees’ Cooperative Society (BECS) was in the dock for allotting sites to influential employees by flouting eligibility norms. Despite paying for sites, many genuine applicants continue to live in rented houses after retirement. Natarajan and his friend KRM Reddy, who was BEML general manager (HR), were allotted sites measuring 70ft x 80ft and 61ft x 31ft. Reddy sold a portion of the site No. 797 (914.5 sq ft) to Natarajan who already owned two sites - plot nos. 795 and 796 - as per the documents available with DNA.

Guest house becoming residence
Natarajan, who got a residential site (No. 91) at a layout formed by BECS at Bogadi village, claimed 3340/1, Paramahamsa Road, Yadavagiri, Mysore, as his residential address. It was, in fact, BEML’s guest house. Natarajan mentioned his age as 52 years in the sale deed entered on March 2, 2005 between BECS and himself while he claimed to be aged 53 years in a rectification deed entered with BECS on January 31, 2005.

Amalgamating sites
BECS handed over two sites (795 and 796) to Natarajan on January 22, 2005. Natarajan applied to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for amalgamation of the sites on August 25, 2005. The BDA, on September 14, 2005, advised him to pay ` 10,774 and issued an order on the amalgamation of the two sites on September 20, 2005.

Natarajan also ensured that Uma Devi Nambiar, a family friend of TKA Nair, the advisor to prime minister Manmohan Singh, got a site. He also played a key role in getting a site for Nair’s niece Preethi Prabha. After the media exposed the illegal deals, both Umaand Preethi surrendered their sites to BECS.

Land deal
This story began in 1997 when Natarajan was the manager at Bharat Gold Mines (BGML), which was engaged in mining gold from its captive mines in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) located in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. On March 21, 1997, Natarajan’s father SV Rangaswamy bought one acre and four guntas of land near Varthur, Bangalore. Rangaswamy, who hails from Vellalore in Coimbatore, declared his residential address as: 1115, 25th Main, 3rd Cross, Ist Phase, JP Nagar, Bangalore. But here is the curious bit: the address mentioned by Rangaswamy was, in fact, the residential address of Natarajan’s friend KRM Reddy, who was also working with BGML.

Dubious enterprise
Champion Textiles, promoted by Natarajan’s wife Shanthi Natarajan, claimed in a rejoinder sent to DNA on July 27, 2011, that it was into land development business in association with a builder. It claimed that each site was sold for Rs3 lakh to Rs4 lakh and that it sold sites measuring 2,400 sq ft for Rs15 lakh to Rs20 lakh.

However, the company, in a statement of objection filed in the high court, stated that it had acquired 2.04 acres of land in a prime location, without mentioning where. It also stated that it was continued to operate with the hope of starting other businesses, without mentioning what those businesses were.

Denying benefits to staff
The BEML management, which is supposed to look after the welfare of its employees, has been accused of depriving its employees of monetary benefits they genuinely deserved. According to labour department sources, a criminal case was filed against the BEML management for denying double wages to employees who worked overtime.

Camouflaging deeds
There is no provision for an executive director to be on the board of BECS as per the Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act 1959. However, BECS, with an apparently ulterior motive, made a provision for the post of executive director and entrusted him to execute most of the sale deeds of the sites at its layout in Thubarahalli, including the sale deeds of two sites allotted to Natarajan and Reddy.

Evading registration of will deed
Natarajan, who played a key role in purchasing agricultural land in his father’s name in violation of Section 79 A and B of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, applied for conversion of the land for residential purpose on November 1, 2003. However, as per the mutation copy of the property, the will deed was not registered at all. The deed was made on a Rs10 stamp paper. Natarajan got the land converted for residential purpose on July 22, 2008 and then executed an agreement of sale of that land with one S Gouri Shankar of East Maredpally, Secunderabad, for Rs40 lakh on July 27, 2005. He accepted Rs20 lakh as an advance from Gouri Shankar.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_beml-proposes-dna-exposes_1701282

‘Natarajan was present when the employee was killed’

BEML CMD VRS Natarajan, who was on Monday suspended by the defence ministry in connection with the Tatra truck deal, was present when A Kumar, a Binny Mills employee, was killed by a group of assailants on November 24, 1992, in the premises of the Binny Mills unit in Bangalore. This accusation is based on a submission made by R Manoji Rao, a former Binny Mills employee, to a city court. Natarajan was Binny Mills’ deputy general manager when Kumar was murdered.

Kumar, who was an INTUC leader, was stabbed when he was addressing a meeting, demanding that the Binny Mills management confirm about 800 temporary staff on its rolls. He was later declared dead at the hospital.

In his submission made to the city civil and sessions court on November 24, 1992, Rao stated that he, along with Natarajan and other senior Binny Mills officials, was present on the spot when Kumar was attacked. “Despite Natarajan being present at the time of the attack, the police did not question him in relation to the incident or include him as a witness,” he had stated at the time.

The police filed a case under IPC sections 143, 144, 147, 148, 324 and 302, listing 12 persons—Govinda, Marimuthu, A Ravi, Nagaraj, Devaraj, R Mahadeva, G Ravi, M Ravi, Chandrakantha Naik, Gandhi, Agastin and Matti—as the accused. They produced nine of the accused before the court and told it that three among the accused—Govinda, Gandhi and Matti—were absconding. The nine accused were acquitted by city civil and sessions court judge Mohammed Anwar as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them.

The court asked the police to retain the statements made by the nine accused till Govinda, Gandhi and Matti were traced and brought to trial. However, instead of tracing the trio who were absconding, the police destroyed the documents related to the case at Cottonpet police station in September 2002, according to a letter dated February 4, 2006, from the police commissioner’s office to KS Periyaswamy, advocate and BEML shareholder, who sought details of the case through a RTI application.

According to some BEML employees, Natarajan was instrumental in destroying the documents related to the murder case. “Natarajan was appointed as BEML CMD soon before the documents were destroyed. Due to his political clout and money power, the police did not try to trace those who were absconding and were in a hurry to destroy the documents. The police also did not appeal in the higher court against the acquittal of the nine accused. The police should reopen the case and trace the absconding accused and find out the nexus between them and Natarajan,’’ alleged Periyaswamy.

Noorulla Sharif, current inspector in charge of Cottonpet police, said he was not aware of the case as the murder happened close to 20 years ago. “Though the case is considered as closed, it could be reopened any time once the police trace the accused,” Sharif said, adding that if the police misplaced or destroyed the documents related to the case, the court can take cognisance and issue necessary directions to the police.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_natarajan-was-present-when-the-employee-was-killed_1701280

BEML employees celebrate Natarajan’s suspension

The news of suspension of BEML CMD VRS Natarajan on Monday sparked celebrations among the company’s employees. While many distributed sweets, others welcomed the news by bursting crackers.

