Kolar Projects Thread

[byrakur]

Mulbagal, Apr 4, 2012, DHNS :
Funds up to Rs 7.5 lakh have been released to sink borewells as the problem of water shortage all over Kolar district has aggravated, said P N Srinivasachari, District In-charge Secretary.


Addressing a meeting of district-level officers at the Travellers’ Bungalow on Wednesday, Srinivasachari called upon officers of the taluk panchayat, revenue and Zilla Panchayat engineering branches to work hand-in-hand to solve the problems of the citizens of Kolar
district.

Manoj Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner, said the level of underground water in the district has sunk heavily due to unlicensed sand mining.

“The taluk administration should take immediate action to stop unauthorised transport of sand.

Do not fall for the influential position of a person and permit him to carry on lobbying,” he instructed the officers.

Superintendent of Police Ram Niwas Sepat, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rajendra P Cholan and other officers were present.

Citizens protest for water

Pumps fitted on to the two borewells at Ward 4 have remained defunct the last 10 days and the authorities have not bothered to repair them, complained citizens protesting outside the Town Municipal Council on Tuesday.

“Residents in the neighbouring layouts have access to water pumped out from the wells, while we are denied of adequate water most of the time,” they complained.

Demands

“The TMC should immediately repair both pumps and also provide alternative means of water supply. The authorities should also ensure that the watermen appointed for each ward provide enough water to the residents,” the protesters demanded.

The chief officer of the TMC received the memorandum from the citizens and promised a solution to the problem of Ward 4, after which, the protest was withdrawn.

Dalit Sangharsha Samiti taluk convenor Keeluholali Satish, Madiga Dandora district unit president R Nagaraj, SDPI president Chand Pasha, Zuber, Sadiq Pasha and others led the protest.

Source:
Deccan

[JhonJ]

Stalled work on railway underpass in Chikkaballapur resumed


Work on the railway underpass connecting Kelaginathota Layout to BB Road, which had come to a halt due to various reasons including non-release of funds, has been restarted.

The underpass, with a modern design, is the first of its kind in the city.

Work on the underpass would have started by now, had all plans materialised. Construction of an underpass that would come in the way of neither the railway track nor the road had been launched in a big way a few years back.

Citizens were also hopeful, as an underpass would mean they need not wait for a long span of time at a railway level-crossing.

People unhappy

The stalling of the work naturally disappointed them. “No work should be stopped midway, especially when it raises hopes. Officers should not postpone work, giving lame excuses. A half-completed work creates a lot of problems not only for citizens, but also in many other ways,” they had complained.

Work was begun again last week. Currently, the concrete work is on and vehicles have been provided a deviation. Heaps of mud are to be found on the road and virtual dust clouds rise when two-wheelers, cars and other vehicles speed down.

P V Raman, supervisor of the construction work, said, “We have dug a huge ditch from one side of the railway track to provide connection to Kelaginathota Layout, next to the Shirdi Sai Baba temple. Connection between the other side and BB Road will be provided next,” speaking to Deccan Herald.

“We are trying our best not to inconvenience citizens. We also hope to complete the work without bringing down the tree or the temple. The work needs a few months more to finish. Most of the funds released has been for the construction work. This should help us complete the work much faster,” he added.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...aballapur.html

[JhonJ]

Valagere residents traverse 4 km just to fetch water

With absolutely no alternative source for water, residents of Valagere village in Madanahalli gram panchayat limits in the taluk have to tread three to four kilometres to fetch water from private borewells.

Although there is a lone borewell in the village, the people have stopped using it as it gives only saline water.

Even new borewell sunk on the outskirts of the village has not been useful, as the authorities concerned have not yet fixed the pump. The residents want the grama panchayat to fix the motor pump soon.

The village comprising about 1,300 people has been deprived of water since many months.

Some of the private borewells that catered to the needs of the people, are also not functioning now, thanks to depleting water table, said Krishnegowda. A borewell in his house was the other source that the residents relied on for water till a few days ago.

