Dear Friends, - KPSC,KAS,Karnataka Administrative Services,KAS ...nammakpsc.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Interview.pdf · limits of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to take

Dear Friends,

Congratulations to all those who have cleared mains and will be appearing for the Personality Test. Having been through the ordeal of studying current affairs of the state, we realise how crucial it is to have a handy compilation of all the issues at one place. Since our main focus in UPSC is towards National and international issues, state issues tend to get ignored.

This is a small effort by NammaKPSC team towards your final stage of the journey. This issue includes the most important topics related to Karnataka that have appeared in news in the last six months. These will help you improvise your DAF preparations.

Please note, some of the topics are district specific and have been deliberately included so as to help you prepare according to your needs.

You can refer our monthly magazines (MAHITHI MONTHLY) for detailed current affairs of Karnataka. You can also download important government documents related to Karnataka from our website www.nammakpsc.com.

This issue has been compiled by Dr Arjun Bopanna and Dr Sahana Hadimani. If any of the aspirants would like to interact with us or discuss your DAF, feel free to mail us. We would be more than happy to share our experience with you.

‘Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do’

All the very best

Team NammaKPSC

Contact: Bangalore School of Civil Services, Bellary Main Road, Hebbal, Bangalore. Ph: +91-9632757615

http://www.nammakpsc.com/

RECENT KARNATAKA ISSUES- FOR UPSC INTERVIEW

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Contents

Lakes in bangalore: it's issues and solutions ...................................................................................................... 5

URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 8

Traffic woes and solutions ......................................................................................................................................... 15

Kataria Committee report .......................................................................................................................................... 17

WELFARE OF SLUM DWELLERS ............................................................................................................................. 18

DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS ............................................................................................................. 19

WASTE WATER RECLAMATION AT VRISHBAVATHI VALLEY ................................................................. 21

Grama Swaraj Project ................................................................................................................................................ 22

Suvarna Gramodaya Yojane .................................................................................................................................... 22

Jal Nirmal Project ........................................................................................................................................................... 23

Rural Energy Programmes ........................................................................................................................................ 23

RURAL ROADS ................................................................................................................................................................. 25

National Family Health Survey: Karnataka Related Data ............................................................................ 26

Solar panels atop irrigation canals to generate power ................................................................................. 29

Karnataka Model of Unified platform of agricultural marketing ............................................................. 29

Karnataka cultural policy ........................................................................................................................................... 30

Sand extraction from CRZ in Dakshina Kannada ............................................................................................. 30

Natana Rangashaale ..................................................................................................................................................... 31

HC asks government to examine plea for banning eucalyptus plantations ........................................ 31

Adopt a Tourism Destination ................................................................................................................................... 32

Special focus fails to address regional imbalances in State ........................................................................ 32

Karnataka Tourism Policy 2015-20 ...................................................................................................................... 33

Sugarcane farmer's crisis ........................................................................................................................................... 35

Rejuvenation of Arkavati River ............................................................................................................................... 36

Dil ki baat ........................................................................................................................................................................... 36

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARTICLE 371J ........................................................................................ 37

Farmers suicide in Karnataka ................................................................................................................................. 39

Methane gas fires from abandoned rock quarries in Bangalore .............................................................. 42

KARNATAKA Lokayukta- Issues ............................................................................................................................. 43

State seeks to make B'luru top aerospace hub ................................................................................................. 47

Tiger corridors ................................................................................................................................................................ 47

Karnataka to get institute on conservation of Western Ghats .................................................................. 48

Baduku Besaya ................................................................................................................................................................ 48

M-sand units can avail 5% subsidy on loan interest ..................................................................................... 48

Committee to focus on farmers, outreach programmes, education ....................................................... 48

Voting ink marker pens ............................................................................................................................................... 49

State drug testing lab has vital role in national survey ................................................................................ 49

Rationalist MM Kalburgi's cold blooded killing ............................................................................................... 49

GI footprint spread across Karnataka .................................................................................................................. 50

Centre has lauded Karnataka's solar energy policy ....................................................................................... 52

Mahadayi water dispute ............................................................................................................................................. 53

Pulling vultures back from the brink .................................................................................................................... 55

Tiger Prey Found Across Seasons Outside Five Reserves in Karnataka: Study ................................ 56

Dharwad Wins Race for IIT ....................................................................................................................................... 57


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HC stays law on mandatory rural service ........................................................................................................... 57

Satellite imagery for assessing crop yields in Shivamogga ......................................................................... 58

Power-saving LEDs to light homes across State .............................................................................................. 59

UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage tag and Mysuru Dasara ............................................................... 59

Central University of Karnataka to document endangered languages .................................................. 60

Farmer to launch Dasara festivities ...................................................................................................................... 61

Ban on non-essential plastic products ................................................................................................................. 63

CFTRI develops the high-nutrient grains, distributes to farmers ............................................................ 63

Tipu birth anniversary made govt programme ............................................................................................... 64

POS machines to plug pilferage at ration shops .............................................................................................. 66

School Nurturing Programme .................................................................................................................................. 66

Kannada Virtual University ....................................................................................................................................... 67

Lake development authority .................................................................................................................................... 67

Vertical farming .............................................................................................................................................................. 68

Animation industry – Karnataka ............................................................................................................................ 69

Vanya Darshana .............................................................................................................................................................. 69

Gram Swaraj Panchayat Raj bill, 2015 ................................................................................................................. 70

Parliamentary secretaries.......................................................................................................................................... 70

A J Sadashiva Commission ......................................................................................................................................... 70

IISC makes it to top 100 .............................................................................................................................................. 71

Renewable energy project at Birur railway station ....................................................................................... 71

Leopards thriving in the state .................................................................................................................................. 72

Mudhol hounds may be inducted to the army .................................................................................................. 72

Basavanna statue in London ..................................................................................................................................... 73

State to digitise all legislature proceedings ....................................................................................................... 73

State of Digital India in schools – Karnataka ..................................................................................................... 74

The Gram Panchayat bill envisages tax collection for local bodies ......................................................... 74

Welfare of acid attack victims .................................................................................................................................. 75

Is RTE the reason for reducing demand for govt schools?.......................................................................... 75

Maritime board Bill passed ....................................................................................................................................... 76

Panel for permitting sand extraction from 500 deposits ............................................................................ 76

Infrastructure projects underway in Karnataka ............................................................................................. 77

Devadasis: SC pulls up Centre for delay in response ..................................................................................... 77

KSPCB to start measuring stench ........................................................................................................................... 78

FRP for sugarcane farmers ........................................................................................................................................ 78

Vaccination drive against Kyasanur Forest Disease ...................................................................................... 79

Channapatna craft losing sheen .............................................................................................................................. 79

Aviation MRO centre proposed in Bengaluru ................................................................................................... 80

Manipal hospitals use supercomputer for cancer therapy ......................................................................... 81

Art for hornbills - art exibhition.............................................................................................................................. 82

Praise for Khajane tool ................................................................................................................................................ 82

Birds flock to karnataka .............................................................................................................................................. 82

Bt cotton affected by pink bollworm .................................................................................................................... 83

Poly house technique ................................................................................................................................................... 84

NACO meet- State cuts a sorry figure ................................................................................................................... 84

‘Skill Net Karnataka’ launched ................................................................................................................................. 85


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Human elephant conflict ............................................................................................................................................ 85

State asked to prepare a contingency plan ........................................................................................................ 86

Green Tribunal extends stay order on Yettinahole project ........................................................................ 86

HAM for rescue ............................................................................................................................................................... 87

Fishery Friends ............................................................................................................................................................... 87

Astrology based shows on TV under scanner ................................................................................................... 88

AMRUT scheme in twin cities ................................................................................................................................... 88

Kambala to be held ........................................................................................................................................................ 89

Edutrac- Monitoring attendance in schools ....................................................................................................... 89

3D printing of liver by Bangalore start up .......................................................................................................... 90

KSCPCR recommends to reduce still births ....................................................................................................... 90

Mental health survey by NIMHANS ....................................................................................................................... 91

Proposed film policy fixes price ceiling on tickets .......................................................................................... 92

Govt to make, sell cloth bags as an alternative to plastic ............................................................................ 93

Mahadayi row: Centre says no to out-of-tribunal settlement ................................................................... 93

70 p.c. of out-of-school children are from SC, ST, minorities in Karnataka ......................................... 94

Govt. moves to regulate cab aggregators ............................................................................................................ 94

Padma awardees from state ..................................................................................................................................... 95

Malpe becomes first beach in India with wi-fi facility .................................................................................. 96

Database soon of medicinal plants, traditional healthcare ......................................................................... 96

Study group to chart out roadmap for tapping potential of drones ....................................................... 97

Demand for Kumki land by farmers of coastal districts............................................................................... 98

State reaches 8-lakh mark in LED bulb sales .................................................................................................... 98

Kannada Wikipedia .................................................................................................................................................... 100

NOTA option for ZP, TP polls ................................................................................................................................. 100

Karnataka, Maharashtra agree on 'feasible' water projects .................................................................... 101

Plastic ban in Karnataka .......................................................................................................................................... 101

Farm suicides in the state crosses 1000 mark .............................................................................................. 102

Chairman of the Karnataka Border Protection Commission .................................................................. 102

Colleges with Potential for Excellence’ (CPE) scheme ............................................................................... 103

Drought relief for Karnataka ................................................................................................................................. 104

Rooftop solar panels can be financed now ...................................................................................................... 104

Engineers define the employment scenario in Bangalore ....................................................................... 105

Coorg to be showcased at Republic day parade ........................................................................................... 106

43 services by GP online - Panchatantra .......................................................................................................... 107

Clubs under RTI? ......................................................................................................................................................... 107

Pre-marital counselling cell ................................................................................................................................... 107

Chairman of High Power Committee on Redressing Regional Imbalance ........................................ 108

Sea food outlets in North Karnataka .................................................................................................................. 108

Dantabhagya ................................................................................................................................................................. 109

A new HAL factory at Tumkur .............................................................................................................................. 109

CSIR-CFTRI initiatives in processed food sector .......................................................................................... 109

White-topping can free roads of potholes ....................................................................................................... 110

Christians record the highest sex ratio in State ............................................................................................ 111

CADA to construct approach roads .................................................................................................................... 111

Outlets planned to sell sheep products ............................................................................................................. 112