BEML employees were seen distributing sweets and bursting crackers at BEML Soudha here. At the company’s rail coach unit, employees burst crackers and raised slogans against Natarajan.
Welcoming the suspension, Krishna Reddy of BEML Employees’ Union said, “All the employees are happy. We were waiting for this moment.”

Expressing happiness over the CBI’s recommendation to suspend Natarajan, KS Periyaswamy, an advocate and a shareholder of BEML said, “It is the victory of the media which wrote about the illegal activities of Natarajan. I request the CBI to arrest Natarajan immediately and dismiss BR Subramanya Reddy, chief general manager (legal) for manipulating records.”

N Hanumanthappa, president of All India SC, ST, BC and Minorities Welfare Associations, termed the government’s action as late. “Natarajan has harassed many employees of the BEML, especially those from SC, ST and BC communities. We have been demanding that the government transfer him to some other company and probe into his illegal and corrupt activities,” he said.
TS Aswathnarayana, president of BEML Ex-employees’ Sangha, said the suspension proved that ultimately the good prevailed over the bad. He said the government should have suspended Natarajan long ago in the interest of BEML, one of the Navaratna companies.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_beml-employees-celebrate-natarajans-suspension_1701149

Yeddyurappa’s home district hits the bottom at GIM

Shimoga district, the bastion of former chief minister BS Yedyurappa, has ended up with a poor show at the recently concluded Global Investors’ Meet, 2012. It attracted just two projects with an investment of Rs110 crore, providing employment opportunities for 300 people. The district came at the bottom of the investment table.

The district-wise break-up was released by large and medium industries minister Murugesh R Nirani on Monday.

Bangalore Rural district topped the list by grabbing 72 projects with an investment of Rs68,752 crore and generating about 9 lakh jobs. Bangalore Urban district stood second with 60 projects, while Bellary came third with 30 projects worth investments of Rs29,963 crore.

Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Belgaum, Haveri, Dakshina Kannada, Ramnagar, Hassan and Mysore districts were at the top in attracting capital flow.

When asked about the trend, Nirani explained that he could not force an investor to choose any place. “The government had treated all regions at par and there was no question of any bias. Dozens of IT parks are coming up in Shimoga with an investment of Rs500 crore. The agreements were made before GIM 2012,” he clarified.

Nirani stated that the government would amend the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) Act, which dated back to 1964, to streamline the process to benefit farmers.

“We will amend laws including KIADB laws. We are also changing policies for the textile and aerospace sectors,” he added.
“We have decided to bring out manuals that will streamline the process of holding Global Investors’ Meets in the future. We will also replicate the laws of other states which create an investor and farmer-friendly atmosphere,” he explained.

About 10,850 companies, 200 industrial leaders and 40,000 visitors participated in GIM 2012. “The government is ready to provide finance to investors, and also come out with stringent guidelines to prevent allotted land being misused for real estate purpose,” Nirani stated.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_yeddyurappas-home-district-hits-the-bottom-at-gim_1701278

HDK plans to go online, start students’ wing soon

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/interview_hdk-plans-to-go-online-start-students-wing-soon_1700819

DNA exclusive: A disaster waiting to happen

Precious lives have been lost innumerable times in the past due to the callousness of the civic administration in enforcing the safety guidelines. But under the high tension (HT) line near Nelamangala, on the city outskirts, a catastrophe is waiting to happen.

A petrol pump and an LPG godown are located right under this HT line. The lives of people in the entire neighbourhood would be in danger, if the wire were to snap due to strong winds or any other reason.

Just along the Tumkur Road (National Highway -4) near Nelamangala, danger is lurking in the form of huge high tension transmission towers and the multilayered wires carrying 440/220 kilo volts of electricity.

These wires carry power to Nelamangala sub-station for distribution not just to Bangalore, but entire Southern Karnataka - from Jog Falls, Raichur thermal power plant and Kuditini power plant.

The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) Act clearly states that, there shall be no structures under the 50 feet perimeter of high tension wires. The Act also says that if the high tension wire passes near highways or roads, an electric net should be installed to prevent the wire from touching the ground, even accidentally. There are clear guidelines for the local bodies to follow the rules while giving clearances to buildings. However, at Neelamangala, all norms have been thrown to the winds.

“In September, 2007 the high tension wire had snapped and fallen on the ground near Nelamangala one evening. The entire traffic towards Bangalore was blocked till morning. Engineers rushed from Shimoga to handle the situation. Fortunately, when the wire fell on the ground no one was around. The wire had missed NH-4 narrowly. What if such accident happens today?

Everywhere buildings have come up,” Ramachandrappa, a local resident told DNA, expressing his serious concern.
“It is extremely dangerous to have structures below the high tension power wires. It is so dangerous that people should not be allowed even to pass under a high tension wire zone. They will never know until it is too late,” a retired Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) engineer residing in the area said.

Belimutt Engineering College, the 200-bed Mathrushree hospital and the 500-bed MS Ramaiah Harsha hospital are located close to the petrol pump and the high tension wires. Any accident at the petrol pump and the adjoining LPG godown could wreak havoc.
Why is there no action?

According to sources, the petrol pump is owned by the daughter of Krishnappa, a retired additional SP of Bangalore Rural district. Krishnappa’s wife is a member of the Nelamangala taluk panchayat. The caste factor (Vokkaliga) and political clout are said to have played a role in getting the clearances for the petrol pump.
As for the LPG godown, it belongs to the close relative of a former Congress minister.

About 500 LPG cylinders are stored in the godown at any given time, right below the high tension wires.

When DNA drew the attention of Om Prakash, ADGP Fire and Emergency services to the lurking danger, he said that he was not aware of the issue as he had taken charge recently. “I will conduct a meeting of officials and see what action could be taken in our jurisdiction. I will do it as at the earliest after returning from holiday on Wednesday,” he assured.

Shankarnarayan, deputy commissioner of Bangalore Rural district said that he did not know about the issue.

However, he promised to get details from his subordinate staff on the issue and take appropriate action.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_dna-exclusive-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen_1701258

When Bollywood came to namma


Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha at the Bangalore Palace

Karnataka is a tourist's paradise, what with the number of must-see places and structures that have historical and aesthetic value. It is no wonder, then, that filmmakers across the country have taken a shine to the state and highlight its most beautiful elements onscreen.

B-town loves it

If you've seen Akshay Kumar's latest film, you'd have noticed that the number Dhadang Dhang has been shot in Hampi. Films like 3 idiots, 7 Khoon Maaf, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Sholay, Ghayal and Coolie, among others, have been shot in Karnataka. A spokesperson for director Raju Hirani, who shot 3 idiots in Bangalore, says, "We'd visited several colleges across India. But when Raju saw the footage of IIM-B, he fell in love with the surroundings and the ambience. The greenery and the pleasant look of the city was what he was looking for."