According to Bairareddy and Narayanaswamy, residents of the village, they cannot use the water from the lone borewell in the taluk, as the water saline. “We cannot even cook using that water. We have to go to four kilometre to get water for our cattle too,” they added.

Upset over apathy of the officers, the residents now travel up to Chettivaripalli to fetch water. But, even there the water is not sufficient, say the residents.

The residents want the authorities concerned to sink another borewell soon or provide them with alternative source.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...erse-4-km.html

[JhonJ]

Farmer-activists charge Moily with neglecting irrigation projects

Minister draws flak for preferring Ettinahole over Paramashivaiah Report

The agitation for water is likely to intensify in the coming days as various agitation committees in Chikkaballapur and Kolar are set to protest for the cause, following the visit of Minister Veerappa Moily to Bagepalli.

During his visit, he had made a statement that Ettinhole Project can be implemented in the district within 30 months as compared to the Paramashivaiah Report that would take 40 years for implementation.

On the one hand, Undivided Kolar District Permanent Irrigation Committee has been chalking out plans to get their demands fulfilled while on the other hand the District Permanent Irrigation Agitation Committee, is gearing up for protests.

The protesters accused the minister of failing to keep his promise that he made during elections of implementing the irrigation projects.

“In a public interaction before the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 the minister had promised to implement the permanent irrigation projects in the district within three years. But now he has placed Ettinahole project above the Paramashivaiah Report,” co-ordinator of the committee Anjaneya Reddy said at a press conference on Friday.

“Such statements by the minister has resulted in an utter disappointment among the people. This has exposed his true colours,” co-ordinator of the Undivided Kolar District Permanent Irrigation Agitation Committee leader G V Srirama Reddy said.

He said that the members of the agitation committee will protest without affiliating to any political party. A public awareness programme will be also be carried out to make people aware of the irrigation projects in the district.

Agitation sub-committees have been set up the eight districts by the Undivided Kolar District Permanent Irrigation Agitation Committee to fight for the cause of the people in the region.

A convention programme held in Tumkur recently was one of such initiatives.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...eglecting.html

[JhonJ]

In Chikkaballapur, members avoid CMC

It’s a bid to avoid citizens’ complaints

Work at the City Municipal Council has come to a virtual standstill as members are keeping away, to avoid taking to task officers who are missing on duty.

Worse, the CMC members are also unavailable for citizens to complain about issues. They can be reached neither in office nor, curiously, at home.

The new situation has continued in the last three weeks. Citizens, confused, can only speculate on the reasons for the strange behaviour of the members, and of course, express dissatisfaction over their behaviour.

“The CMC members were elected with the hope that the problems in the wards would be solved and amenities provided. Our conditions are only worsening with each passing day, but the members have shunned us completely,” say the citizens.

Reasons speculated

The change in the work style of the CMC is attributed to several factors.

The cold war between CMC president B A Lokesh Kumar and some other members is said to be one of them. M Prakash, a member, supported by 23 other members had met the CMC officers on March 23 and requested for a meeting to move a no-confidence motion against the president. The request is said to have been the starting point of a change in the environment at the CMC.

Representatives of some organisations have laid siege to the CMC demanding that the government supersede the CMC. A Public Interest Litigation was also filed at the High Court in the matter.

“The City has 31 wards. Although each of the wards has its own problem, shortage of water is the common factor as borewells are drying up. In addition, all roads are littered with garbage as the waste is not cleared in time,” complained P Srinivas, former CMC member.