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Promoting exotic vegetables among farmers ................................................................................................ 112

BMTC’s ITS close to the finishing line ................................................................................................................ 113

Fire in Bandipur tiger reserve .............................................................................................................................. 113

Karnataka women break into another male bastion .................................................................................. 114

Mysuru gets global attention ................................................................................................................................. 114

Delay in clearing NIMZ proposal in kalburgi .................................................................................................. 115

Karnataka garners Rs. 9,700 crore investment during the Make in India Week ........................... 115

Board to buy excess tobacco from growers .................................................................................................... 115

RTE seats: Karnataka schools want hike in fee reimbursed by govt. .................................................. 116

Helicopter tourism launched in Udupi .............................................................................................................. 116

CII introduces ‘GreenCo’ rating for companies based on environmental performances ........... 116

National Green Tribunal clears decks for Hubballi-Ankola rail line.................................................... 117

Menace of solid waste in the city ......................................................................................................................... 118

Bandipur and Nagarahole house half of state's tigers ............................................................................... 118

NIMHANS to unveil Urban Mental Health Plan ............................................................................................. 119

Prepaid meters for temporary connections by BESCOM .......................................................................... 119

Mega solar credit camp on Feb. 17 ..................................................................................................................... 120

Startups to get a slot in nanotech meet ............................................................................................................ 120

The Karnataka On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. .................... 120

Karnataka MobileOne bags award ...................................................................................................................... 122

‘Minority’ schools will be asked to furnish certificate ............................................................................... 122

Ancient water supply system in Karnataka being mapped ..................................................................... 123

‘Sakala awareness in State low even after four years’ ............................................................................... 124

Lemon grass oil for pregnant women to fight Zika virus.......................................................................... 124

Fruit of 2 days' work: Rs 3L cr worth of biz proposals .............................................................................. 125

First-ever session on women entrepreneurship .......................................................................................... 126

Fear of forest fires as heat escalates .................................................................................................................. 127

Major mineral mines to be rated for eco-friendly measures .................................................................. 127


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Lakes in bangalore: it's issues and solutions

The topographic setting of the city has radial slopes towards east and west with a smooth ridge running north to south; rainfall over the ridge area gets divided and flows east or west into the three gentle slopes and valleys of Koramangala–Challagatta, Hebbal and Vrishabavathi. These naturally undulating terrain of hills and valleys, lends itself perfectly to the development of lakes that can capture and store rainwater. Small streams are formed by each valley starting with the ridge at the top. A series of shallow tanks varying in size are developed. The gentle topography has also good potential of ground water development.

Current status

In the 1960s the number of tanks and lakes was 280 and less than 80 in 1993. The status of lakes in Bangalore:

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Lake management

1. Historically lakes in the Bangalore region were managed by a plethora of government agencies such as the Forest Department, Minor Irrigation Department, etc.

2. A Public Interest Litigation was also filed in July 1985 and the High Court duly directed the Government of Karnataka to take immediate steps

3. The Government of Karnataka set up the Lake Development Authority (LDA) in July 2002 as a registered society, as a non-profit organization and a para–statal body with a mandate of working solely for the regeneration and conservation of lakes in and around Bangalore city within BMRDA jurisdiction in the first instance, would be extended to other parts of Karnataka subsequently.

4. The LDA initially identified 2,789 large, medium and small lakes within Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (BMRDA) limits including 608 within the limits of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to take remedial and restoration measures. Several organizations and funding agencies have been involved in restoration of lakes in Bangalore under Indo–Norwegian Environment Programme (INEP), The National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP) etc.

5. In 2004, the LDA began a process of "public-private participation" where private companies bid for the lakes to “develop and maintain” them for the next 15 years

6. Impact--The social damage caused due to privatization, as reported by a researcher, are:

There is dichotomy in the functions allocated by the vesting of powers with LDA to maintain only the water body and some part of the shore line while the shore and lands adjoining the lakes, which also play an important role in the overall maintenance and health of lakes, are with district bodies. This state of affairs creates a complex situation of not addressing the lake as a continuum with land.

The lakes are being developed as stand alone water bodies without a linkage to other lakes Fauna dependent on the lake, like birds, fish and others are disturbed by the excess and

disturbing human activity Violation of land use regulations by the private organizations while implementing the

scheme

7. With the privatization approach leading to serious protests by the public and the pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court, govt has now decided to make amends with a paradigm shift in its approach by declaring that the State Government would undertake, through its agencies such as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), BBMP and Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), the rejuvenation works of 27 lakes in the Phase I by allocating finances to the extent of Rs 1.5–2 crores (US$ 375,000 to 500,000) per lake which would involve:

Desilting of the lake bed Diversion of sewage and other processes Free access to the public Discontinue the policy of privatization of lakes and


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Revisit the allotments already made to private parties in view of reported misuse of the lake property by encroachment for private gains

The LDA has transferred 17 lakes to BBMP while rest of the lakes are now controlled by Karnataka Forest Department.

Issues

1. Pollution

Recent example of Dirty foam bubbles out of Varthur Lake

The area between Bellandur and Varthur lakes, Yemalur and other areas situated near the channel that connect Bellandur lake to Varthur lake, have been suffering the most.

The foam is a result of the water in the lake having high content of ammonia and phosphate and very low dissolved oxygen. The sewage line is simply connected to the storm water drain which flow directly to the lakes. It is this detergent content in the lake that creates the lather on the lake’s

Another cause for pollution is the encroachment of the lakebed. The rules demarcate 300m around any lake as a no-construction zone

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Solution

Bengaluru’s lakes are interconnected, and domestic sewage let into a storm water drain in Madivala or HSR Layout can cause foaming in Varthur. Unless the other upstream lakes in Koramangala-Challaghatta valley which flow into Varthur lake, are treated, there is nothing that can be done to restore Varthur lake

The sewage lines must be disconnected from the storm water drains and the water from the storm water drains must be treated before it is let into the lake.

Wetlands should be created near every lake and the treated sewage should be let into the wetland before it is let into the lakes directly.

The only long term solution is Treating water. The BWSSB should increase the capacity and standard of treating sewage

2. Lake Encroachments

The following lakes are encroached

Lingannana Kere: Most of the 56 acres and 37 guntas Kadirenahalli Lake: 9.33 acres Ittamadu Lake: 4 acres Chikkallasandra Lake: 16.23 acres Goudanapalya Lake: Encroachments to be assessed Halagevaderahalli Lake: Encroachments to be assessed Allalasandra lake: 1.5 acres cleared Sarakki lake: Most of 34.84 acres cleared

High Court issued an order in August 2014 to free the sarakki lake of all encroachments disposing off a PIL filed by People’s Campaign for the Right to Water. The district administration has formed three special teams, each headed by an assistant commissioner and armed with multiple earth movers and have taken up the clearance drive.

Encouraged by the demolition drives at Sarakki and Allalasandra lake beds, the district administration is planning to remove encroachments from other water bodies in the coming months. Officials said 80 acres of encroached land will be cleared near at least four lakes.

URBAN WASTE MANAGEMENT

Q. Why is Bangalore turning into Garbage city from Garden city?

Q. Discuss the Problems associated with solid waste management is cities of Karnataka?

Q. How can garbage problem be addressed in Bangalore?

Q. What measures have been taken by Government to address solid waste in Bangalore?


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With the city’s population nearing 10 million, solid waste management (SWM) remains an intractable problem. The city’s per capita solid waste generation is estimated to be around half-a- kilogram. Going by this, the city generates around 5,000 tonnes of garbage every day. The BBMP employs around 14,000 pourakarmikas (or safai karamcharis) to tackle it.

Issues

The issue flared up in the wake of villagers’ refusal to allow garbage trucks to dump the city’s refuse into the nearby landfills.

The waste from industries and community areas is disposed in an unscientific manner at several open dump sites across the city. There are more than 60 dump sites consisting of both municipal and industrial waste existing in and around Bangalore city; the locations are totally unhygienic

The disposal sites have got tremendous potential of spreading the epidemics/diseases to the people living in their immediate vicinity and at nearby places.

With around 9,000 persons working with the private garbage contractors, the number of workers goes up to around 24,000.

Despite considerable advance in collecting and segregating waste at source, nearly 20 per cent of the waste still remains to be picked or is picked irregularly, giving the city a grumpy look.

Several households still dump it on empty sites or into gutters which in turn get clogged during rains and cause flooding.

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Mounting garbage piles attracted international media’s attention and business honchos began to apprehend serious damage to the city’s reputation as the capital of modern Indian economy.

Kasa Muktha ward drive

To address the Garbage problem in Bangalore “Kasa-muktha Bengaluru” (garbage-free Bangalore) scheme launched on July 24,2013.

KasaMuktha is a project to reduce to zero, the portion of the solid waste generated in Bangalore which is sent to landfills. By recycling and reusing more and more of the waste that is generated in homes and businesses.

What’s new about Kasa Mukta

The three components of Kasa Muktha that differentiate it from the past campaigns: A third party audit, legal obligation of BBMP and commitment by contractors. The programme was started on pilot basis in 22 Wards

Practitioners from across the city, Residents Welfare Associations and other interested citizens specifically from the 22 wards will be assigned the job of monitoring and keeping records. Citizen volunteers will be assigned as ward mentors, along with BBMP officials.

Waste wardens will keep an eye on the ward level activities to ensure the segregation at source and transportation with care.

Citizens will be fined Rs.100 for not segregating the garbage and for littering. Repetitive violation of the segregation will lead to higher fine.

‘1 Mane, 2 Dabba, Mix Maada Beda’ One home, two dustbins - this is the philosophy

Wake Up Clean Up has formulated for Kasa Mukta to bring a systematic change at both the ends of garbage problem: Citizens and contractors.

Wake Up Clean UP has partnered with city’s various organisations such as Bruhat Bengaluru Mananagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore City Connect, FKCCI (Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry), SWMRT (Solid Waste Management Round Table) and other representatives of stakeholders who are interested in a garbage-free city.



Residents of the 22 wards, where the pilot project is being launched will be motivated to follow the philosophy - 1 mane, 2 Dabba, Mix Maada Beda.

Waste is to be divided into four sections: wet waste, bio-medical waste, sanitary waste and dry waste.

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BATF agenda in force

It is more than a decade since new laws were brought in with regard to collection of waste in Bangalore. Under the recommendation of the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF), door-to-door collection of waste was introduced. (Earlier, street-end waste bins were the norm.)