Karnataka offers variety

Cinematographer Santosh Sivan finds that the state offers a wide range of variety. "I've shot at almost all locations in Karnataka. The state offers a plethora of options. You have a culturally strong place like Mysore, a cosmopolitan city like Bangalore, historical places like Badami and Hubli, as well as scenic locations like Bandipur and Chikmagalur, among others. All these places have a timeless quality," he explains. And Mysore is Santosh's favourite place to shoot. "I did a short film on AIDS a couple of years ago with Prabhudheva and Saroja Devi, for which we shot in Mysore. The place has a rich history. It is neither cosmopolitan like Bangalore nor is it a rural place. Mysore presents the best of both worlds," says Santosh.

Bangalore is cosmopolitan

Filmmakers also think that the city has an international flavour. Kollywood filmmaker N Lingusamy, who shot Paiyaa in the city agrees: "Though the script was about a boy who travels from Bangalore to Mumbai, we chose the Garden City because it lent a swish appeal to my film. Be it the green pastures or the posh IT firms — the city can easily be portrayed as a foreign location."

Shooting is easy

Filmmakers swear by the fact that it's easier to shoot in Karnataka than in any other location in India. Lingusamy says, "We had shot the song, Adada Mazhaida, at the Sivasamudram Falls near Mandya. Getting the requisite permissions and other formalities required to set up a location was a cakewalk and we shot the sequence without any disturbance. For the Thuli Thuli song, we had shot in an IT firm without any trouble. The people here are very cooperative."

International appeal

Karnataka has a global appeal. Several international short films and documentaries have been shot here. The Jackie Chan-Mallika Sherawat starrer The Myth was also shot in Karnataka. Major portions of the film were shot in the Hampi region. Some of the places where The Myth was filmed are Hazara Rama Temple and Vittala temple, among other places.

Mani Ratnam loves Karnataka

The filmmaker, who made his directorial debut with the Kannada film Pallavi Anu Pallavi in 1983, has shot almost all of his films in Karnataka. From Mouna Ragam, Thalapathi to Guru and Raavan — Mani has filmed portions of his films in the state.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/kannada/news-interviews/When-Bollywood-came-to-namma/articleshow/14058301.cms

:)

^^Vouge,Hampi destination Even fashion industry comes to Hampi for shoots.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/575056_457665217578692_1440374_n.jpg

It’s official now: 60th-year bash of House on June 18

BANGALORE: The Karnataka government has finally woken up and decided to hold a special function on June 18 to commemorate the 60 th year of the legislative assembly.

The first session of the state legislature was held from June 18 to 30, 1952, which was presided over by statesman H Sidhaiah.

After a meeting with chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda, law and parliamentary affairs minister S Suresh Kumar, and assembly officials, Speaker KG Bopaiah on Tuesday said they have decided to organize the diamond jubilee celebrations in a befitting manner in the state assembly hall.

Governor HR Bhardwaj will preside over the function where former Chief Justice of India MN Venkatachaliah will deliver the keynote address. Speeches given to Lower House members by former presidents APJ Abdul Kalam and S Radhakrishnan will be played on the day.

Sitting members of both Houses, Lok Sabha andR ajya Sabha members, former Karnataka chief ministers, former assembly speakers and Union ministers will be invited.

Three living members of the first Karnataka legislature — Madappa UM (Chamarajanagar ), Mulka Govinda Reddy (Chitradurga ) and TG Thimmegowda (Tiptur ) will be felicitated too.

To commemorate the occasion, a souvenir will be released highlighting the rich tradition of Karnataka legislature and its contribution in strengthening parliamentary democracy, Bopaiah said.

Kumar said an exhibition of rare photographs will be organized. "The event is being held to draw inspiration from thosewho contributed their might for development of the state," Kumar added.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Its-official-now-60th-year-bash-of-House-on-June-18/articleshow/14075678.cms

FIR against Andhra MLA

BANGALORE: A case was filed against Congress MLA Katasani Ramireddy from Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday after a city realtor complained that the legislator had abducted and threatened to kill him.

Bhaskar Reddy, realtor and resident of Indiranagar, alleged that on Monday evening his former business associate and MLA from Banaganapalle in Kurnool district, Ramireddy, asked him to come to Sowmya Apartments in Devasandra, near KR Puram. Ramireddy and his five associates brandished a pistol, assaulted Bhaskar Reddy and forcibly obtained his signatures on a few blank bond papers. Bhaskar Reddy was confined for some time and released after being warnedthat he would be killed if he went to police.

Bhaskar, who complained to KR Puram police on Tuesday, said he owned one acre of land near Hoody and Ramireddy bore a grudge over the same. Police registered a case of assault and threat to murder againsttheMLA andsix others.They are also charged under the Arms Act.


source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/FIR-against-Andhra-MLA/articleshow/14075456.cms

Belthangady villagers use SMS to get power supply

The SMS campaign started by the residents of Kodiyalu Mudipire in Machina of Ballamanja grama in Belthangady taluk, to press the authorities to supply powerto their village worked in their favour.

Two houses in the village have received electricity connection, on June 9.
The inmates of houses of Ramanna and Sundara in Kodiyalu were overjoyed after their homes received power supply for the first time in their life.

All these years, lanterns and torches were part of their life during nights.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, a villager said, “I had visited the village six months ago and was shocked to see the plight of the people who were in darkness after the sunset. We decided to take up SMS campaign demanding power.

We formed a team from school going child to senior citizens and collected phone numbers of all officials from a second division clerk to the chief secretary of the energy department.”

“About 25 to 30 villagers would then send SMSes to the officials concerned like MESCOM and KPTCL among others, everyday, seeking power.

We would have sent about 500 messages to the chief secretary, one message to Chief Minister and made calls daily to Mescom, KPTCL Managing Director, its public relation officers, asking why they had been deprived of electricity for so long.

The campaign was a big success. The work on laying the electric poles began within a month and two villagers reaped the fruits of the campaign from Saturday itself.”

He said, “all of us should question our rights and demand answer from politicians whom we elect in the election. After submitting applications seeking service, we should demand for service.”

Rukmini, another villager said the inmates of two houses who received electricity had distributed sweets to celebrate their joy.

“Now there is a hope for the rest of the houses. So far, we did not have even a hope. We were only waiting for electricity.

Once the wiring is complete in my house, my house too will get electricity. We were using traditional hand made fans to beat the heat and the life used to come to a standstill after sunset as women and children were scared of coming out of the house.”

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256515/belthangady-villagers-use-sms-get.html

State, TN lay dragnet for Nithyananda

Police in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on Tuesday launched a manhunt for self-styled godman Nithyananda who had disappeared from his ashram in Bidadi near here on Friday.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/06/13/nityananda-250.gif

........Alleged irregularities

The inquiry will look into alleged irregularities and illegal acts at Dhyanapeetam in Bidadi; alleged violation related to 20 acres 35 gunta ashram land which is being used for non-agricultural purpose without land conversion and is a violation as per section 95 of Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964.