“If we question the officers and members of the CMC, they promise many things, but do nothing,” he added.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...avoid-cmc.html

[JhonJ]

Mulbagal to get Hoysala style temple

KOLAR: A Hoysala model Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy temple will be constructed on 21 acres at N Venkatapura village in Mulbagal at a cost of `300 crore, said Textile Board member R S Krishnaiah Setty.
After performing pooja for the sacred stone which will be installed at the ‘Karbagudi’ (sanctum sanctorum) on Friday, he said the stone would be taken to the place where the temple would be constructed on April 15 after performing poojas. The bhoomi pooja would be performed as per the customs, in which priests of Tirupathi Tirumala temple, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa and BWSSB chairman S N Krishnaiah Setty would take part.

source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnat...le/379874.html

[JhonJ]

Solve drinking water problem, Bachegowda tells taluk officers

Tells officers to visit rural areas, during Janaspandana meeting

Legislator K P Bachegowda has instructed officers concerned to take immediate action to alleviate the drinking water problem in the taluk.

He was addressing a Janaspandana meeting at the Ajjavara Government Higher Primary School on Saturday.

“With the level of underground water only receding and borewells drying up rapidly, people will have a very difficult time in summer. There is no drinking water nor any water to irrigate the fields,” he said.

“The water and electricity problems of the district should be solved on a permanent basis. Officers should visit the rural areas and learn of the problems faced by the residents, in order to solve them,” he added.

Tahsildar Bhaskar said, up to 31 applications were submitted during the Janaspandana programme organised at Ajjavara in February 2011.

“Of these, 23 applications have been cleared. The Revenue Department had received 17 applications, of which 11 were related to ration cards. The Taluk Panchayat got six applications, Zilla Panchayat received one, the Animal Husbandry Department got one, the Department of Education and the Child Welfare Department got two each and the Bescom got three applications,” he added.

Zilla Panchayat member Munegowda, Taluk Panchayat president Manjula, vice-president Venkatanarayanappa, executive officer Ramachandra Reddy and others were present at the meeting.

School needs land: Committee chief

“Give us the four acres of government land near the village and we will build a hostel for BCM students,” said S Lakshmipathi, chairman of the Ajjavara Government Higher Primary School development committee, speaking at the Janaspandana meeting at the School premises on Saturday.

“We can even upgrade the School,” he added and requested the government not to waste a precious plot of land. “This is after all a government school asking for a plot of government land,” he added, turning somewhat emotional.

“Officers push off the matter whenever we try to speak about the plot. They insist the case is in court, or give some vague excuse,” he alleged.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...achegowda.html

[JhonJ]

Border school basks in the depths of green

The look of the Bennavara Government Lower Primary School, situated just two km away from the Andhra Pradesh border, always attracts passersby.

Barely a step into the compound and a person is forced to bow before the awe-inspiring fruits of labour of the staff and students.

The School, with 53 students, is a close competitor of a private school nearby. The staff have to constantly work to ensure parents do not shift their children there, falling for the charms of a private school. Most of time, they attempt at achieving this by bringing true the government slogan of each school having a garden.

The only staff the School has are headmistress Sujatha and assistant teacher Vijaya Kumar. Kumar, a native of Narasapura near Kolar city, commutes to the School everyday.
A unique achiever, he has proved that being deprived of a healthy body need not be a hindrance to achievement. Kumar is crippled in one hand and leg. Yet, he is not only employed as a teacher, but also works at maintaining the greenery on campus at Bennavara.

The cooperation and encouragement from Sujatha, combined with his own will and desire to convert the campus into a beautiful, green place, led Kumar to Mulbagal and Srinivaspur, to find and purchase saplings.

Relentless effort

Usha, an anganwadi worker in the School, says with pride, “Vijay Kumar has been striving the last three years to maintain the greenery in the compound. It is difficult for him, yet, he get the saplings from different places to plant all over the campus.”
Kumar is also seen very often, planting them on campus, with assistance from students. The water provided by the Gram Panchayat is collected in the School and used on the plants.

Poppy, pineapple, onion, garlic, potato, champak and several other plants are found in the School. The students spare some time during the lunch hour to tend to the plants.
The School is yet to win any of the awards given by the Environment Department. The teachers, too, however, have not applied for the awards so far.