Secondly, the BBMP introduced segregation of garbage at source by providing four different bins placed over a cart to each waste collector. Two of them were meant for dry waste while another two were to collect wet waste. The collectors are provided uniform, gloves, and masks. The gloves and mask are rarely seen to be used. Several workers find it impractical for continuous use. They are recommended to undergo health check-ups every month. Usually, waste collection is a family occupation. Besides both spouses, even children join the workers soon enough to keep the occupation going in the family.

Practical realities/issues

What are the different dimensions to the problem?

1. A worker is supposed to sweep 3/4 of a km of road every morning and collect garbage from two rows of houses, which account for roughly 120 households. The cart is capable of carrying about 100 to 150 kg. of waste. But practically things do not work out that way.

2. Since zoning regulations have been violated in 80 per cent of cases, the number of houses on the stretch has risen to 300 and above on an average. Consequently, he or she approaches just about 60 per cent of the houses and ignores those who are late-risers or not found at the doorsteps when the cart makes its passage.

3. The dry and wet waste do not come in the same proportion as to fill the designated drums the cart carries. Hence, the segregation at source leaves much to be desired.

4. During festivals or the mango season, the amount of garbage per household goes up twofold and all that discarded does not neatly fit into the drums meant to carry them to the dumpsters.

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5. The loading point has spillovers which render those stretches of the streets untidy. 6. The segregated trash gets mixed up while loadingon to the trucks headed for the landfills,

thereby rendering the segregation scheme inconsequential. (However, 154 Dry Waste Centres set up by the BBMP do receive some such waste for being sent to the recycling units. These are large pieces of recyclable waste that truck loaders separate out while the trucks are on the move.)

7. Waste generation has a direct relationship with prosperity level. Greater prosperity boosts consumption and leads to households discarding more items. Nearly 485 items are cast out by households in a city which include kitchen waste, construction debris, food leftovers, cells, diapers, automobile parts, bulbs, mercury tubes, syringes, polyvinyl coverings, tyres, cardboard packaging, broken furniture, bandages, egg shells, plastic bags, clothes, all kinds of metal, bottles, glass items, chipped porcelain, and sanitary ware.

8. It is pointed out that the waste generated by the cities today is not all trash. It is pointed out that several firms are interested in lifting the waste and recycling them to extract glass, metals, paper etc., at their own cost and even pay the BBMP some money. But the contractors’ and truckers’ lobby has such a stranglehold with powerful sinews inside the system that no proposals to this effect can afford to turn into schemes.

9. There is an almost unbreakable nexus between corporators, officials and garbage contractors who do not want segregation at source and biomethanisation of the waste at ward level. They profit from trucks ferrying the garbage. The benefit increases in direct proportion to the distance a truck travels.

Some Initiatives to address the problem:

1. Under the Union Urban Development Ministry’s directives, the BBMP has taken several initiatives on its own to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste.

2. Proposals from companies such as Terra Firma and Maltose to collect wet and green waste to turn it into manure are being considered. Similarly, there is possibility of coconut and sugarcane waste being turned into fuel pellets.

3. A plant to convert the waste plastic into granules is also coming up. These could be used by mixing eight per cent of weight with bitumen for relaying of roads.

4. Hotel waste can be converted into biogas and can be resupplied to the same hotels from where it originates. However this would require rebate or waiving of sales tax on gas produced this way from the State Government.

5. The BBMP is also empanelling vendors for waste collection from bulk generators such as big housing complexes and firms. The possibility of turning feathers from birds and poultry markets into shuttlecocks and hair from the beauty salons into saleable tresses for wigs is also being explored.

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6. The BBMP has so far commissioned two bio-methanisation plants and another eight to 10 are being installed. It had tendered for 16 such plants. Each of them can turn five tonnes of garbage into methane a day.



Traffic woes and solutions

Facts

Bangalore is amongst fastest growing cities in Asia Existing Bangalore Mahanagara Palika (BMP) area is 226.2 sq km BMP has 100 wards Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palika (BBMP/Greater Bangalore) covers an area of 561 sq

km Bangalore Metropolitan Area is 1306 sq km Bangalore Rural District Area is 5815 sq km Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Area covers 8005 sq km Bangalore population was 5.6 million in 2001Bangalore has 27.8 lakh registered vehicles Bangalore has a radial pattern of road network converging in the core area of the city Study area has 5,000 kms of road length

BMTC

is the sole provider of public transport It has a fleet strength of 4960 buses with 1250 routes BMTC carries 35 lakh passengers per day Demand exceeds capacity during peak hours

Metro rail

work is under progress It covers a distance of 33 km in two corridors Bangalore has 5 radial rail corridors These rail corridors are used only for intercity travel

Airport

Bangalore has one of the fastest growing airport in Country From 4.8 million passengers in 2005-06, it has increased to 6 million in 2006-07 Annual Growth rate of 25 %

Problems

1. Increased vehicular density

With the increase in population and the expansion of the city, the problem of connectivity of the populace has arisen. Quite obviously personalized modes of transport have grown at a tremendous rate and two wheelers along with the cars almost comprise 90% of the total registered vehicular population in the city.

Two wheelers constitute more than 70% of the total volume, while cars comprise 15%, autos 4% and the remaining 8% includes other vehicles such as buses, vans and tempos.

2. Roads

There is very little scope for expansion of roads and the need to use existing roads for smooth movement the roads are unable to cope with the heavy volume of vehicles. All or



most of the roads are operating above their capacity and the volume: capacity ranges from 1:2, 1:3 and 1:5

Travel speed has dropped to 15 kmph during the peak hours The roads in Bangalore have too many intersections compared to any other city. We don’t

have a proper plan in place, so that’s why we are facing so many issues today. Inefficient master plan: master plan 2015 doesn’t consider regional context

3. Public transport

We don’t have a unified body to control the transport sector; all of them are working as individual bodies. The BMTC doesn’t interact with KSRTC; the KSRTC doesn’t coordinate with the Traffic Police, so the need of the hour is that we need to have a unified body to take care of Bangalore’s transport sector

Absence of integrated transportation system Absence of Mass Transit System Existing public transport system is over crowded during peak hours There is substantial increase in average household income This has led to high private

vehicle ownership Congestion, high traffic density, slow speeds, delays, high travel cost are due to high vehicle ownership

4. Parking--Insufficient or no parking spaces for vehicles 5. bad traffic management --There are about 1000 traffic constables for every one lakh

vehicle in the city. Stringent fines and enforcing stronger laws will help to a certain extent. 6. CBD(central business district) comprises of bus terminus railway junctions, commercial

complexes and other major land uses Heavy concentration of vehicles in the CBD Air and noise pollution levels are above permissible limits in CBD

7. Walk is also a significant mode of transport, but there is no scope in big cities because of urban sprawl Footpath facility is inadequate in most places Pedestrians are most victimized in Accidents In 2000, 42% of fatalities in accidents were pedestrians and are increasing year by year

8. Greenbelt encroachment is common Over 200 layouts have sprung up in green belt areas This has compounded the existing problems

9. Bangalore has a floating population of 15 lakhs Floating population commute as much as 200 kms

10. 33 percent of people in the city die of road accidents every year; it is indeed a huge number.

Solution

Form a Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) for traffic problems Integrate land use and transportation planning Integrate all modes of transport Encourage public transport over private modes Proper plan and regulations for new developments Synchronize traffic signals on major corridors



Provide multilevel car parking facilities Enforce strict land use regulations Congestion pricing in Central Business District Transportation system should change with dynamics of people Include traffic awareness programs in schools Provide real time information using GPS/GIS systems Use Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) for public transport Make Traffic Impact Study (TIS) mandatory for new developments To enforce pay and park system by charging a higher fee. we need to implement Singapore model of levying steep tariffs and strictly enforce lane

discipline, violators should be made to pay heavy fines. Finally we should discourage cars with single passengers and adopt incentives for car

pooling like priority lanes Decongest cities over time. Develop other cities Obeying traffic rules Drivers Education Signal Planning Stagger work hours Awareness programs about air and noise quality

Kataria Committee report

On February 19th 2015, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced a one-man committee headed by IAS officer Rajendra Kumar Kataria to probe into various irregularities in the BBMP.

The committee which investigated into the matter has now submitted its report to the government.

The probe was conducted with the help of officials from the State accounts department. It was a kind of post-mortem on financial irregularities in solid waste management, sub-standard civil works etc.

Contents of the report have not been made public yet. The government which is under pressure from the BBMP’s ruling party (BJP) and civic

society to conduct the election on time has no other way to postpone the election but to dissolve the existing council.

Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner has completed the process of delimitation of wards based on 2011 census.

Though the government is yet to publish the draft notification of the delimitation for public display, the process of calling for objection and publishing final notification will not take much time.

Delimitation process was done at the behest of State Election Commissioner’s direction to the Deputy Commissioner to complete the process without any delay. Yet another instrument that the government had, to delay the election was Restructuring of BBMP.

But, opposition from various quarters on delaying the election for the sake of restructuring, reduced the chances of using restructuring as a tool to postpone the



election. As it is evident for the government to conduct election on time, the only way out is to dissolve the BBMP council.

Dissolving the council before the term ends gives the government six months time from the date of dissolution, to conduct the election. Failing to perform duties can be reason for dissolution Section 99 of the Karnataka Municipal Council Act gives power to the government to dissolve the corporation if in the opinion of the Government, the corporation is not competent to perform, or makes default in the performance of any of the duties imposed on it, exceeds or abuses its powers or fails to carry out the directions or orders given by Government to it under this Act or any other law, or is acting in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the corporation.

The Kataria report is believed to have given a solid reason for the government to dissolve the council for failing to perform its duties and for abusing power.

The Rajender Kumar Kataria report has noted gross irregularities in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) by engineers, account staff, officers and contractors. The 76-page report probed into irregularities committed in 198 wards of the BBMP since 2008.

It recommended disciplinary action against engineers, account staff and officers, who have caused loss to the corporation. It suggested recovery of the amount paid illegally.

