Mandya-Ramanagar-Chamarajanagar Projects Thread

[engineer.akash]

Karnataka govt okays sugar mill in tiger hub

Aravind Gowda | Bangalore, April 15, 2011 | Updated 10:43 IST

Tigers in Karnataka will soon have a 'sweet company' if the state government goes ahead with its plan to set up a factory in Chamarajanagar district.

The government has approved a sugar mill project in the newly-declared Biligiri Rangana Temple (BRT) Hills Tiger Reserve, adjoining the Bandipur national park.

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board has handed over 410.44 acres of land in the tiger reserve's ecosensitive zone to a private firm. The project is coming up at Modahalli in Chamarajanagar, erstwhile territory of forest brigand Veerappan.

According to rules, no commercial activity is allowed in eco-sensitive zones (10 km radius) of any wildlife sanctuary or animal reserve.

The state government carved the tiger reserve (359.1 sqkm) out of the BRT Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. The Centre issued the final notification for the BRT Hills Tiger Reserve on January 24 this year.

"Once the notification came into effect, the state government should stop all projects in the eco-sensitive zone. However, the government did not withdraw the permission granted to Bannari Amman Group to set up the sugar mill," wildlife activist Subash said.

The state government should have also referred the project to the state and national wildlife Boards for clearance, but hasn't done so till now. The forest department has informed Tamil Nadu-based Bannari Amman Group not to commence construction without the approval of the boards.

Wildlife activists insist that the government should withdraw the permission to the project, as the zone is important for migration and survival of endangered animals.

"BRT Hills sanctuary is part of the western ghats connecting the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka with Melagiri, Satyamangalam and Mudumalai sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu. Migration of animals among these sanctuaries is common. Farmers routinely spot tigers in the eco-sensitive zone," Subash said.

BRT Hills Wildlife Sanctuary is a critical habitat for tigers (36), elephants (1,100) and a sizeable population of gaurs, leopards, wolves, marble cats and rusty-spotted cats. "Illegal granite quarrying is going on in these forests.

There is tremendous pressure on the sanctuary, and the sugar mill will only increase it," Subash, lamented.

The state government had approved the sugar mill project in 2008 and gave clearances in 2009 and 2010. "Now we are waiting for clarity from the Union ministry of environment and forests whether to go ahead with the project," said Venkatesh Murthy, General Manager (corporate affairs), Bannari Amman Group.

Outlook

Obviously central ministry will not approve it.Chamrajnagar is a backward district and most importantly a very eco sensitive zone so no Industries can come up.Best way out for charmarjnagar is TOURISM!

[s.yogendra]

Jaggery Park to be opened today in Mandya
DHNS

The ‘Jaggery Park’ being set up by Regional Agriculture Extension Centre at a cost of ` eight crore will be inaugurated on Saturday.




The park aims at manufacturing chemical-free healthy jaggery to be marketed. It would also give impetus on jaggery units owned by farmers.

Addressing a news conference here, Director of the Centre of Dr K T Pandurangegowda said importance is being given to crushing of sugar cane in a scientific manner by using minimum power. The release of carbon dioxide into the air will be very less under the new technology. Of ` eight crore, ` four crore is spent on the purchase of machinery to crush sugarcane to produce jaggery.

The remaining amount is spent on packing unit and training unit. The jaggery park will manufacture three quintals of jaggery and crush two tonnes of sugar cane per hour. The jaggery would be free from chemical and good for consumption. Besides, steps are taken to maintain cleanliness.

The farmers will be encouraged to grow C0 92005 variety of sugar cane for manufacturing jaggery. The yield of cane will be around 50-55 ton per acre.

The cane growers of Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar districts can supply their produce to this unit.

Help

Chief of the jaggery park, Dr D Rajanna said it also encourages jaggery producers to go for scientific jaggery units that hardly cost `8-10 lakh. With that unit, they can manufacture two quintals of jaggery daily. The park plans to generate electricity from the byproducts of sugar cane, he added.

Inauguration

The secretary of Bharathiya Anusandhana Parishat Dr S Aiyappa will inaugurate the park at 10.30 am.

Home and District In-charge Minister R Ashok will open quality control laboratory, Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti will inaugurate jaggery processing unit. Member of Parliament N Chaluvarayaswamy will symbolically start sugarcane crushing. Development Commissioner Meera Saxena will open Training Centre for farmers. Member of Legislative Assembly C S Puttaraju will preside.

[s.yogendra]

DHNS

[s.yogendra]

DHNS

[s.yogendra]

Heritage site tag on cards for Melkote
Ashwini Y S Bangalore, May 21, DHNS

The Mandya district administration is making efforts to get a place for the temple town of Melkote in the 'World Heritage Site' list, which is recognised by Unesco.

The State government constituted the Melkote Development Authority two months ago for the overall development and conservation of the 12th century historic town, which houses two major temples and nearly 20 small temples.

The Authority, comprising 12 members including Mandya Deputy Commissioner Dr P C Jaffer, held its first meeting recently to chalk out an action plan. It was here that the idea of a place for Melkote in the 'World Heritage Site' list was conceptualised.