Factors raised in the related report submitted by Ramanagara DC to the State Government on June 11, 2012; alleged sexual activities in the ashram; alleged narcotics use at the ashram; and any other irregularities and illegal activities.

After finishing the search for the day at the Bidadi ashram around 9 pm on Tuesday, SP Agarwal and DC Srirama Reddy said no concrete evidence against Nityananda had been found during the search. “We searched mainly the administrative office of the Ashram and procured some electronic evidence like CDs and hard disk, which will be studied,” said Reddy.

Reddy further said that the search will resume on Wednesday around 9 am.
“In all possibility, we will seal the Ashram in the next five to six days,” he added.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256576/state-tn-lay-dragnet-nithyananda.html

BDA plans flats at Arkavathy

450 units to come up at Thanisandra and Byrathikane

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has proposed an ‘affordable housing’ project in the two villages earmarked for the formation of Arkavathy Layout, drawing sharp criticism from site allottees.

According to the proposal, the BDA is planning the construction of 450 flats at Thanisandra and Byrathikane villages which were originally acquired for the Arkavathy Layout. The BDA floated Registration of Interest for the project under the public private partnership model, at the recent Global Investors’ Meet.

The decision is being viewed as a ‘betrayal’ by the 8,813 allottees of the Arkavathy Layout, who question how the BDA could commence the housing scheme without giving them preference.

The BDA had submitted a scheme to the Supreme Court on January 1, 2001, to develop the Hennur-Devanahalli Road extension covering an area of 1,650 acres and 12 villages, including Byrathikane and Thanisandra.


Vision lost
Now, Arkavathy Layout allottees claim that the original vision for the development has been lost. However, the BDA sources told Deccan Herald that the affordable housing scheme will be a part of the Arkavathy Layout and will not replace it.

“After the final acquisition, it was noted that portions of the acquired land for the Arkavathy Layout would be available for an affordable housing scheme. Nonetheless, the proposal to utilise the land for the housing project is yet to be ratified ,” an official said.

Allottees are still waiting to take possession of their sites. A recent pre-feasibility report submitted by the CRISIL Infrastructure Advisory to the BDA in April, said that, “The only issue that is likely to come up is the availability of unencumbered land by the BDA for the execution of these projects. Currently, there is some confusion regarding the allotment of the land which is likely to be cleared soon.”

In the meantime, if the BDA goes ahead with the affordable housing scheme, it plans to sell units at a nominal price to the public on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis. The total cost of the project at Thanisandra and Byrathikane is estimated at Rs 468 crore.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256582/bda-plans-flats-arkavathy.html

State to have private science university

The National Science University will have a full-fledged aerospace school, science parks, innovation centres and research incubators when it becomes fully operational.

S Mahalingam, Chairman of the Foundation for Education for All (FEAL), Bangalore, and Siddaiah, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, signed an Expression of Interest at the Global Investors’ Meet last week.

The Foundation says that it will invest up to Rs 500 crore on the proposed varsity, described as the first private science university in Karnataka.

The university will follow the public-private partnership (PPP) model and will be established on a 100-acre campus in Nelamangala in September 2013.

“The Foundation has already purchased 50 acres and is ready to invest Rs 100 crore immediately,” Mahalingam said.

The varsity will focus mainly on pure sciences as well as on research and development (R&D).

Undergraduate courses

According to Mahalingam, it will also introduce an R&D approach to undergraduate courses.

To begin with, five to six undergraduate and postgraduate courses and a few research programmes will be started. Later, the university will have 15 disciplines, including aerospace and engineering.

“Our undergraduate courses will run for four years with a semester or two dedicated to research. We have been in talks with foreign universities for R&D tie-ups and student exchange programmes,” he added.

The institute would conform to all the rules, regulations and framework laid down by the State government with regard to the fee structure, the reservation of seats, the appointment of vice-chancellors, etc, according to Mahalingam.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256564/state-have-private-science-university.html

M.G. Road-Byappanahalli stretch to be concreted

Probably in a year, the stretch between Mahatma Gandhi Road and Byappanahalli will be “white-topped” (concreted). The 7-km stretch will be developed and upgraded jointly by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL).

According to a senior BBMP official, the detailed project report (DPR) for the Rs. 64-crore project is being prepared by Bangalore City Connect Foundation. The DPR is likely to be submitted to the BBMP on Friday.

The official said the project would include concreting the road and upgrading of the pavements and drains. The project cost would be shared between BBMP and BMRCL on 50:50 basis. “Once the DPR is submitted to the BBMP, we will float tenders if the project has the government's ‘in-principle administrative approval'. The work orders will be issued to the selected contractor within three months after that,” he said.

He also said the work would be taken up in phases. “M.G. Road being an arterial road, we cannot close the entire stretch. The work will be taken up on one part of the road [at a time]. Vehicular movement will be diverted for at least 20 days during the curing process,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the BBMP has identified 45 roads (a total of 73 km) in the core city area to be developed under Tender SURE (Specification for Urban Road Execution). The city connect foundation is preparing the DPR for 12 roads, while the civic body has entrusted six agencies to prepare the DPR for the remaining 33 roads.

In October 2011, the government and the city connect foundation, in a public-private initiative, brought out two volumes on Tender SURE as a single-point reference for design, procurement and execution of urban roads.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3520865.ece

Allowing FDI in retail will boost sentiment, says Kaushik Basu

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01112/THAVD_BASU_1112203f.jpg

source:http://www.thehindu.com/business/article3522908.ece

A bookstore for Kannada readers

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/01111/11bg_lib_jpg_1111627f.jpg

Aakruti also has an e-store that undertakes shipping orders.

When 28-year-old engineer Guruprasad D.N. heard some residents of north Bangalore complaining that they had to travel long distances to buy Kannada books, he hit upon the idea of starting a bookstore to promote Kannada authors.

Giving up his software job, he started Aakruti Books Private Ltd. in Rajajinagar, where he sold used rare books as well as new ones ranging from graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies and self-help. “There were initial hiccups but things are looking up now,” says Mr. Guruprasad, officially managing director of the bookstore.

A first-time visitor to the bookstore, D.R. Srinivasan, says Kannada books are more easily available in south Bangalore as there are more Kannada-speaking people there. “This seems to be the only store in north Bangalore that has a good collection of Kannada books.”

POOR MARKETING

Mr. Guruprasad believes that marketing for Kannada books is poor. “If people are informed about new books from to time to time, the number of Kannada book readers will increase.”

He also offers a discount ranging from 10 to 50 per cent throughout the year.