The School, green throughout the year, is, nevertheless, an antithesis of several schools that have won awards but have not been able to live up to it, thanks to the searing heat of summer.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ths-green.html

[JhonJ]

CB Pur will get Rs 5 crore immediately: CM

Relief work: Officers instructed not to wait for government orders

The State government will release up to Rs five crore immediately to handle drought in the district, promised Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda.

“The matter will be further discussed with officers and representatives. Following reports regarding the drought situation, which should be submitted soon by the Deputy Commissioner, the district will get as much relief funds as required,” he added.

The Chief Minister addressed a meeting of district level officers and elected representatives at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium on Monday.
Learning the conditions
“Visiting personally has showed me how serious the drought situation and shortage of water supply are in the district. Immediate action will be taken to alleviate the problems. Also, all problems will be solved in phases,” he promised.

“The problems faced by the residents of villages cannot be ignored. Bescom should provide power connection within four days of sinking borewells. Officers of other departments should also ensure other facilities are provided. In addition, help from private or even retired geologists should be sought regarding sinking of borewells,” said the Chief Minister.
‘Provide facilities’

“Villages facing shortage of water should be supplied water through tankers. If it is difficult to supply power in an authorised way, provide generators. Bescom should provide power to rural areas for four hours in the day and two hours at night daily, in order to help the farmers continue agricultural work.

The Deputy Commissioner should discuss drought related issues with officers of various departments every three or four days and take necessary action,” he instructed.

Gowda also instructed officers of all departments to compulsorily work from their centres when the people are facing drought.
“Officers who neglect the problems of drought-affected areas will be taken to task strictly. Relief cannot be delayed because of silly, negligible internal problems of the departments,” he warned.
‘Don’t wait’
District In-charge Minister A Narayanaswamy said, “Officers need not wait for government orders to handle drought situations.”

He also instructed officers to consider the Chief Minister's words during the meeting on Monday as order and start work immediately.

Union Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily, legislators Dr M C Sudhakar, K P Bachegowda, V Muniyappa and N H Shivashankara Reddy, Zilla Panchayat president M V Krishnappa, District In-charge Secretary N C Muniyappa, Deputy Commissioner Dr N Manjula, Superintendent of Police Dr T D Pawar, Additional Deputy Commissioner T Venkatesh, Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer B S Shekharappa and others were present at the meeting.
Need Rs 18 crore for drought relief: DC

The district needs about Rs 18 crore to handle the drought situation comprehensively and effectively, said Deputy Commissioner Dr N Manjula. “Each of the six taluks in Chikkaballapur district needs about Rs three crore to solve the problems. There is severe shortage of water and fodder, especially. More borewells need to be sunk and fodder distributed among farmers to alleviate the problems.”

Immediate release of Rs 18 crore by the State government would prove helpful as officers of departments could discuss implementation of the funds effectively, she added.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...-get-rs-5.html

[JhonJ]

Mercury rising in Bagepalli

Beat the heat

Denuded hillocks, dried up wells and tanks, coupled with rising temperature have made summer unbearable for residents at Bagepalli.

Global warming seems to have had its effect with 40 deg celsius being recorded in the taluk. Also, variation in temperature has been registered in the lower regions of Bagepalli, this summer.
The plight of cattle that are unable to find water sources is indescribable. The summer heat is accentuated by the presence of hillocks and lack of vegetation.
Depleting water level
To make the situation worse, the groundwater table in the region has been depleting at a fast pace. It is tough to get water even after drilling the borewell at 800 to 1,000 ft. In addition to this people in the taluk also have to fight out fluoride problem.
The long-awaited permanent irrigation scheme that promises water to the arid districts in the State still remains a distant dream. Due to lack of green cover, vendors are forced to sell their goods in the scorching heat.