The report became the basis for the government to defend its decision to split the BBMP

The report notes the following issues with BBMP

1. Transportation of solid waste management not transparent and lacks internal control leading to irregular/excess payments

2. Civil works grossly mismanaged inefficiently monitored causing huge losses to the BBMP through non adherence to programme of works, irregular tender process, substandard works and illegal payments

3. Lacks control of property khata registration and tax collection. This has caused inefficient tax collection and regularisation of illegal irregular properties

4. Revenue loss from advertisement tax due to nexus between officials and ad agencies 5. No policy for laying OFC in BBMP limits causing damage to roads, footpaths and loss of

revenue 6. Lack of financial discipline is the root cause for BBMP’s deteriorating financial position,

injudicious borrowings, inefficient debt servicing and mounting pending bills

WELFARE OF SLUM DWELLERS

1. The Karnataka Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act, Section 4 (2) mandates that every building owner in a slum area should be issued a registration certificate after due process.

2. Under the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) launched in June 2011, BBMP and the State government have proposed to build 12,436 housing units in the City over the next two years. This will cover 55 slum areas. The Central assistance under RAY had conditions attached. The implementing states were to assign property rights to slum dwellers and provide reservation of land for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) / Low Income Groups



(LIG). Besides, 25 per cent of municipal budget was to be earmarked for basic services to the urban poor/slum-dwellers. Also, the government was required to bring in legislative amendments and policy changes to redress land and affordable housing shortages for the urban poor. The Karnataka government had inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), agreeing to adhere to all these conditions before receiving the central funding.

3. The National Urban Livelihoods Mission launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation requires urban local bodies such as BBMP to provide temporary shelters. And this should include the migrant construction workers

But these programmes have not been successful and there is mushrooming of slums all over the city. Further land ownership rests with the government. Whenever the State wants, it can denotify a slum and evict the dwellers

KSDB estimates that Bengaluru has 13.86 lakh slum-dwellers. Most working men and women in these slums are employed as domestic maids, drivers, house-keeping staff in apartments and hotels, security guards and more. The service industry requires these men and women to be at its beck and call. And this implies, they cannot be resettled in housing units built hours away from the city centre.

Needs to be done

1. Firstly, the State should acknowledge the existence of such slums. State Urban Development Department has to conduct a detailed survey to get a more realistic number of slums in the City.

2. The next step would be to bring even the undeclared slums under the RAY project as mandated by last year’s Central guidelines.

3. To get the government into action mode, employers need to first recognise the workers’ problems of low-cost housing and critical issues of basic existence

4. The Slum Board echoes the government’s resolve to make Bengaluru a slum-free city. But that would require the city’s urban planning to be reworked to integrate low-cost housing, and the recognition that slum-dwellers are an integral part of the city’s functioning.

DISPOSAL OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS

Problem

Bengaluru is estimated to generate about 57,000 metric tonnes of e-waste annually. Hundreds of electroplating and e-waste recycling units in the City’s industrial pockets discharge highly polluting chemicals into the water streams and lakes Unchecked and unregulated. KSPCB faces a serious challenge from hundreds of small electroplating industrial units. This has emerged as a problem of huge proportions in the industrial belts of Peenya, Mahadevapura and Hosur road.

For example In Peenya, decades of unchecked industrial pollution has crippled the ground water system. Over 2,100 industries are packed in an area of about 40 sqkms in the Peenya estate. Engaged in chemical, leather, pharmaceutical, electroplating, polymer and allied



sectors since the late 1970s, these industries are in close proximity to residential areas. An earlier survey of 72 borewells in the area, conducted by KSPCB, had found that 20 of them had abnormally high chromium content. Chromium is a carcinogenic metal known to cause lung, skin and kidney diseases.

Domestic discharge of nitrates and phosphates directly into the storm water drains and UGDs from thousands of households is equally unregulated.

Current state of effluent treatment

Rules say:

Most big and medium industries follow zero discharge procedures. There are also industries that are permitted to take their effluents in small quantities to

the 14 Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP). A few other industries are allowed to discharge the effluents into the BWSSB’s

underground drainage system, provided the waste goes through a primary or secondary treatment process first.

The industrial discharge should be checked for quality. The Biochemical Oxidant Demand (BOD) should not cross 500 mg/L and Chemical Oxygen Demand should remain within 1,000 mg/L.

In practice:

Industries have been caught dumping untreated effluents into the CETP without any permission.

Even some big industries are guilty of this illegal dumping. Though some industries have their own treatment plants, many are not functional. Almost 96 per cent of e-waste generated is recycled by the highly unregulated informal

sector

So, what is the way out?

Strict enforcement of legislation for industries Setting up effluent treatment plants Replacement of damaged pipelines and lining of sewer drains to prevent leakage of

sewage in pipes and seepage through unlined channels prevention of mixing or leaking of sewage with groundwater To boost round-the-clock surveillance of water quality, installation of Supervisory Control

and Data Acquisition (SCADA) gadgets at the spot where the effluents are finally let out from industrial units. Real-time data from SCADA can be remotely monitored from a KSPCB office.

BWSSB could also check the quality of treated water emanating from the city’s 14 CETPs. This way, the average BOD levels can be tracked on a daily or even hourly basis. When the levels exceed limits, alarms are automatically triggered.

Penalties and perhaps, even unit closures can thus be better coordinated.



WASTE WATER RECLAMATION AT VRISHBAVATHI VALLEY

BWSSB has proposed to reclaim at least 100 mld (million litres of water per day) of water from the Vrishabhavathi Valley. After considering waste water from sewage treatment plants from Vrishabhavathi, Mailasandra, Kengeri and Doddabele, the board will have the capacity to treat at least 335 mld by the end of the year.

The proposed scheme comprises several stages of treatment for reclaiming water from the Vrishabhavathi Valley river.

1. Water reclamation plant at Doddabele

The boards plans to treat water from Vrishabhavathi river and have a water reclamation plant at Doddabele to treat 152 mld of water using the MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) plus Ultrafiltration (UF) technology

2. Tavarekere site

This will be followed by a chemical free disinfection using ultra-violet UV radiation at Tavarekere

3. Wetland treatment

The treated water will then be pumped into the Arkavathi River at Tavarekere, into wetlands along the Arkavathi river. This will help natural self-purification, freshening and oxygenation and also help create an environmental aquatic equilibrium. The water will then blend with Arkavathi river for approximately 7 kms, thereafter entering the Tippagondanahalli (TG Halli) reservoir.

4. Tippagondanahalli (TG Halli) reservoir

The water in TG halli will be used as raw water for the proposed 140 mld high technology drinking water treatment plant employing clarification, ozonation, PAC (powdered activated carbon) and UF, followed by chlorination. The treated water at TG Halli is of potable standards and will be supplied to the transmission network of Bengaluru City.

The DPR has already been submitted to the State government. The report has now been placed before Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation Limited (KUIDFCL), who in turn, have sought certain clarifications in the DPR. The official said that the estimated cost of the project is around Rs 495 crore.

The huge challenge still lies in accepting such treated water for potable purposes by the public



Grama Swaraj Project

What is it?

It is a programme initiated by Karnataka for strengthening the Panchayat system

Where/From when is it being implemented?

Panchayat Strengthening Project is being implemented from last 7 years, covering 1341 gram pachayats of 39 most backward taluks of the state identified by DR. D.M Nanjunadappa's High Power Committee Report.

Implementation of the Project has been successfully completed on 30th March 2014.

What is the Objective of the Project?

To ensure higher investment by GPs to improve the Social Indicators, improve revenue mobilization, improve monitoring anddelivery of key services to rural population and effective participation in local

Grant were released to the 1341GPs of most backward Taluks from last 6 financial years based on an objective

172 Samarthya Soudha Centers and 5 SATCOM studios are established across the state to enhance the capacity of

What are the major impact of the Project:

Untied and reliable block grants have created model in local Governance Assets built are of good quality and have raised the satisfaction level of local

citizens. Double entry book keeping has made Governance more efficient and transparent. Project intervention facilitated higher tax Awareness and participation level in Gram Sabha and Ward Sabha have improved

and made GP functionaries more responsive and Project had created permanent infrastructure like Samarthya Soudha and

Suvarna Gramodaya Yojane

What is Suvarna Gramodaya Yojane?

Suvarna Gramodaya Yojane is aimed at developing a vibrant village communities by adopting an intensive and integrated approach to rural

2500 is the stipulated per capita grant under the programme.

When was it launched?



The programme was launched on the occasion of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the formation of the State of Karnataka, involving Non Governmental Organizations and the village communities.

What are the Objectives of the scheme?

(a) To upgrade the physical environment of the selected villages for improving the quality of life.

(b)To provide full and adequate infrastructure for human resources development including education, health services, childcare facilities etc.

(c) To generate significant levels of non agricultural employment, especially for educated unemployed youth.

(d) To support community awareness and development through self-help groups, cultural associations etc.

How are villages selected?

Selection of Villages is based on the rural population of each taluk in relation to total rural population of the state

Funds are allotted at the rate of Rs.2500 to 3000 per capita. In general, the villages having population above 2500 but below 8000 have been

selected In the hilly and western ghat areas, the population limit is relaxed. Member of Legislative Assembly has been entrusted with the task of selection of

villages keeping view of the population limit fixed for the taluk.

Jal Nirmal Project

It is a World Bank Assisted Project is being implemented for providing safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for the rural population.

It is a demand driven project Being implemented in the 12 districts of Northern Karnataka i.e Bagalkote, Belagavi,

Bidar, Vijayapurar, Dharwad, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Haveri, Koppala, Raichur & Uttara Kannada and in water quality affected habitations in few other districts.

Rural Energy Programmes

What are the three programmes meant for Rural Energy sector?

There are 3 programmes for Rural Energy in Karnataka. They are

National Biogas Manure and Management Programme (NBMMP) Karnataka State Bio-fuel Policy -2009 Soura Belaku are the three programmes implemented under Rural Energy



1. National Biogas Manure and Management Programme (NBMMP)

What is Biogas?

Biogas is a clean, non-polluting, smoke and soot-free fuel, containing methane gas produced from cattle dung, human waste and other organic matter in a biogas plant through a process called anaerobic digestion. The digested slurry will be good quality manure for agriculture.

What is NBMMP?

This centrally sponsored scheme implemented since 1982-83 It is mainly a women oriented programme. The Centre has increased the subsidy rate with effect from 8th May 2014. Beneficiaries are selected by the grama panchayats.

2. The Karnataka State Bio-fuel Policy

What are the salient features of Karnataka State Biofuel Policy?