While Rs two crore was allocated in the previous year's budget, the government has announced an additional budget of Rs 10 crore this year, to be spent by the Authority on development work in the town.

Jaffer said presently, Rs one crore was being spent on repair works at the main temples - Cheluvanarayanaswamy temple at the foot of the hillock and Yoganarasimha temple atop the hillock. Use of plastic has already been banned in Melkote, while underground drainage work has been taken up, said Jaffer. He added that a blueprint would be prepared soon.

Historian Thailoor Venkatakrishna, who is also a member of the Authority, said the idea was to bring back the natural beauty of Melkote, for which a afforestation project has been undertaken. "Saint Ramanujacharya named the main temple Cheluvanarayanaswamy Devalaya, because of the surrounding natural beauty of Melkote. The Authority wants to recreate this environment. Efforts are on to ensure that any new house that comes up is in sync with the existing structures, so that the heritage status is maintained," said Venkatakrishna.

The historian said it was also important to protect the rocks in the town, some of which have line drawings belonging to ancient times. Archaeologists have even unearthed pots and pans which are said to be 3,000 years old. Venkatakrishna said Melkote's cultural and traditional practices, which have a heritage status, were also in need of revival. Melkote has around 76 'mantapas' and 29 'kalyanis' (tanks). The district administration has begun work on desilting these man-made ponds or tanks.

Deputy Conservator of Forests of Mandya, Vinay Kumar, said the forest department was in the process of creating various 'daivavanas' which will go by the names like 'Dharmikavana', 'Smrithivana', 'Navagrahavana' and 'Saptarishivana'. Re-plantation would be taken up on about 200 hectares in and around Melkote, where the department had identified over 200 rare and endangered floral species, some of which date back to the pre-historic times.

He said that the naked seed plants called Cycas Circinalis, endangered species like Gardenia Gummifera and the commonly used medicinal plant Boswellia Sarreta were being destroyed by constant grazing and human interference. The department will engage in natural regeneration by sowing seeds of these plants, at the same time trying to protect the soil moisture of the region.

[s.yogendra]

New hospital building to be dedicated soon

Constructed at an estimated cost of ` 9.68 crore on 2.25 acres of land



A decade long-wish of the residents of Chamarajanagar to have the state-of-the-art hospital in their city is likely to be fulfilled soon. The district hospital ,which faced several bottlenecks all these years, is in final stages of completion. It would be shortly dedicated to the people.

The 100-bed hospital is being constructed at a cost of ` 9.68 crore and coming up on the sprawling 2.25 acres of land. Already, 95 per cent of work is complete. The pending works are providing electricity connection and lift facilities which would be completed within a month. Then it would be formally inaugurated. The work that began in 2007 continued at a snail’s pace and was unable to complete within the target. However, the work picked up a year ago and now it is nearing completion.

While granite stones are put at the hospital entrance and corridors, vitrified tiles are laid in wards.

The ground floor comprise reception, waiting room, CT scan section, general surgery section, maternity ward, special wards and others. The first floor will have consultation rooms, out patient department, general ward and special wards. The second floor will have a major operation theatre, auditorium, library, laboratory, 12-bed Intensive Care Unit, and a ramp has been provided for patients. At present, the strength of hospital is 150 bed and lacked technology. Patients from Yalandur, Kollegal, Gundlupet taluks come to district hospital for additional treatment. The new hi-tech hospital would have latest technologies and it would be a boon to the people of the region. The new building, in all will have 250 beds including the new 100-beds and 24 x 7 laboratory has been constructed at a cost of ` 50 lakh.

Dr Pushpa told Deccan Herald that a list of names has been sent to the government for recruitment that includes expert doctors, para medical and others. The construction of the hospital has been given to Asian Fabs of Bangalore and the pending works would be completed in a month. Then it would be handed over the authorities concerned

DHNS

[s.yogendra]

Autonomous development body for Melkote proposed

The plans of development of temple-town Melkote is taking final shape with the Committee on Development of Melkote headed by S Ravi Narayanan, appointed by the state government, suggested nine points for the development of Melkote, which would be aligned to the religious and historical sanctity of Melkote. According to a copy of the suggestions available with Express, the Committee said that any development that is done in Melkote should be in line with rediscovery of Melkote's image as given in the Sthalapurana, inscriptions, historical, religious and philosophical and other backgrounds and values.In the long run, Melkote should have a comprehensive and autonomous development board, just like Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board, which would have overall control not only on the management of the temples but also of the entire Melkote Township.Suggesting that a master plan should be prepared visualising the requirements and developments nearly 50 years ahead, committee explained that the ageold Sanskrit college under the Muzarai department, and the academy of Sanskrit research, which is functioning in Melkote since 33 years should be brought under good management with some corporate culture to preserve the ancient knowledge systems available in Shastric texts to the posterity.Among the four important and vital holy places of Srivaishnavism namely, Srirangam, TirumalaTirupati, Kanchipuram and Melkote (Tirunarayanapuram), Melkote is hailed as Bhuvaikuntha and Jnanamantapa. Melote was a citadel of knowledge of scriptures, Divyaprabandhams and Ubhayavedanta philosophy. It was considered to be very important where the oral tradition of the Vedas and Deviyaprabhandhams was preserved. It may not be out of place to mention here that the UNESCO has recognised the oral tradition of the Vadas and Divyaprabandhams as one of the world heritage.