The bookstore has also been conducting literary events and hosting book-reading activities to connect with readers and authors. He states that books published in Kannada are mostly found in libraries and he hopes that initiatives like these would encourage people to buy books.

At his store, he encourages people to give away old books and purchase new ones in return. Aakruti, which has hitherto published seven books, has an e-store which undertakes shipping orders.

Currently, it is holding book fair that is on till June 24 June between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Aakruti is located at 739/34/3, 1st Floor, 12th Main, Rajajinagar 3rd Block, near Bashyam Circle, Phone: 23409479, 23506788.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3520752.ece

Bamboo from Ghats to give city a bright green face

Green lovers are taking truckloads of evergreen flowering and fruit trees from the nurseries of Western Ghats to line up the roads and gardens of Bangalore.

As monsoon clouds are advancing over the Western Ghats, some green activists and city planners have zeroed in on two varieties of trees which can green Bangalore. They are Amherstia (Amherstia Nobilis Leguminosea) and bamboo.

Amherstia, a Burmese species, is grown at the nursery in Bannadka in Moodbidri. Since it is not grown elsewhere in the region, the nursery is flooded with enquiries from companies and BBMP for supply of saplings.

“We delivered the first batch of Amhertsia to Bangalore social forestry department and found that they were acceptable. They have thick canopy and give out reddish orange flowers which cascade down like a chandelier. Since the canopy is thick and shady, many types of small birds nest there,” said Dr LC Soans, national award winning botanist and owner of the nursery.
This tree is also known as Orchid in the western countries and as ‘thawka-gvi’ in Burmese.

Since it is a perennially flowering tree, the pollination agents are limited to a few small birds with long beaks. Sunbird is the only bird which can pollinate it in Bangalore. Like other flowering trees, it is not pollinated by bees as they cannot land in a long tube of pollens.

Bamboo is another species that has caught the attention of green planners.

“They grow faster and can be grown commercially in vast wastelands. They can grow in any corner without much ado. I have suggested to the environmental engineers of the BBMP to go in for propagation of different varieties of bamboos in the city’s gardens, green belts and lung spaces,” Soans said.

source:http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bamboo-from-ghats-to-give-city-a-bright-green-face_1701665

Govt has slow Realization over Rapid HSRL

source:http://www.dnasyndication.com/showarticlerss.aspx?nid=bqWXdyIj7S6CgyrIm/yiO9g6j1LG0deTGQFvbHGhzaE=

BJP beats anti-incumbency to retain five MLC seats in Karnataka
(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/BJP-beats-anti-incumbency-to-retain-five-MLC-seats-in-Karnataka/articleshow/14101187.cms)
BANGALORE: The ruling BJP seems to have managed to counter the anti-incumbency factor and internal rebellion to better its performance in the elections to six seats of the legislative council from graduates' and teachers' constituencies.

Closing trends suggested that BJP has a narrow lead in five of the six seats for which counting of votes began on Wednesday morning.

While sitting BJP members showed promises of retaining all their respective seats, JD (S) made early celebrations by retaining the South Teachers' constituency. JD (S) sitting MLC Marithibbegowda polled 10, 384 votes and defeated M Lakshmana of Congress who scored 5612 votes.

An elated Marithibbegowda, who is making it to the Upper House for third time in a row, attributed his success to the party and former CM H D Kumaraswamy

Bangalore Graduates' constituency, which has been a bastion of the ruling BJP, ended in a photo finish in the counting of first preferential votes. Gowda was leading by just one vote against A Deve Gowda of the JD (S).

There was a pandemonium at the Counting centre for about 20 minutes as Gowda's supporters sought recounting of first preferential votes before taking up the counting of the second preferential votes. The returning officer gratified their demand only after BJP camp agreed to it.

The contest in South-West Graduates constituency in the Legislative Council has narrowed down to three candidates with BJP candidate and sitting MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik leading with 3,583 votes against requisite quota of 4,558 votes. Other two candidates in contention are Independent Manjunath Kumar (3,262 votes) and C M Panchaksharaiah of JD(S) who has polled 1,111.

The Council chairman and BJP candidate from South-West Graduates'' constituency, D H Shankara Murthy was leading after two rounds of counting. He has polled 11,546 votes. Congress candidate S P Dinesh has got 9,021 votes while JDS candidate has polled 6,817 votes.

In the North-East Graduates' Constituency, Amarnath Patil of the BJP was leading by 4000 votes against Shivananda S Bhimalli of the Congress. Meanwhile, Sitting member Y A Narayanaswamy of the BJP was leading in the North-East Teachers' Constituency.

The poll results clearly show that the Opposition Congress-JDS's gameplan to harp on the anti-incumbency factor has gone awry. Most of the ruling party candidates have excellent clout and networking in the education sector.

Catch a view of Mysore’s beauty from skywheel


http://www.deccanherald.com/page_images/thumb/2012/06/14/256793_thump.jpg
Mysore, Jun 13, 2012, DHNS :

The City of Palaces will soon add another feather to its cap. It will be home to the country’s first skywheel, which will come up at a cost of Rs 30 crore.

The skywheel, which is a sophisticated form of the giant wheel - consisting of air-conditioned and well-furnished cabins with seating arrangements for four people - will offer a panoramic view of the city’s places of tourist interest within a radius of 20 km.

The Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, places of tourist interest in Srirangapatna, the Brindavan Gardens in KRS, Chamundi Hills, the big Nandi, the Mysore Palace, Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens and the Karanjikere tank are among the places that will be within the visual range of the skywheel, which will be built using the most modern safety technology.

B P Manjunath, the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) chairperson, told reporters in the city on Wednesday that the skywheel planned in Mysore - to be called ‘Mysore Eye’ - would be the third in the world, after the London Eye and Singapore Skyer.

He said the KEA’s efforts in the last three years had borne fruit and work on the project - on land measuring two acres - would begin in 15 days and completed in four months. KEA is undertaking the project, the approval for which was given at the recent Global Investors’ Meet held in Bangalore.

Innovative Studio Private Limited, which has set up the Innovative Film City in Bidadi, will construct the skywheel, he said.

While the entry fee per person will be fixed in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 600, a decision on family packages and students’ discount would be taken later, Manjunath said. He said that the skywheel will be the latest addition to the list of tourist destinations in the State’s cultural capital, which attracts lakhs of visitors every year.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256793/catch-view-mysores-beauty-skywheel.html

Helicopter ride will be much better for 500-600 rs. Bidadi already has a skywheel right?If this happens it would be second in India and second in Karnataka.