The Karnataka State Bio-fuel Policy has come into force from 1st March Using only non-edible oil seeds for the production of biofuel. Reserving edible oil seeds

for cooking only. Non-edible oil seeds can be sown mainly in dry lands, infertile lands, land unsuitable

for cultivation, forest lands in the verge of extinction, in lands owned by the government or private persons. Food security will not be compromised because the growing of non-edible oil seeds in lands that grow food grains is not encouraged.

Oilcakes obtained after the extraction of oil, should be encouraged to be used as bio manure.

The government should take up the production of these oil seeds with private/public partnership. For example, the growth of different varieties of oil seeds can be encouraged by giving lands to private parties on long-term contract basis.

Collecting these seeds in the rural areas and small towns of the state, and encouraging the conversion to oil in a time bound and decentralized manner.

Encouraging the communities, women self-help groups and local consumer associations engaged in the traditional oil seeds collection and/or oil production.

Provision of facilities by the state government to organizations (government and private organizations) having suitable expertise to increase the production of biofuel and motivate research.

Establishment of the required administrative and financial systems by the state government to execute all of the above programmes.

Karnataka Bio-fuel Policy is implemented through Karnataka state Bio-fuel Development

3. Soura Belaku

What is Soura Belaku?



It is a programme for Installation of Solar Street Lights at Grama Panchayats Soura Belaku programme was started during 2009-10 It aims at installation of Solar Street Lights at grama panchayat The Programme is implemented in selected pilot district - one from each revenue The programme is implemented through E-Procurement.

RURAL ROADS

There are 3 schemes related to Rural Roads in Karnataka. They are:

1. Pradhana Manthri Gram Sadak yojana (PMGSY)

PMGSY was launched in the State during December 2000 with the objective of providing rural connectivity through all weather roads to the habitations having a population of 500 and above.

Karnataka Rural Road Development Agency was constituted during 2005 to ensure effective implementation of all road connectivity programmes. The agency is involved in preparation of detailed project reports, implementation of the works (as approved by Government of India) as per the required standards and release grants provided by the Government of India.

It is a central sponsored scheme under the Rural Development ministry. Money comes from Cess on High speed diesel via Central Road Fund Act

What is the Aim of the Programme

The aim of PMGSY is to construct all weather roads to unconnected habitats of :

500 persons in plains area. 250: tribal, desert and special category- North East, JK, Himachal and Uttranchal Population conditions as per Census 2001

2. Chief Minister's Grama Sadak Yojane

The funds provided have been allocated to Zilla Panchayats as per the Comprehensive Composite Development Index of Dr . D. M. Nanjundappa' s Committee report on redressal of regional imbalances.

3. Rural Infrastructure Development Fund

Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) was instituted in NABARD with an announcement in the Union Budget 1995-96 with the sole objective of giving low cost fund support to State Govts. and State Owned Corporations for quick completion of ongoing projects relating to medium and minor irrigation, soil conservation, watershed management and other forms of rural infrastructure

The Fund is maintained by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Domestic commercial banks contribute to the Fund to the extent of their shortfall in stipulated priority sector lending to agriculture.



The main objective of the Fund is to provide loans to State Governments and State-owned corporations to enable them to complete ongoing rural infrastructure projects.

The scope of RIDF has been widened to include activities such as rural drinking water schemes, soil conservation, rural market yards, rural health centres and primary schools, mini hydel plants, shishu shiksha kendras, anganwadis, and system improvement in the power sector.

From RIDF V onwards, the ambit was extended to projects undertaken by Panchayat Raj institutions and projects in the social sector covering primary education, health and drinking water.

National Family Health Survey: Karnataka Related Data

Drop in married women using modern family planning methods

Karnataka has recorded a decline in use of modern family planning methods by married women, with just over 50 per cent of them using them, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) for 2015–16 has revealed.

The survey shows that 51.8 per cent of married women in the 15 to 49 age group are using “any method” of family planning, with the decline in terms of percentage during the last one decade at 11.8 per cent. It stood at 63.6 per cent in NFHS survey (2005–06).

There has been a decline in all categories. While women using “modern method” stood at 51.3 per cent in 2015–16, it was 62.5 per cent in 2005–06, a decline of 11.2 per cent. The percentage of women undergoing sterilisation saw a decline of 8.8.

While the percentage of men undergoing sterilisation is always low compared to women, there has been a further decline since the previous National Family and Health Survey (NFHS).

The percentage of male sterilisation has declined from 0.2 per cent in 2005-06 to 0.1 per cent in 2015-16.

In the overall family planning scenario, the unmet need for family planning — currently married women in the age group of 15 to 49 — was 10.4 per cent against 10.1 per cent in 2005-06 NFHS. Unmet need for spacing was 6 per cent in 2015-16 against 5.7 per cent in the last decade.

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Infant mortality improves

The NFHS has some good news on the infant mortality front. There has been a decline from 43 per 1,000 live births to 28 in the last decade. Under-five mortality rate has also declined from 54 per 1,000 live births in 2005-06 to

32 in 2015-16.

Anaemia

It said anaemia remains widespread in the country as more than half of the children in 10 out of 15 States are still anaemic.

In Karnataka, 60.9 per cent of children in the age group of 6 to 59 months are anaemic compared to 70.3 per cent in 2005-06.

A total of 44.8 per cent of non-pregnant women in the age group of 15 to 49 are anaemic.

Child Sex Ratio

Karnataka’s preference for male children appears to be only getting worse. While child sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) stood at 922 in the last NFHS survey, it has declined to 910 now.

What is even more shocking is the divide between the urban and rural areas, with rural areas clearly less biased against girl children.

While child sex ratio stood at 875 in urban areas, it was 935 in urban areas. In the overall population too, there is a decline in the number of females, down from 1,028 to 979.

Women Literacy

The data shows a sharp increase in the percentage of women who are literate from 59.7 in 2005-06 to 71.7.

The bigger strides have been made by urban women, at 81.8 per cent when compared to their rural counterparts who are at 63.8 per cent. The percentage of those with 10 years of education has also jumped from 27.8 a decade ago to 45.5.

Child Marriage:

Percentage of girls getting married below the age of 18 has come down dramatically, from 41.2 to 23.2.

This drop appears particularly significant when compared to the earlier rounds of the NFHS. For instance, the drop from NFHS-2 to NFHS-3 was by just 4.5 percentage points.

Decision making

The NFHS-4 data for Karnataka indicates that women have a greater role in decision making in the household and in money transactions.



As opposed to 68.6 per cent who participated in decision making as revealed by the earlier survey, the current one pegs the numbers at 80.4 per cent

Savings account

Percentage of women with savings accounts they use themselves has gone up from 22.1 to 59.4.

Violence

More number of women being empowered, they face no less violence within their households

The latest survey had 20.5 per cent of women reporting spousal violence, as opposed to 20 per cent in the earlier round.

Maternal care

While quality of antenatal care continues to be poor, the proportion of women registering within the first trimester has actually decreased from 70.9 per cent to 66 per cent.

Although only 32.9 per cent of pregnant women received all components of antenatal care, this figure is higher than 24.8 per cent that was reported in NFHS-3 (2005–06).

The proportion of pregnant women who consumed iron folic acid tablets (critical for tackling anaemia) for 100 days or more during pregnancy has increased from 28.2 per cent to 45.3 per cent.

Child health

Compared to the NFHS-3, there has been improvement in terms of infant and under five mortality rates. While the infant mortality rate has reduced from 43 per 1,000 live births to 28 per 1,000 live births, mortality rate among children under five years of age has reduced from 54 to 32 in a decade.

Increase in C-sections

The data shows that private hospitals have reported a higher number of C-section and institutional deliveries.

Births delivered by caesarean section have seen a rise from 15.5 per cent to 23.6 per cent in a decade. While a drastic increase has been recorded in C-section births in the private sector (from 31.9 per cent to 40.3 per cent), C-section deliveries in government hospitals has come down marginally from 17.2 per cent in 2005–06 to 16.9 per cent in 2015–16.

While institutional deliveries have increased from 64.7 per cent to 94.3 per cent, a point to be noted is that only 61.4 per cent of this was reported in government hospitals.

Stark rise in obesity levels



A stark rise in obesity levels among both men and women. The proportion of men who are obese has 10.9 per cent to 22.1 per cent when compared to the last round of NFHS (2005–06), and among women it has gone up from 15.3 per cent to 23.3 per cent.

Equally stark is the difference in urban and rural population on this front. While 17.1 per cent of rural men are obese when compared to 28.6 per cent rural men, the difference between rural and urban women is 16.6 per cent and 31.8 per cent, as revealed by this NFHS

The NFHS-4 was conducted from February 25 to June 20, 2015 in Karnataka and information was gathered from 23,842 households, and 26,291 women and 3,743 men.

Solar panels atop irrigation canals to generate power

The Water Resources Department will soon open up select stretches of irrigation channels in the State for installation of canal-top solar panels to generate power.

The move follows the success of a pilot project to generate one megawatt (MW) of power by installing solar panels atop the Almatti Right Bank Canal (ARBC) in Bagalkot district.

The department will extend the pilot project by inviting private players to instal solar panels on more stretches of the 67-km ARBC and also 250-km Narayanapura Left Bank Canal and its distributaries across Yadgir, Kalaburagi and Vijayapura districts.

Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL) has been appointed the nodal agency for executing the project.

The State will be provided subsidy of 30 per cent of the project cost by the Centre. India’s first canal-top solar project was commissioned in Gujarat in 2012 on the

Narmada branch canal network.

Advantages

1. There is no land acquisition cost as land would have also been acquired for the canals. 2. Scientific studies have revealed that canal-top solar projects have 10 per cent higher

efficiency in power generation than regular solar installations 3. The solar panels covering the canals prevent evaporation of water 4. Security provided to the canals double up as “watch and ward” for the canals, too,

helping in curbing vandalism, illegal drawing of water and theft

Karnataka Model of Unified platform of agricultural marketing

With 55 major agricultural produce markets in 22 districts on the online trading platform, the State has clearly emerged as a role model for the country in setting up a unified.

Based on the recommendations of the Agricultural Marketing Reforms Committee (AMRC) on May 15, 2015, the State government brought amendments to KAPM (R&D) Act

Consequently a Special Purpose Vehicle, Rashtriya e-Market Services Limited (ReMS), was put in place in January 2014.