IBNLIVE

[s.yogendra]

[ullasavadan]

Flyover to ease congestion in Mandya

Flyover to ease congestion in Mandya

To ease traffic congestion in Mandya due to the Bangalore-Mysore highway, the government is contemplating a bypass road or a flyover. PWD minister C M Udasi told the legislative council on Tuesday that a detailed project project for a bypass has already been prepared.

"In case of a bypass, 75 hectares of land has to be acquired and as per 2006-07 estimate, the cost will come up to Rs 103 crore. It's irrigated land and hence we have to discuss it. However, we will decide on a suitable option to ease congestion," the minister said.

SOURCE: Times of India

[s.yogendra]

Rs. 6 cores has been granted to develop various roads in Yelandur, Chamarajanagara


Source:- Andolona Daily

[s.yogendra]

[s.yogendra]

New crest gates installed at KRS dam

The work on the plus 80 feet crest gates at the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir in Srirangapatna taluk, taken up at a cost of ` 684 lakh has been completed.



In the light of the 16 crest gates being weakened, the Cauvery Niravari Nigam had called for tenders. The work had started in 2009. S N Narayan Engineers from Hospet had taken up the work.

Cauvery Niravari Nigam officials told Deccan Herald that the total cost of the project was ` 720 lakh which included the electrification of the 16 crest gates.

Now, the plan for three gates of the plus 60 feet level VC canal is ready. Along with this tenders have been called for replacement three gates of 50 feet level (sewering sluice).

The 48 automatic gates at 114 feet level are in working condition. With the new crest gates installed at plus 80 feet level, the leakage of water has been stopped. The Chief Minister will inaugurate the new gates. However, no date has been fixed for the in inauguration, said the Nigam sources.

DHNS

[s.yogendra]

CM lays foundation for 14 cores drinking water supply project to Hannur town and surrounding seven villages


Source:- Udyavani

[s.yogendra]

[s.yogendra]

Government seventeen point agenda for MM Hills Development


© Udayavani

[s.yogendra]

some of the points

512 rooms capacity building to be constructed for pilgrims @ 17.80 cores

for UGD development 20 cores

MM Hill to get drinking water from cauvery river @ 13.20 cores

Quarters development for 200 employee capacity @ 20 cores

for VVIP & VIP 36 rooms capacity guest house to be constructed @ 8.20 cores

[s.yogendra]

Karnataka CM visited Malai Mahadeshvara Temple,He instructed the Officers to take up Devlepmental work












© sahilonline

[s.yogendra]

Transport Authority meeting held after two years in Chamarajanagar
Chamarajanagar, June 14, DHNS

There is no cleanliness maintained in the buses, ‘Dakota’ buses are being run, the buses that stop overnight in our town has to be pushed by the passengers in the morning for them to start. What is the problem in running clean, good, working condition buses?

These were some of the questions raised at the District Regional Transport Authority meeting being held after two years on Tuesday at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The rural folk brought some of the problems they were facing to light. They also demanded proper facilities.

There are no bus services to the villages in and around Kemanapura. A memorandum in this regard has been submitted to the authority. Every day nearly 300 students travel to Chamarajanagar.

But not a single bus comes to these villages. As a result the children’s education and the daily commuting of the villagers suffer, said a villager.

The public are not aware of the meetings being held and there is no proper information. There is no bus service to Kalanahundi village. in Kotamballi under the Prime Minister Grameen Sadak scheme, crores of rupees have been spent to build roads.

However, the authorities are giving false excuses saying the roads are not in good condition for the KSRTC and private buses to commute. The villagers urged them to immediately restore the bus services.

Reacting to this Deputy Commissioner Amarnarayan said that the Authority should hold every three months. Dates will be fixed to hold four meetings in a year.

However, the bus owners were forcing the authority to postpone the meetings. This time such an opportunity has not been given, he added. It is the responsibility of the RTA to provide bus services. Wherever the KSRTC and private buses can ply they will be asked to ply, he said.

He directed the officials concerned to take action in this regard. Superintendent of Police B S Prakash and Regional Transport officer N J Gayathridevi were present.

Action against autos

The Deputy Commissioner K Amarnarayan has ordered the cancelling of licenses of those goods autos which are being used to transport passengers. The bus owners raised objections against the goods autos in the meeting.

The autos do not have permit to carry passengers. Even then there is this menace in the district in many places. As a result the buses are suffering losses. Action should be immediately taken against them.

In one week action will be taken against all goods autos. Permits will be cancelled of those who violate the rules and along with it the RC books should be confiscated. The driving licence of the autorickshaw drivers should also be cancelled, directed the Deputy Commissioner to the RTO

[s.yogendra]

Anil Kumble examines the place for Mini Hydel Project in Srirangapatna

© mysooru mitra

[s.yogendra]

376 houses illegally constructed in 7.18 acre to be demolished in MM Hills

© Udyavani