Consumption of watermelons, butter milk and water seem the best way to beat the heat.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...bagepalli.html

[JhonJ]

62 lorries carrying smuggled sand seized in Mulbagal, Malur

Around 62 lorries were seized in the district on Monday in two separate raids carried out by officials of Police and Revenue Departments.
In the first incident, more than 60 lorries were seized on Narasimhatheertha and Tayalur Cross located on the outskirts of the City. A penalty has also been slapped on the lorry owners.
As per the orders of the District Incharge Secretary and Deputy Commissioner, stringent measures will be taken to tackle illegal sand mining in the area, Mulbagal Tahsildar P Jayamadhava has said.
In Malur
In the second instance, acting on a tip off, the office bearers of the Tank Users’ Club, seized two lorries and handed them over to the police. The lorries were allegedly transporting sand illegally at Paduvanahalli Tank.
Sources close to the investigation said that illegal sand mining was rampant in Padavanahalli, Vappacchalli, Bantahalli, D N Doddi and Bennaghatta in D N Doddi Gram Panchayat limits in Lakkur Hobli.

The sand was being transported from the State to Kerela during the night. This has adversely affected the fertility of the soil near tanks along with depletion of ground water level.
Futile efforts
Earlier, the Tahsildar and police officials had seized several lorries involved in illegal sand mining and registered cases, but they have been unable to tackle the situation completely, the residents complained. They urged to solve the problem at the earliest by introducing strict measures.

President of Tank Users Association V Palakshababu, Doddi Muniraju, Krishnappa, B R Narayanappa, Venkatachalapathy and others were part of the investigating team.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...gled-sand.html

[JhonJ]

Drought review team confronts dry Kolar

Disappointed citizens welcome the team with empty pots

Dry land, empty pots and borewells not yielding water welcomed Law Minister Suresh Kumar, who was in Kolar on Tuesday, to review drought situation in the district.

Citizens of the district tried to explain the Minister and his team, their problems including acute shortage of drinking water and fodder.

Ministers S Suresh Kumar, Ravindranath, R Ashoka and B N Bachegowda had to confront anger and disappointment of the people for not managing the drought situation.

The team had to face the wrath of the people at Muduvadi village on the way to Srinivaspur.
People stopped the team and made them to listen to their problems. Zilla Panchayat member S B Munivenkatappa recounted that even the borewells are dried up and the women who were staging protesting blocked the vehicle the team was travelling in and said: “Unless you give a proper solution to the water shortage, we will not allow you to go further.”

The team was taken aback by the protest and Zilla Panchayat Chief Eexecutive Oofficer P Rajendra Cholan, Tahsildar Muniveerappa, S B Munivenkatappa tried to console the women and gave them assurances of solving the
problem.

But they did not budge to this. At last the police personnel intervened and forced them to make way for the vehicle and allowed the team to move further.

Transport Minister R Ashoka, joined the team at Meesaganahalli in Srinivaspur. Most of the people in Sugatoor, Jannaghatta, Muduvadi, Panasamakanahalli drew team’s attention to sever drinking water problem, drying up of borewells and lack of fodder for the domesticated animals. Minister Suresh Kumar listened to the problems and collected information.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ronts-dry.html

[JhonJ]

Veerappa Moily visits Chikkaballapur

Veerappa Moily, Union Corporate Affairs Minister visited Harobande, Gongadipur and Magalakuppe in the taluk in the backdrop of reviewing drought situation here.

After listening to the residents, he directed the officers to take necessary steps to take necessary actions to solve the water crisis. He promised the residents to look into the problems and to solve it as soon as possible.

Will receive report: CM

The Chief Minister D Sadananda Gowda has said that he will take into consideration every report dealing with drought relief work, even if it comes from former chief minister B S Yedyurappa. “I will try to implement the advise and important facts in the report to solve the problem,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, he said: “Yedyurappa has toured the State and has submitted a report on drought condition. I will take necessary steps towards drought relief after reading the report,” he added.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...aballapur.html

[JhonJ]

Water scarcity in Shidlaghatta triggers migration

Farmers who had put their trust in sericulture and dairy farming now in despair

The lakes of the taluk have become dry. Even the deeply sunk borewell have gone dry. Those farmers who had put their trust in sericulture and dairy farming are now in despair.