ReMS created the unified market platform for auctioning farm produce

Salient features

1. It focuses on automation of the auction process and MIS (Management Information System) for the APMCs.

2. It uses state-of-the-art technology which makes it accessible from any web-enabled device,

3. The platform provides for automated price discovery mechanisms and post-auction process (weighing, invoicing, market fee collection, accounting, payment of sale proceeds directly to farmers, e-permit generation) to agricultural markets.

4. The system will ensure fair trade practices and there is high transparency in settlement bills, primary sale bills and other processes.

5. e-payment is another advantage of the unified market platform.

Karnataka cultural policy

The six-member Cultural Policy Committee, headed by Baragur Ramachandrappa, submitted its recommendations to the government on June 27, 2014

The committee was formed in August 2013 to draft a comprehensive cultural policy for the State.

The committee has also asked the government to not ban a literary work unilaterally, and suggested formation of search committees to select chairpersons to various academies and authorities.

A year after an experts’ committee submitted a comprehensive cultural policy, the government is still dilly-dallying over its implementation.

Sand extraction from CRZ in Dakshina Kannada

In just three months, four lakh tonnes of sand has been extracted from riverbeds within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in Dakshina Kannada district between March and June this year.

Not less than 40,000 truckloads of sand thus has been extracted from the two lifeline rivers of the district during the last three months, before the district administration imposed ban on extraction during monsoon.

The ban was imposed following directions from the National Green Tribunal, which said fish breeding would severely get affected without such a ban.

The State government too had directed the Dakshina Kannada administration to allow inter-district movement of sand trucks as it was not available in the neighbouring districts of Bengaluru.

Earlier, even inter-district movement of sand was prohibited. After the ban was lifted, builders and contractors in the district have been crying hoarse that they are not getting required sand and alleged that miners were providing sand only for inter-district movement.

Recurrent sea erosion along the West Coast could be attributed to indiscriminate sand extraction from rivers



Natana Rangashaale

A school for nurturing talent in theatre and other performing arts, with a state-of-the-art auditorium meeting the requirements to stage dramas, was inaugurated

Natana Rangashaale was inaugurated by theatre artiste and Rajya Sabha MP B. Jayashree.

Natana was formed almost two decades ago with the objective to promote theatre and provide training in music, dance etc. to ensure integrated personality development of students.

Theatre camps, theatre training, staging plays, conducting seminars are other activities of Natana

HC asks government to examine plea for banning eucalyptus plantations

The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the State government to consider a plea for banning eucalyptus plantations across the State, after studying the issue and if necessary, carry out investigations to ascertain that such plantations are a major cause for groundwater depletion in some districts

A study conducted showed that eucalyptus plantations in Kolar are a major reason for reduction of water levels in borewells.

The eucalyptus tree uptakes 90 litres of water a day, and in stress conditions it extracts water from 20 to 30 ft depth

Water yield from a borewell reduced by 35 to 42 per cent when an eucalyptus plantation is situated within a one-km radius, and by 25 to 37 per cent when the plantation is situated between 1 and 3 km

Against the ban:

In Kolar, water conservation activists and eucalyptus farmers have opposed the proposed ban.

Being cultivated over 30,000 hectares in the district, farmers and the local paper industry relies on the non-native tree. “Eucalyptus fetches about Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 crore income annually in Kolar district and it is a major source for paper industry.

Much of the plantations are on private land, and farmers say that the region was beset with water problems before the eucalyptus made its appearance in the district in the 1970s.

A shift in crop pattern, particularly to the water-intensive tomato, as well as over-exploitation of groundwater and encroachments of tanks and canals have led to the man-made crisis in the region.

Need:

There was a need to provide alternative income for farmers before an outright ban is enforced



The departments concerned should come forward with a strategy of alternative crops that will grow fast and yield income to cultivators to ensure there is little economic impact

Adopt a Tourism Destination

The ‘Adopt a Tourism Destination’ plan of the Tourism department has received a positive response.

The department has managed to bring big names from India and Karnataka on board to adopt popular destinations and give them a facelift.

Jindal Steel and Power Corporation will adopt Hampi (Ballari district) and Cafe Coffee Day is adopting Belur and Halebid (Hassan district).

These companies, along with many others, will sign the official Memorandum of Understanding and the five-year agreement with the government and the Tourism department on Thursday (July 16) during the launch of the tourism policy and the launch of the ‘Adopt a Tourism Destination scheme.

The destinations are being adopted under the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, under which companies get Income Tax exemption.

According to the agreement, companies can only improve and provide basic infrastructure like drinking water, clean toilets, lighting, clean walkways, signages, battery-operated vehicles and accommodation provisions near the places of tourist interest. They cannot advertise or promote their brands

The department had listed 46 destinations in the first list for adoption. They include Badami, Aihole, Lalbagh, Tipu Palace Fort, Freedom Park, Bannerghatta, Shivagange, Bidar Fort, Gol Gumbaz, Shravanabelagola, Abbey Falls, Kokkare Bellur, Srirangapatna, Brindavan Gardens, Talakad, Raichur Fort, Malpe Beach, Murudeshwar and Jog Falls.

Hampi's stone chariot

There’s another pride of place that awaits the State’s heritage hub Hampi. The stone chariot, one of the prized monuments in the capital of the erstwhile Vijayanagar kingdom, is among the country’s eight world heritage sites that will feature in new currency notes of Rs 10 denomination to be released by the Reserve Bank of India.

The monument, known for its fine carvings, can be described as poetry in stone. It is not clear as to the period (reign of which Vijayanagar king) when it was sculpted. What is apparent, however, is the fact that the stone chariot houses an idol of Garuda, the bird vehicle of Lord Vishnu.

Two miniature elephants, that seem to pull the chariot, also find a place in the sculpture.

Special focus fails to address regional imbalances in State

Special grants to the tune of Rs 14,635 crore have been spent for the last eight years for removing regional imbalances in the State as per recommendations of the D M Nanjundappa Committee report, but the desired goal of improving the living standards of the people has not been attained.



The continued inequalities among the regions have prompted the State government to continue providing special development plan (SPD) grants to backward taluks, earmarking Rs 12,000 crore for the next four years.

The Nanjundappa Committee had identified 116 taluks as backward and recommended spending Rs 16,000 crore under the SDP for an eight-year period.

The Human Development Index (HDI) prepared by the Planning Department indicated 74 taluks had “performed poorly” and 114 had performed “very poorly”, most of them being in the Belagavi and Kalaburagi divisions.

At the same time, the government was awaiting an evaluation report from the Dharwad-based Centre for Multi-disciplinary Research on utilisation of funds during the eight-year period.

As per the HDI, of the 74 poorly performing taluks, 25 were in the Belagavi division, 18 in Kalaburagi, 19 in Bengaluru and 12 in Mysuru. Of the 14 ‘very poorly’ performing taluks, four were in the Belagavi division, nine in Kalaburagi and one in Bengaluru.

The Kalaburagi division still remained backward with 64.4 per cent of literacy against the State’s average of 75.4.

Under the provisions of Article 371 (J) of the Constitution, aimed at bringing about all-round development in six districts of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region – Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Ballari, Bidar, Raichur and Koppal – Rs 2,012 crore had been allocated by the State government during the last three years.

Karnataka Tourism Policy 2015-20

The Karnataka government has envisaged a mammoth plan to make the State the top tourist hotspot in India, as part of the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2015-20

As a first in India, the new policy intends to set a roadmap to accelerate and facilitate private investments and promote entrepreneurship in tourism

The policy (under the Adopt a Tourist Destination programme) also allows tourist destinations to be adopted by corporates (as part of their CSR activities) to develop facilities and infrastructure

Corporates will finance activities, operations, and maintain facilities. Those willing to adopt such destinations will also ensure adequate funding for a minimum period of five years.

Accordingly, the government signed six MoUs with corporates for the adoption of tourist destinations in the State

The government will provide suitable concession and investment subsidies for various tourism products and services.

As per the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group (KTVG) report, the tourist traffic in Karnataka is projected to increase from the current 100 million to 210 million by 2024. An investment of Rs 54,000 crore has been estimated in the sector over the next five years, half of which may be mobilised from the private sector.

Salient Features of Karnataka’s Tourism Policy 2015-20

Karnataka’s Tourism Policy 2015-20 aims to accelerate private investments & entrepreneurship in the sector



Charted out 18 tourism schemes where the government intends to develop infrastructure and facilities by accelerating private investments and promoting entrepreneurship.

The tourism schemes identified include hotels and resorts, Cruise Tourism, Adventure Tourism, caravan parks, museums and galleries, Ecotourism centres, tourism information and interpretation centres, wayside amenities, and Rural Tourism.

The Policy has divided these projects into three categories, viz. mega projects (Rs 100-500 crore); ultra mega projects (Rs 500-Rs 1,000 crore); and super mega projects (Rs 1,000 crore and above) in terms of the project size.

The Policy also assures additional incentives of ten per cent to investors who want to take up schemes in destinations falling under Focus Tourist Destinations (FTD).

The Policy aims to make Karnataka a sought-after destination for both domestic and international travellers.

The goal is to develop the state as a leading destination, both within India as well as in the world, in the next five years.

Draw up a five-year events calendar and promote four to five hallmark events; create heritage zones around known sites like Hampi, Pattadakal, Badami, Bidar, and Bijapur; develop mega tourism projects with private participation such as golf courses, Cruise Tourism, large entertainment studios, parks, cable cars, tourism trains, film city, convention and exhibition facilities, etc.

It has been proposed in the new Policy to develop international cruise facilities in Mangalore and Karwar on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

Similarly, new Ecotourism centres are proposed along the Coorg-Karwar stretch with nature camps along the way.

The Policy also envisages setting up a Tourism Infrastructure Company to facilitate development of tourism projects in the state through SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) and leveraging private capital.

The Policy also proposes numerous incentives and concessions to investors, with the most significant being according ‘industry’ status to investments in convention centres and hotel projects that offer meetings and conference facilities

Such properties will be eligible for Property Tax concession, power, and water tariff, as per industrial norms.

The Policy also offers exemption on stamp duty, concession on registration charges, reimbursement of land conversion charges, and transfer of land on a lease of 30 years, and further renewable clauses.

For mega, ultra, and super mega projects, loan to the extent of 100 per cent of Value Added Tax shall be sanctioned on interest-free loan from the date of commencement of commercial operations.