Bidadi Skywheel

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2292/5767548991_863faca9cd.jpg

Copyright Sangeeth VS

uc8eyFF6x6I
raN0Cd5PmGU

^^Vouge,Hampi destination Even fashion industry comes to Hampi for shoots.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/575056_457665217578692_1440374_n.jpg

nice sculpture i must say :)

BJP beats anti-incumbency to retain five MLC seats in Karnataka
(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/BJP-beats-anti-incumbency-to-retain-five-MLC-seats-in-Karnataka/articleshow/14101187.cms)

srivatsyab not to be seen around :lol:

yaakappa gentem, should i always be on SSC? Bask in retaining MLC seats..total BJP votes in all MLC seats may be 50,000? forgot that BJP recently lost Udupi loksabha seat by a 50k margin?

These MLC seats BJP always wins...hogli bidu, ninge khushi andre, nangunu khushi :-)

@akash : Klass hampi pic pa, when Janardhana reddy was Tourism minister, i had hoped to see more these kinds of articles, but its coming out now :p

Maternity hospital which delivered 10,000 babies without a single case of infant mortality

BANGALORE: This maternity hospital in Bangalore holds a unique record. Since its inception about five years back in January 2007 at Jayanagar, the hospital staff has successfully helped delivering 10,000 kids without a single case of infant mortality.

Inaugurating the second branch of the hospital on Wednesday at Old Madras Road, Transport Minister of Karnataka R Ashoka said: "I am completely impressed with the Hospital's record. Cloudnine is earmarked for quality healthcare for baby and mother. It is not a small effort when 10,000 babies are delivered successfully and I want the number to reach 1 lakh." Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda too praised the hospital. He said: "I thank Dr Kishore Kumar, CEO&M.D, Cloudnine for this remarkable achievement. I feel half the responsibility of Government has been fulfilled by Kishore and his team."

The new centre of the hospital has a total built up area of 50,000 square feet with an estimated investment of Rs 20 crores. Displaying its uniqueness, the hospital has separate designated areas for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics consultations, as the hospital administration believes each is a speciality field where patients require undivided attention.

"We need many more hospitals with such dependable facilities. It is pleasing to see latest technologies devised in Cloudnine and I wish them all the best", said the CM.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Maternity-hospital-which-delivered-10000-babies-without-a-single-case-of-infant-mortality/articleshow/14100132.cms

IT spend in BFSI to reach $3.5 billion by FY 2014: Study

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/IT-spend-in-BFSI-to-reach-3-5-billion-by-FY-2014-Study/articleshow/14098108.cms

Karnataka Examination Authority releases previous years' cut off ranks

BANGALORE: With the seat selection process kicking off for professional courses, Karnataka Examination Authority(KEA) has put up the cut off ranks for medical and engineering seats in the past four years.

The cut offs for Bangalore Medical College (BMC), the most sought after college in the state was 204 (general merit) last year. This was after the intake was increased. Prior to that, the cut offs were much below the top 100. In 2008, it was 89, in 2009 it was rose upto 97 and in 2010 it was 86. With around 150 more seats expected to be sanctioned this year, the cut off ranks will rise. As for the engineering seats, RVCE ( R V College of Engineering) remained the most favourite among the aspirants over the years. The cut off for electronics and computer science here were 396 and 408 respectively. It was as low as 78 and 470 in 2008. The ranks were 163/581, 127/350 for these two courses in
the subsequent years.

The list of cut off ranks will give students an idea as to which colleges they can look forward to while applying this year.



source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Karnataka-Examination-Authority-releases-previous-years-cut-off-ranks/articleshow/14094204.cms

Department of PU publishes new method of evaluation

The Department of PU Education has published the method of evaluation under Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) that will be introduced from this academic year in I PU. CCE will revolutionarize the present system by taking off the district level exams. Every college shall conduct 4 tests, one mid term examination and one final examination.

Each test shall be for a duration of one hour. The maximum marks for each test shall be for 25 marks. Tests have to be conducted in the free periods available for each stream.There is no need to conduct tests for all sections/entire college simultaneously.

Mid term examination shall be conducted for a duration of 3 hours. The maximum marks in case of Physics,Chemistry and Biology will be for 70. For subjects like Maths/ Arts/Languages/Commerce/ Electronics/Computer Science/Home Science it will be 90. Final examination shall be conducted for 3 hours and 15 minutes. The maximum marks in case of Physics,Chemistry and Biology will be for 70. 20 marks is for practical examintion. 10 marks is kept of attendance. The maximum marks in case of other subjects like Maths/Arts/Commerce/Languages will be for 90. 10 marks is kept for attendance. In case of Computer Science/Electronics/Home Science Examination shall be for 80 Marks. 10 marks is for practicals and the remaining 10 marks for attendance. For declaration of I PUC results at the end of the academic year appropriate weightage has been fixed among tests, mid term examination and final examination including attendance and total CCE obtained for the entire year. For more details visit http://pue.kar.nic.in

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Department-of-PU-publishes-new-method-of-evaluation/articleshow/14094098.cms

Innovative prototypes for better life

Students develop safety device to prevent mishaps in manufacturing industries

Students of Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE) from the mechanical department have designed and developed prototypes, which could be useful for industries and household purposes.

http://www.deccanherald.com/page_images/thumb/2012/06/14/256804_thump.jpg

A group of students comprising Allister Hubert Sequeira, Abhishek Kumar, Varun Gupta and Alok Ranjan under the guidance of assistant professor Y P Mamatha, have designed and developed the ‘Universal rotary safety mechanism’ to improve safety features in manufacturing industries.

Safety device

Explaining the features of their prototype, the students said when a machine is operational the rotating devices have a very high RPM. An operator might accidently touch the moving tool, which may result in injuries. The students have designed a safety device to prevent such accidents.

However, stopping machines abruptly could cause damage to parts such as gears, which are sensitive to sudden high forces.

Using the ‘Pawl and Ratchet’ mechanism, when an operator approaches a rotating part that he is not supposed to touch and keep his limb or any other foreign object such as a spanner or a key near the shaft or blade or chuck or drill bit a sensor gets activated.

When the sensor is activated, a circuit connected to the relay will turn off power and immediately stop the shaft. This will prevent any person from getting injured, they added.

Built at a cost of Rs 8000, the students opined that the safety device could be used in a lathe machine, drilling machine, electric saw, milling machine, tiles and stone cutting machines too.

Solar water heater

In another design to improve water heating efficiency using renewable energy sources, students - Manoj Kumar P, Pavan Kumar K P, Prakash N and Ponnanna V T under the guidance of head of mechanical department Prof G B Krishnappa have ‘designed and developed a simple solar water heater’.

The simple solar water heater consists of an over head tank, HDPE/PVC pipe and a reservoir, the HDPE/PVC pipe is arranged in conical form and is mounted on a conical stand.

Developed at a cost of Rs 6,700 the students claimed that the construction of this solar water heater is simple as compared to the existing ones in the market.
They said that due to placement of conical collector maximum absorption of solar energy is possible.

Also, as there are no glass parts in this solar water heater issues related to the damage of solar cells is comparatively less.