Every year during summer there was an increase in the arrivals of silkworm cocoons in the market. But this year there has been a decline. Due to lack water, some farmers are unable to raise any crops and are waiting for the monsoon. Farmers with small holding are working elsewhere.

In some villages farmers are putting all their money on stake for sinking borewells in the hope of finding water, in a taluk where there is already a depletion in the water table.

More than 200 persons who were engaged in sericulture in the villages of Kadirinayakanahalli, Appegowdanahalli, Melur, Mallur, which are known for its sericulture, are now going to work in garment factories.

Earlier there was a shortage of workers in garment factories of Bangalore. However, the
factories now get workers from the neighbouring taluks.

“In my village Hithlahalli, 24 borewells were sunk during the last seven months. Out this only five borewells give water ranging 700 to 1,500 gallon water. A single farmer sunk 13 borewells of which water was available only in two.

In the village 16 persons who were engaged in silkworm cocoon rearing are now working in garment factories in Doddaballapur and Yelahanka. About 40 persons from the village are working as cooks for various wedding caterers”, says Suresh, a farmer from Hithlahalli.

He further says, “Migration from the villages will have an effect on agricultural production. Migration is not a permanent solution. It does not lead to economic and social stability. If migration from is not prevented villages will be deserted. The Government should provide opportunities for economic activity in the villages and a solution for permanent irrigation.

Because of water and power shortage and migration the prices of summer crops have gone up. An average person cannot afford highly priced vegetables necessary for nutrition. There is an immediate need to improve the condition in the villages.”

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...migration.html

[JhonJ]

Chitravati water to last for 15 days

The water in the Chitravati Barrage at Paragodu, on the outskirts of Bagepalli, can only be supplied for next 15 days, has previous monsoon had failed in the region. The government should make alternative arrangements to supply drinking water, KPCC president G Parameshwara said.

The drought inspection team headed by Parameshwara visited the barrage on Wednesday to take stock of the situation.

Addressing mediapersons, he said the Chitravati barrage had the capacity to supply drinking water to Gudibande and Bagepalli taluks. However, due to scanty rainfall, the storage level is low leading to water crisis. Apart from supplying drinking water and fodder, the government should immediately waive loans taken by the farmers.

There is an exodus of 100 to 200 people from every village. The government should open ‘Go Shaale’ (cowshed) in regions severely affected by drought and if necessary should also open ‘gruel centres,’ he added.

Parameshwara said there was no politics over drought. He added that ministers and legislators should visit the areas affected by drought should provide relief to the affected.

Congress leaders who had criticised the CM’s foreign tour, have however, defended legislator N Sampangi, who is also on a foreign tour. Replying to the queries of the mediapersons, the leaders said that it was duty of Chief Minister to know about the drought situation in every taluk of the State. However, even in the absence of Sampangi, officers concerned could carry out the relief work, they added.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...t-15-days.html

[JhonJ]

Learning the lessons of *life in the fields

It is the firm belief of some teachers that rote learning alone is not enough. They believe that children can learn a lot by work experience.

The teachers of Marihalli Government Lower Primary School in Shidlaghatta took the students to the ragi (finger millets) yard to teach them the lessons of life.

Skills

The children learnt to thresh the ragi grain and separate the chaff from the grain and other post-harvesting operations. They also learnt the importance of ragi and the traditional way of cultivating it.

Devaraj, the teacher instructed them. Ragi is the second most important crop in the State. The farmers of the state use bullock and stone to do the threshing.

The teacher said the students, who are influenced by urban culture, were brought to the ragi yard so that they do not forget the tradition of cultivating the ragi.