The investment subsidy will be limited to either the period of the loan or loan limit, whichever is reached earlier, and no carry forward will be permitted.

Concessions encompass rebates, exemption of applicable taxes, charges, duties and others and can be availed by eligible entities based on the geographical pre-defined categories into which they propose to develop tourism projects as outlined in the policy.



The policy defines geographical regions are Focus Tourism Destinations (FTD), Hyderabad Karnataka Region (HKR) and regions of the state categorized into not backward, backward, more backward and most backward places.

FTDs are 40 places identified across the state for tourism development under urban tourism, heritage tourism, nature tourism (Western Ghats), wildlife tourism, wellness tourism, religious tourism and coastal tourism, while Afzalpur, Aland, Chincholi, Chittapura, Kalaburgi, Jevargi and Sedam of Kalaburgi district and Shahpura, Surpura and Yadgir of Yadgir district constitute the HKR.

The policy offers 100 percent exemption on stamp duty and 100 percent reimbursement of land conversion fee for developing tourism projects in FTDs, HKR, most backward and more backward regions

Sugarcane farmer's crisis

Reasons for crisis:

The reasons for current agrarian crisis are both natural and man-made. The main natural culprit is the monsoon, which determines the quantity and quality of

the sugarcane yield. All the three stake holders in sugar industry - the lawmakers, mill owners and farmers

- have equally contributed to the current disaster. The successive governments have failed in agro planning and risk management, and it

has resulted in the unpredictable and cyclical nature of sugar production. While huge funds are spent for incentives and subsidies, they have failed to put up a credible micro-credit system to the farmers. Policies like levy sugar obligations and arbitrary fixation of cane prices have been bleeding the sugar mills and there is no quality control which can enhance the sugar exports.

location of sugar industries in certain regions are not satisfactory, majority of them have not created a hedge to sustain the production. They have no means to control the quantity or quality of sugarcane supplied by the farmers.

Their profitability is also affected by the short crushing season and their inability to utilise the by-products like molasses and bagasse.

Most of the farmers are small and marginal, often with unclear title holding and are not united through proper farm cooperatives. It is difficult for them to obtain institutional credit, thus forcing them to approach private lender who charge hefty interest rates.

Various supportive prices have pushed the farmers to a comfort zone, which in turn has resulted in mono-cropping, unscientific farming, imbalanced fertilizer and pesticide use, which in reality, are rendering the land less productive.

Measures that needs to be taken:

The government has to become pro-active in agro-planning and advice the farmers what to grow and how much to grow, based on the nature of the soil, water availability, buffer stocks, production capacity of the mills and international scenario.

It will also Help the government to balance the demand and supply, it will also facilitate extension services, water conservation and risk management



Mono-cropping must be avoided by providing incentives and subsidies for alternate crops.

Farmers should be prevented from exploitation by private lenders by providing micro-credit, investment and interventions through kisan credit card, which can be recovered during the sales

The government must obtain a bank surety, letter of credit, or cash deposit from sugar mills before the crushing season begins and distribute it to the farmers, if the mills default.

Ethanol blending and co-generation of power by sugar mills should become rule rather than exception.

A robust quality control authority should be setup to enhance exports. The sugar mills and the farmers have to be brought under gambit of contract farming,

which confers benefits to both farmers and mills, for ensuring assured and remunerative prices to the farmers by way of assured procurement of the sugarcane of desired quality from the farmers at a pre- determined price, either at a fixed rate or formula

The model APMC Act, 2003 addresses the contract farming issues and is already in place in several states including Karnataka and waives the registration fee for such contracts

Unlike the Sugar Mill Association, the current farmer unions have no teeth due to lack of financial or political backup and therefore, it is time they get united to form strong farm cooperatives. Cooperatives can own the technology and machines, share the labour and technology, and do team work on their farms to decrease the farm overheads and transaction costs

Cooperatives increase the collective strength of the farmers and enhance the bargaining power and therefore can tap high value markets. Capacity building and implementation of extension programmes becomes easy.

Rejuvenation of Arkavati River

Tenders called for conducting studies for the project, estimated to cost around Rs. 1,000 crore, has yielded no result

Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) has found that none of the firms has the eligibility mentioned in the tender document.

CNNL had called for tender for the ambitious project, which was once described as modelling the currently-heavily-polluted Arkavati River along the lines of River Thames in London. Reclamation of land and development of recreational spots among others were envisioned to be a part of the project

Dil ki baat

Rattled by a sudden spurt in farmers suicides, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a leaf out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's book on "Mann ki baat" to reach out to peasants through radio, assuring them the government was with them in their distress.



As farmers suicides continued unabated, throwing up a major challenge to his government, Siddaramaiah spoke his heart out through "Dil ki baat" programme, telling the peasants that he was also a son of a farmer and he empathised with them.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ARTICLE 371J

Salient features of Hyderabad Karnataka Region

Hyderabad-Karnataka region is located in the north-eastern part of the State.

The region, encompassed by the Kannada speaking people, was earlier ruled by the Nizams of Hyderabad until 1948.

After merging with the Indian Union, the region was a part of the then Hyderabad State until 1956.

The Hyderabad-Karnataka region comprises of Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur,Koppala, Ballary and Kalaburagi districts.

Some important information regarding the region:

The Hyderabad-Karnataka region is the second largest arid region in India. HK region account for 23% of state geographical area Uncultivated area of the region is 23% of state uncultivated area Decadal population growth of the region is 17.73% whereas state growth rate is

15.60% HKRDB region is having 18% of the State population 24% of State SC population is residing in the region 34% of State ST population is residing in the region Literacy rate of the region is 64.45% whereas State literacy is 75.36% Dropout rate in the HKRDB region is 5.77 where as the State Dropout rate is 2.96 Child Mortality Rate of the region is 59 where as State Child Mortality rate is 41 Infant Mortality Rate of the region is 51 where as State Infant Mortality Rate is

35 Net District domestic product of HKRDB region is Rs. 44832 per capita whereas the

State average is Rs. 68053 per capita

What was the reason behind constituting Nanjundappa committee?

The State had constituted a high power committee under Prof. Nanjundappa to study regional imbalances in the State and to recommend strategies to address them.

The committee identified 35 indicators to measure the extent of development in various sectors and had built a Comprehensive Composite Development Index (CCDI) and Composite Deprivation Index (CDI).



On the basis of CDI all taluks are categorised as most backward, more backward, backward and relatively developed taluks.

21 taluks of HK region are categorized as most backward, 5 taluks as more backward and 2 taluks as backward.

What is Article 371J?

This article of the constitution of India provides for Special Status for Hyderabad-Karnataka Region.

This is was introduced in the 118th constitutional amendment to the constitution. Article 371J will grant special status to six backward districts of Hyderabad

Karnataka region to: Establish a separate Development Board The Board ensures sufficient funds are allocated for Development of the

region. Local reservation in education and Government-jobs (Domicile requirement)

According to Article 371J

The Hon'ble President may, by order, made with respect to the State of Karnataka, provide for any special responsibility of the Hon'ble Governor for –

Establishment of a separate development board for Hyderabad Karnataka Region with the provision that a report on the working of the board will be placed each year before the state Legislative Assembly;

Equitable allocation of funds for developmental expenditure over the said region, subject to the requirements of the State as a whole;

Equitable opportunities and facilities for the people belonging to the said region, in matters of public employment, education and vocational training, subject to the requirements of the State as a whole. For this purpose

Reservation of a proportion of seats in educational and vocational training institutions in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region for students who belong to that region by birth or by domicile

Identification of posts or classes of posts under the State Government and in any body or organisation under the control of the State Government in the Hyderabad Karnataka Region and reservation of a proportion of such posts for persons who belong to that region by birth or by domicile and for appointment there to by direct recruitment or by promotion or in any other manner as may be specified in the order.

The following measures have already been taken:

Hyderabad Karnataka Region Development Board was formed on 06/11/2013. It was constituted with 28 members on the 23rd January 2014. Sri Qamrul Islam honourable Minister of Municipal Administration, Haj & Walkf and Minorities Welfare has been nominated as the Chairman of the Board.



The Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation in Appointment for Hyderabad- Karnataka Region)Order, 2013 – Provides for creation of a local cadre and reservation in the Hyderabad- Karnataka Region as under, besides reservation of 8% of the posts in the State level offices or institutions or apex institutions

The Karnataka Private Un-aided Educational institutions (Regulations of Admission in the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region) Order, 2013- Provides for reservation of 70% of the available seats in every course of study in any regional university or educational institution, besides 8% of the available seats in every course of study provided in a State wide University or a state wide educational institution.

The Karnataka Educational Instituions (Regulations of Admission in the Hyderabad – Karnataka Region) Order, 2013 – provides for reservation of 70% of available seats.

To address the issue of backwardness in the State, Government has been implementing a Special Development Programme (SDP) since 2007-08. 40% of budget of SDP is earmarked for Hyderabad- Karnataka region.

Issues and Challenges

Despite the interventions to develop the HK region on par with the relatively developed regions, vital indicators relating to human development, in particular, of the region depicts that the gaps in the indices still persists.

This indicates that the barriers to development are still strong enough to retard the development processes. In this context, intensive efforts are required to bridge the development gap and attain equitable distribution of gains from development across regions and people in the state. Therefore to plug the backwardness of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, State has made a conscious effort by substantially increasing the allocations provided to the HKRDB during 2014-15.

The focus, however, needs to be on education, health and nutrition and skill development along with development of farm and non-farm activities. Therefore, formulation and effective implementation of development programmes tailored to the needs of the region are required to meet the challenges of this region.

Farmers suicide in Karnataka

In the last fortnight alone, 50 farmers have committed suicide in Karnataka. The State Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda admits “it is alarming”. What is puzzling is that cases of farmer suicides had actually dropped over the last two years and have now suddenly begun to increase from mid-June onwards.

The problems are clearly multi-pronged. They have sociological, economic and agricultural dimensions.

The suicides point to two things: first, a serious agrarian crisis shaped by an increase in cultivation costs and a decline in agricultural income, which is pushing farmers into a debt trap; and second, the sociological pressures that farmers face because of the disparity between their income and those in urban areas.

The insecurity among farmers because neither the State nor institutional mechanisms have been able to address the crisis.



It is difficult to get crop loans, but loans for consumption goods like cars, or personal loans for weddings and festivals are easily available. It is the surest way to push farmers into debt.