The reservoir tank can store up to 125 litres of water, they added.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256804/innovative-prototypes-better-life.html

Water level in Harangi dipping fast

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With the delay in rainfall, the water level in Harangi reservoir is fast depleting and the reservoir is already looking empty.

About 250 cusecs of water is released from the reservoir to the fields through the river in the catchment areas for the last 15 days, said superintending engineer of Harangi Irrigation Project C Sathyanarayana.

He said out of 1.4 TMC feet of water available in the reservoir, about 0.75 TMC feet of water was needed for the safety of the reservoir. The remaining 0.75 TMC feet of water can be utilised for irrigation and drinking purpose.

Farmers in the catchment area have flayed the authorities for releasing water to the river. The storage capacity of the reservoir is 8.5 TMC feet and the water level up to 2,859 feet can be stored.

The water level was 2,803.38 feet (above sea level) on Tuesday morning. Last year, it was 2838.09 feet on the corresponding day. The inflow of water was 466 cusecs of water.

The reservoir catchment area had received 4.66 mm rain. Compared to last year, the water level has decreased by 35 feet. The reservoir was full on July 3, 2011. With the delay in rainfall, it will take a few more days to fill the dam.

The delay in rainfall has also affected agriculture activities in the Harangi catchment area. The farmers have not started sowing paddy seeds yet.


source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256806/water-level-harangi-dipping-fast.html

Compensation slab for landlosers of Kempegowda Layout

Rs one crore offered per acre of fertile land

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Landowners in 11 villages on the outskirts of the City, whose properties have been acquired for the formation of the proposed Kempegowda Layout, can now claim compensation under three slabs.

The three-slab offer comes in the wake of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) hiking the land value in the 11 villages.

According to BDA sources, the compensation is perhaps the most lucrative ever the authority has fixed since its inception.

A BDA official said, “We are finding more and more farmers coming forward to reap the benefits of these compensation formulas.”

The slabs are claimed to suit the three categories of farmers: small and marginal farmers; farmers belonging to the middle class; and the landlords. Land belonging to all the three categories of farmers in the 11 villages have been acquired for the formation of the layout.

The BDA has fixed Rs one crore per acre as compensation for fertile land in Mangenhalli village and Rs 80 lakh per acre for the land to be acquired in the remaining 10 villages.

Revised formula

Under the revised compensation formula, farmers are eligible to possess developed land, in accordance with the landholdings they have relinquished. For example, farmers who own land less than an acre can claim either monetary benefit or 9,600 sq ft of developed land, in return.

For farmers owning land between one acre and three acres, compensation will be in the form of 50 per cent monetary benefit and 50 per cent of developed land at their disposal. Farmers having landholdings between three acres and 10 acres, will get compensation under 40:60 ratio, with the latter in the form of developed land.

Sources said the layout formation will also affect the landholdings of the farmers. Most of them will choose to sell off their portions for rates higher than what the BDA offers.

“Farmers will reap the benefits of Kempegowda Layout by choosing to develop their own private layouts and selling them to citizens or developers at a much higher value,” the officials said.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256823/compensation-slab-landlosers-kempegowda-layout.html

Centre rejects BBMP’s request for more funds

The Centre has rejected a request from the BBMP for additional funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) for remodelling storm water drains (SWD).

Instead it has asked the urban local body (ULB) to manage the additional cost by itself. The Centre has made it clear that its allocation will be limited to 35 per cent.

According to the Palike officials, the Centre has only given an in-principle administrative approval for escalating the cost to Rs 952 crore, but without any additional allocation.

This would mean that the Centre has finished its share of the allocation under the JnNURM and it is up to the State government and the Palike to manage the funds for the project, said an official of the Palike.

The BBMP had taken up the project of remodelling the SWDs seven years ago with an initial outlay of Rs 460 crore. This was later revised to Rs 643 crore and recently sent to the Centre for its sanction of an additional outlay of Rs 309 crore.

Paltry contribution

The Palike is entitled to a paltry contribution of Rs 58 crore under the JnNURM scheme from the Centre.

According to officials, the Centre is yet to release Rs 32 crore for the Kittur Rani Chennamma flyover, Rs 10 crore for the training programme to upgrade the skills of its personnel and another Rs 16 crore for an e-Governance project to be taken up by the Palike.


source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256826/centre-rejects-bbmps-request-more.html

They haven't given the Drought Relief Fund , when 4500-5000cr loss was assessed by Central Govt Onlookers. Mere 289 Cr was released.

Mumbai was Given 5000 Cr for Urban development apart from regular funds from the centre. Bengal gets the required either by Hook or By Crook.

when will Karnataka learn to get what is required for development of ppl's aspirations.

Do we need to elect Congress in next State elections?

High Court nod for parking lot at LH

The Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna on Wednesday disposed of a petition challenging the construction of a multi-level parking lot at the Legislators’ House after the government counsel submitted that the area did not come under Cubbon Park.

During the hearing of the petition by Ramesh Babu, his counsel A V Amaranathan told the Court that the parking lot being constructed was in violation of the Section 3 of the Karnataka Parks and Trees and Playgrounds Act, 1985, which required the permission from the High Court.

“Initially the State had applied for permission, thinking that it falls under Cubbon Park area, but it was withdrawn immediately after realising it is not part of Cubbon Park.
The petition was not dismissed, but was withdrawn,” he said.

The division bench disposed of the matter following this submission, but granted liberty to the petitioner to challenge the provisions of Section 3 of the Act.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256828/high-court-nod-parking-lot.html

He donated blood 108 times

Nothing is more fulfilling in life than donating blood for this septuagenarian retired professor of an engineering college in the city.

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Waman Sambrani, aged 77, has donated blood 108 times, starting at the age of 35.

Sambrani, who has donated about 38 litres of blood till 2002, was drawn to the noble mission accidentally.

In 1970, he donated blood to a woman who had suffered burns in a case of stove burst. “The woman had suffered burns due to stove burst. There were not many blood banks at that time nor was there any awareness about blood donation.

Seeing the plight of the woman, for the first time I realised the importance of blood donation,” said Sambrani.

Realising the worth of his act that saved the woman’s life, he resolved to donate blood every three months. Since then he never missed the schedule: on January 1, April 1 and October 2, he donated 350 ml of blood at the blood bank in the city.

His blood group being ‘O positive’, a universal group, was an advantage, Sambrani said.

“There are a lot of misconceptions among people about blood donation. It is a very healthy and noble practice. Man’s body contains five to six litres of blood and it makes no difference if 350 ml is donated.

Within a few days, blood is replenished,” Sambrani said.

Any healthy adult in the age group 18-60 years can safely donate blood four times a year. One time donation is only seven per cent of the blood in the body.