In all 55 students had a first hand experience of working in a ragi yard.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...fe-fields.html

[JhonJ]

Provide pumpsets, power within 24 hours: Muniyappa

Water crisis: Vigilance committee meeting deals with ‘emergency borewells’*
Borewells that have been sunk at immediate notice in the district should be provided motor and power connection within 24 hours, Union Minister K H Muniyappa instructed Bescom officers.

Addressing the vigilance committee meeting at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium on Friday, the minister said many of the borewells sunk in the district lacked either motor or power connection.

“People cannot benefit from such half-hearted efforts. Providing pumpsets and power connection to borewells is extremely important in emergency situations. Attempting to purchase pumpsets only after sinking the borewells will not fulfill the aims of the district administration,” he said and instructed Nataraj, Bescom executive engineer, and Devaraj, Zilla Panchayat executive engineer, to work keeping in constant touch with each other.

‘Ensure availability’

“It is also important to ascertain if water would be available before sinking a borewell at any spot. Sinking borewells just because there is need and there are funds will not involve proper utilisation of the funds. Instances of borewells drying up within 10 to 15 days of sinking are only on the rise,” said Muniyappa.

He also warned officers to take note of the fact that about 10 per cent of the water in the borewells is drying up every week.

“Rain is expected in June. But the district will face drinking water shortage for 45 to 50 days. All officers need to work to handle the situation. They should ensure there are no cases of death of cattle or even of citizens landing at the Zilla Panchayat office begging for water supply,” instructed the minister.

Private owners

“Sinking borewells is not the right solution to the current problem, but is unavoidable. Therefore it is better to cajole owners of private borewells and try to get water from them. It would be even better to make them a part of the drought-relief work,” said Muniyappa.

The minister added that Panchayat development officers, presidents, members and junior engineers should undertake inspection of sites in this regard.

Muniyappa, however, said, “Mere gathering information and giving instructions does not seem to change the work style of officers. Another meeting will therefore be organised in 15 days’ time to review the implementation of the instructions given in this meeting.”

Need of the hour

Speaking on the issue, ZP chief executive officer P Rajendra Cholan said, “There is a severe drinking water crisis in 388 villages in the district. Out of 934 borewells that have been dug 245 have failed. Rs 43 crore has been released to meet the drinking water demands out of which Rs 42 crore has already been spent.”

Giving information to the minister, he said that drinking water is being supplied to 180 villages through tankers and 150 villages through private borewells.

The water in the existing wells have been depleting and if the water dries up there would be severe drinking water crisis in 320 villages. To overcome the crisis, a proposal has been submitted to the government to sanction Rs 10 crore to dig borewells.

‘People want borewells’

Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena and Cholan said the residents from all over the district have put forward the sole demand of digging borewells to tackle the drinking water crisis in the taluks.
They added that it is a challenge to convince them on this.

However, they assured that the problems that would rise by digging new borewells would be made understood to the villagers eventually, but they urged the ministers to carry on with their effort.
Zilla Panchayat president Manjula and vice-president D V Harish were also present at the meeting.

Develop tanks under MGNREGS: CM

Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena said Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda ordered, in a video conference on Thursday, to carry out the development of tanks and water bodies under the MGNREGS. “He has ordered the officers concerned to give information about the water bodies in their villages.”

The DC added that instead of renovating the water tanks that do not have water, the water bodies with water should be given importance.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...-24-hours.html

[JhonJ]

Karnataka Govt clears 43 projects worth Rs 35,785 cr

BANGALORE APRIL 13:
The Karnataka state high-level clearance committee (SHLCC) has cleared 43 projects with an investment of over Rs 35,785 crore. The projects cleared at today's SHLCC meet are likely to create employment to 4.83 lakh persons in the state.

SECTOR WISE PROJECTS

Following are the sector-wise projects approved: Aerospace - one project - investment Rs 246 crore - employment offered for 558 people.

Automobile –nine - investment Rs 3,628.21 crore - employment potential offered for 7821 people.