There is no substitute for human blood; it can neither be manufactured nor be stored for long, hence, donating blood is a noble act, he said.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256792/he-donated-blood-108-times.html

Parents to sign anti-ragging affidavit

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Starting with academic year 2012-13, parents/guardians of engineering students in the State will have to sign an elaborate anti-ragging affidavit, swearing before an oath commissioner that their wards will neither bully nor bait their new college mates.

This affidavit will whet another similar written declaration by the students themselves.
The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has asked all its affiliated colleges to get the parents/guardians sign standardised affidavits. Until now, parents/guardians would sign a general statement with just a passing reference to ragging and its consequences.

The oath is one of the measures prescribed by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2009 to curb ragging in higher education institutes.

While students have been signing anti-ragging affidavits ever since the Raghavan Committee submitted its report on ragging in 2007, parents/guardians were not really required to give an elaborate undertaking in this regard. Last year, the university did ask its affiliated colleges to obtain similar undertaking from parents/guardians but did not press for it, VTU Vice-Chancellor H Maheshappa said. “We have made it mandatory this year. Every parent/guardian will have to take a proper anti-ragging oath,” he told Deccan Herald.

The university has drafted the affidavit, which requires parents/guardians to state that they are aware of the anti-ragging regulation and the penal as well as administrative action that their wards would be liable to face if found guilty of ragging or abetting it. Besides, they have to affirm that their wards will not indulge in any such behaviour and that they were previously never expelled or debarred by any college for ragging.

Asked if the new measure would prove a real deterrent as parents/guardians of mature adults as engineering students would have little control over them, Maheshappa said, “somewhere a line has to be drawn”. “Students would think twice before indulging in ragging if they know that their parents/guardians would be held responsible,” he contended.

The circular against ragging issued by VTU Registrar S A Kori also asks colleges to form anti-ragging committees and squads.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/256843/parents-sign-anti-ragging-affidavit.html

State to promote health tourism

http://newindianexpress.com/incoming/article542269.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/SADANANDA--GOWDA.jpg

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda urged private hospitals to join hands with the state government to promote the city as a hub of health tourism.

“We are keen on transforming Bangalore into a hub of health tourism for which we need the support of hospitals,” Gowda said while speaking during the inauguration of the second centre of Cloudnine Hospital on HAL Airport Road on Wednesday.

Home Minister R Ashok said, “We are planning several initiatives for the health sector. We want the Vajpayee Arogyasiri Yojane to reach every deserving person in the state. We expect the assistance of private hospitals.”

source:http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article542271.ece

Slice of Bangalore

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Winner of last week's photography contest: Pavithra Bhat

Does this photograph speak to you? Send in your photos capturing frames of life in the city with your address and contact number to cityhood@gmail.com, before Sunday. The best photo, which will be printed in this space next week, wins a gift voucher of Rs. 500 from Barbeque Factory.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3523776.ece

Training women to take charge

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K. Aravindavalli was a human resource manager at a German company for over a decade; she quit when travelling a long distance to work every day took a toll on her health. Yet, being busy was something she was accustomed to, and enjoyed. “Once you have had an active career, it is very difficult to sit at home,” she says.....

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3523768.ece

Many flavours in the same act

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Zak & Angelo tries to send out the message that it is not the destination but the journey that matters..........

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3524553.ece

Climbing for the soul

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Being a successful climber is more about the state of one's mind rather than physical stamina'


“I call myself a global citizen. Show me a vacant space anywhere in the world and I can make myself at home there,” said Renu Kotian, a corporate consultant by profession, and a mountaineer and avid traveller by passion. She recently led an expedition to the base camp of Mount Everest and Kala Pathar (5,800 metres).

Renu was drawn to trekking as a student when she listened to a talk on responsible tourism and outdoor leadership. She started by making trips to places such as Savandurga, Ramnagaram and Kumaraparvata.

Life lessons

“Meeting and interacting with mountain guides who have a strong sense of community can be a humbling experience,” she said. “For them, climbing up and down the peaks is a way of life and source of employment. Although they are very friendly and helpful from the first encounter, they do not talk much about their achievements.”

“I realised that being a successful climber is more about the state of one's mind rather than physical stamina. Heading a team of mountaineers also taught me when to say no and make pragmatic decisions for a fairly diverse group. That has helped in my line of work, where I advise executives who tend to be older than me,” she said.

One of the basic things that she teaches trekking groups is ‘leave no traces' (LNT) travel, to prevent trekking routes from becoming litter trails.

“It is not much of a problem to keep your empty water bottle back in your bag. One must simply believe in and adopt these simple yet important practices all the time to ensure that trash does not pile up,” she said.

Renu has set her sights on summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and the Annapurna range of Nepal. She enjoys driving around on her motor bike and hopes to own a Bullet some day.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3524555.ece

An old charmer's fading tricks

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Navrang cinema may simply be basking in past glory as it fails to meet modern expectations

Giant-sized portraits of Upendra attempting to be dashing, long queues snaking out on to the pavement, and traffic jams every Friday morning.

These were my first brushes with Navrang theatre as a child in Rajajinagar.

What started off as a small theatre established in 1963 by Kannada film producer K.C. Nanjunde Gowda is today a landmark for all shops and houses around it.

Geographical icon

The entire locality is referred to as Navrang — for purposes of asking for directions, buying bus tickets or looking for houses to rent. It is also common to spot a Navrang juice shop or Navrang mobiles and other small stores nearby, making the most of the iconic theatre's name.

Unlike many other landmarks in the city that have given their name to the place that brought them glory, but have long been replaced with swank new office buildings or shopping malls, this theatre still stands and continues to screen movies, primarily Kannada films.

“Kannada films are in great demand in this area,” says Nanjappa, the theatre booking collector. The theatre screens five shows daily. “Several popular Kannada actors such as Dr. Rajkumar, Puneet Rajkumar, Ramesh and Ambareesh have graced the theatre with their presence,” Nanjappa says proudly.

Flashback

But, the theatre may simply be basking in its glory of the past, for the old and once loyal customers complain that it is losing its charm with its broken seats, non-functional fans and dirty surroundings.

Some recollect the days when the theatre required crowd control by the city police for the first day, first show of Dr. Rajkumar movies to tackle the “mad rush”.

Parimala Pramod vividly remembers her first visit to the theatre. “I was seven years old then, and had come to watch a Dr. Rajkumar movie,” she says. “The problem is nothing has changed since then as no efforts have been made for maintenance or refurbishing. If there is any change, it has been for the worse.”

Metro looms large

Theatre officials blame the dip in the theatre's fortunes on construction work for Namma Metro going on right outside, making it inconvenient to access the place. “Business will be back to normal after that work is complete,” Nanjappa says.

The theatre might be renovated next year to keep up with the competition other multiplexes around the city are posing.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3524558.ece

From fear to freestyle

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The motto of my academy is to teach swimming through fun, not force'.......

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3524559.ece