Cement – three - investment Rs 6,475.13 crore - employment offered for 1,525 people.

Chemicals – two - investment Rs 595.91 crore -employment offered 558.

Education – one project - investment Rs 493.69 crore - employment offered for 6500 people.

Energy – one project - investment Rs 930 crore - employment offered for 550 people.

Food-based industries – three - investment Rs 275.32 crore - employment offered for 2,359 people.

Integrated township – one project - investment Rs 2,025 crore - employment offered for 490 people.

Iron and steel – one - investment Rs 4,190.40 crore - employment offered for 1,264 people.

IT Park – five - investment Rs 10,184.74 crore - employment offered for 4,14,600 people.

Others – six projects - investment Rs 1,493.71 crore - employment offered for 4,091 people. SEZ – three - investment Rs 3,961 crore - employment offered for 33,200 people.

Sugar – six - investment Rs 999.64 crore - employment offered for 1,713 people.

Textiles – one project - investment Rs 287 crore - employment offered for 450 people.

DISTRICT WISE

Bangalore (rural) - 11 projects - investments Rs 13,525.5 crore - employment 4.07 lakh people.

Bangalore (Urban) - 6 - investments Rs 6,727.74 crore - employment 48,048 people.

Belgaum - 3 - investments Rs 543.64 crore - employment 1,127 people.

Bellary - 1 project - investment Rs 4,190.4 crore - employment 1,264 people; Bidar - 1 - investments Rs 179.5 crore - employment 314 people; Bijapur - 1 - investments Rs 62 crore - employment 72 people; [B]Chikkaballapur - 2 - investments Rs 1,429.91 crore - employment 8,250 people[/B]; Dharwad - 1 - investments Rs 493.69 crore - employment 6,500 people; Gulbarga - 3 projects investments Rs 6475.13 crore employment 1,525 people; Hassan - 1 - investments Rs 125.8 crore - employment 84 people; Kolar - 3 - investments Rs 342.86 crore - employment 1,745 people; Mandya - 1 project - investments Rs 99.52 crore - employment 2,000 people; Mysore - 3 - investments Rs 437 crore - employment 1,425 people; Ramanagara - 2 - investments Rs 592.4 crore - employment 528 people; Yadgir - 1 project - investments - employment 1,160 people.

source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...ue&ref=wl_home

[JhonJ]

Chikkaballapur - 2 - investments Rs 1,429.91 crore - employment 8,250 people

Kolar - 3 - investments Rs 342.86 crore - employment 1,745 people

Any idea, which Industry and Name of the organisation/Company investing as mentioned.

[JhonJ]

Father’s act keeps son’s memories alive

“Putra shokam nirantaram,” (Grief over the loss of son is eternal) goes the saying in Sanskrit.

However, Subrahmanyachari and his family, instead of wallowing in grief over the loss of their son, are reliving him everyday for the past four years by providing water to villagers and cattle.

A resident of Mulbagal town, Subrahmanyachari lost his 11-year-old son Puneeth Raj in an accident in 2008.

Subrahmanyachari was riding a two-wheeler with his son as a pillion rider. They met with an accident near Ajjampalli, in which Puneeth Raj was killed and Subrahmanyachari escaped unhurt.

Subrahmanyachari and his family members were thus left to grieve for the rest of their lives. However, the family instead of loosing themselves in grief, decided to sublimate the grief into something useful to society.

Subrahmanyachari revived a defunct borewell adjacent to his agricultural land at Bypalli on the outskirts of the town. The City Municipal Council responded well to his request.

Subrahmanyachari installed a motor and sought electricity connection. A cement pond was constructed next to the borewell, thus, making water available to people. A cattle pond too has been constructed for cattle.

People and cattle who slake their thirst at the ponds thus go happy. Subrahmanyachari and his family have thus set an example worth emulation by converting a personal tragedy into a societal gain.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...-memories.html