The problem is also sociological: Farmers who aspire to the lifestyle of salaried persons end up taking loans, sometimes at 60-80 per cent interest rates, and become prey to loan sharks.

For most farmers across the State, what were once considered luxury items such as cars have now become aspirational necessities.

The pressure is most severe in areas close to the big urban centres of Mysuru and Bengaluru, but is true in general all over

Earlier mono-cropping had been seen as a major cause for suicides. Farmers had a tendency to focus on a single crop if it had seen commercial success. The problem was, when it failed, they faced total collapse. Farmers must be educated to see the long-term benefits of “multi crop-multi income” farming

But this time around, the farmers who committed suicide don’t appear to have stayed with one crop. Yes, some sugarcane farmers have faced a major crisis after sugar factories, mostly owned by powerful politicians, defaulted on payments, but they have not accounted for the majority of suicides.

The urgent need to address the issue of rising input costs when incomes stay stagnant.

The Agriculture Price Commission could instead become a commission for agricultural cost, prices and farmer’s incomes, which would give it more authority to implement suitable measures.

Another reason could be a glut in production. The State, despite having records of the area under sugarcane cultivation and the

crushing capacities of sugar mills, has turned a blind eye to excessive cultivation. This has kept prices low enough to benefit the sugar mills owned by politicians.

There is also “mass hysteria” when a farmer commits suicide, and it may result in others taking the same step.

Politics over farmer suicides and the wide publicity they get tend, in a way, to “glorify” suicides and worsen the situation

Meanwhile, the government has begun a crackdown on illegal moneylenders. It is, however, a socially complex issue

The flaws in agriculture marketing have been identified as one of the chief causes of farm activities being non-remunerative

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The high-level of corruption in the state administration is another cause, as the benefits of various schemes are not fully reaching the farmers.

There are several agricultural crops wherein farmers do not obtain the cost of production thanks to the role played by middlemen, who also double up as moneylenders and have a vice-like grip on the farmers

In Karnataka, the agriculturists are eligible for an interest-free cooperative loan of up to Rs. 3 lakh a year, and for an additional loan of Rs. 5 lakh at a subsidised rate of interest.

Small farmers have been pushed to such penury that a large number of them obtain fresh loans from the cooperative institutions only to repay an earlier loan obtained at the same place.

Ad hoc measures like the one being witnessed now, where raids are being carried out against moneylenders across the State, will not yield long-term results beneficial to the sustenance of the agricultural sector.

G.K. Veeresh Committee report on farmers' suicide

The last crisis of this nature took place between December 1997 and June 1998, when 400 farmers committed suicide in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh due to failure of cotton crop

Dr G K Veeresh, former vice-chancellor of UAS, who headed a seven-member expert committee to study farmer suicides and submitted the report in 2002, says that “mass psychology” has been confined to sugarcane areas only.

Recommended that each hospital in a rural area should have a psychiatrist to identify the affected farmers and the ones with suspected suicidal tendencies. When one farmer commits suicide, people talk and it has a psychological effect on others in the same situation

It said there was no single issue which led to farmers’ suicides. A combination of factors such as delayed payments, low prices, and debt was responsible for this

The recommendations by the Veeresh committee include the identification of such farmers and their counselling by trained personnel from agricultural banks and panchayats and other trained Asha workers and development officers

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Methane gas fires from abandoned rock quarries in Bangalore

According to BBMP officials, the disposal of garbage in an unscientific manner in the quarry led to the generation of methane gas, which resulted in the fires.

The fire broke out in Lakshmipura quarry in south Bangalore on Anekal Road.

According to BBMP officials, who conducted an inspection of the site, the disposal of garbage in an unscientific manner in the quarry led to the generation of methane gas, which percolated through the cracks and escaped to the surface through vents.

Residents also reported water bubbles from the nearby water pits, as methane escaped through the cracks. Though the BBMP officials have ruled out any immediate danger, they promised to tackle it.

We have released Rs 25 lakhs on an emergency basis to undertake soil topping to prevent the gas from escaping from the vents.

Meanwhile, the BBMP has decided to not to dump waste at the abandoned stone quarry where methane gas leaks were reported.

BBMP should not cover the top layer with soil or other materials as such acts will only aggravate the situation.The more they try to compress, the more methane will bubble out.

Normally municipal or industrial waste decay s over time, decom poses and releases methane. When it is compressed beneath the earth (like in the case of the Lakshmipura quarry) and does not come in contact with air, it is termed as anaerobic methane. So the water that is seen boiling is methane gas bubbling out through water bodies and causing heat underneath the surface

The gas buildup can cause fire in landfills. This cannot be easily doused and even if water is used, that water forms leachate which in turn pollutes the groundwater table



Health experts have called upon the district administration to take measures to stop probable health impact of the methane gas on people residing in the vicinity. Exposure to methane gas causes lung problems, apart from dizziness and nausea.

When unsegregated waste dumped in a landfill site comes in contact with water, bacterial fermentation takes place. During this process, methane gas is produced. When the gas comes in contact with air, it has the tendency to catch fire. Biogas and gobar gas produced from mixed waste is combustible. This can happen in any landfill sites

KARNATAKA Lokayukta- Issues

The State government has amended the Lokayukta Act, 1984, in the backdrop of the recent controversial developments surrounding the anti-corruption watchdog.

It aimed at curtailing certain powers of the Lokayukta, besides seeking changes in the procedures of appointment and removal of the Lokayukta and the Upalokayuktas.

It also proposed to bring in changes with regard to according sanction to lodge complaints against the chief minister, MLAs and MLCs.

The consent of the governor is mandatory to lodge a complaint against the chief minister under the Lokayukta Act 1984, but the new amendment makes the consent of the Assembly mandatory to lodge a complaint against the chief minister as it identifies the Assembly as the competent authority, instead of the governor

It also identifies the Speaker of the Assembly and the Chairman of the Council as competent authorities to accord sanction to lodge complaints against MLAs and MLCs, respectively.

It also restricts the Lokayukta to probe cases registered under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. It proposes to curtail its powers to handle cases of redress of grievances and maladministration.

The Lokayukta Act, 1984, makes the judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice of High Court eligible to be appointed as the Lokayukta. Any judge who has served more than five years as an High Court judge, can be considered for the post of Lokayukta.

Under the new law, there are provisions to appoint anybody who has involved in anti-corruption issues, public administration, vigilance squad, finance, law or management fields for more than 25 years for the posts of Upalokayukta. The Lokayukta Act, 1984, had made it mandatory to consider High Court judges for the posts.

The removal of Lokayukta: The Lokayukta Act, 1984, is vague on this. The Act does not specifically mention the number of MLAs who have to put their signatures for the removal of the Lokayukta. Under the amended version, the legislature can take up the issue of the removal of Lokayukta, if one third of the MLAs or MLCs want it. However, a committee should be constituted, which would ascertain if the allegations of corruption levelled against the Lokayukta are genuine. The issue can be taken up by the legislature only after the committee submits its report.

It prohibits the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta from conducting an inquiry into any case, if allegations of corruption are levelled against them. It also seeks to remove a norm that prior permission of Lokayukta and Upalokayukta should be sought before handing over the cases to other agencies.



Changes to the Draft

Under attack from the Opposition and anti-corruption activists, the State government introduced the Lokayukta Act (Amendment) Bill, 2015, in the Legislative Assembly

After removing all controversial provisions and focussing on simplifying procedure for removal of the anti-graft ombudsman.

The re-drafted Bill dropped the clause that took out of the Lokyukta’s purview cases relating to maladministration and administrative grievances, and the clause that changed procedures for prosecuting a Chief Minister and members of the legislature.

As per the proposed amendments, for the removal of the Lokayukta or the Upalokayukta, one-third of the total members of either House or both Houses of the legislature should sign a notice. After verification of charges by the presiding officer, it would be referred to the Chief Justice of the High Court for investigation.

If the investigation report found truth in the allegations, then it can be adopted by a simple majority by whichever House in which the motion is pending and following that it would be sent to the Governor for his assent.

Once a motion is moved against the Lokayuka or the Upalokayutka, they would be precluded from discharging duties during the pendency of the motion. The government can appoint an advocate to conduct the case.

Time line of Lokayukta Controversy:

2013

February 14: After almost a year-and-a-half after a media expose about illegal land allotments that forced Justice Shivraj V. Patil to resign as the Lokayukta, former Karnataka Chief Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao was appointed as Lokayukta. He was sworn in by the then Governor H. R. Bhardwaj.

When Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao was to be anointed as the Lokayukta, the office of the anti-corruption ombudsman was the centre of a controversy. Advocates Association, Bengaluru said that he “doesn’t speak Kannada and is too old for the job”. The association also accused him of involvement in a land scam.

2015

June 26: Days after charges of alleged bribery scandal in the Lokayukta, Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao announced that he has handed over the case to the CCB for investigations. Justice Rao’s son, Ashwin Rao allegedly misused the office of the Lokayukta.

June 27: With allegations of corruption in the office of Lokayukta growing, demands seeking resignation of Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao also grew. Activists and political parties demanded his resignation for ‘moral reasons’.

June 29: In an interview , Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao said, “I see no reason why I should resign or go on leave at this juncture. The probe will be carried out by an independent agency.”

July 1: This opinion piece by T.M. Veeraraghava points out, “The most perfect institution is only as incorruptible as the individual who heads it.”



July 2: An FIR was filed against Ashwin Rao, son of Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao, by Lokayukta Police minutes before the Karnataka High Court directed both the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta not to order any in-house investigation.

July 5: The demand for the removal of Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao as Lokayukta grew louder at the Monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly held in Belagavi. Political parties submitted a memo to Speaker Kogadu Thimmappa on July 3 for Justice Rao’s removal under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984.

July 12: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified his position in the matter of ordering CBI probe into the alleged Lokayukta bribery scandal saying that the State Government does not have the power to order a CBI probe.

July 17: Legislative Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy rejected the Opposition notice seeking a motion in the House for the removal of Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao.

Karnataka High Court adjourned further the hearing of a petition filed by Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin Y., questioning the investigation ordered by the Upalokayukta into the alleged corruption in Lokayukta.

Karnataka High Court adjourned further the hearing of a petition filed by Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin Y., questioning the investigation ordered by the Upalokayukta into the alleged corruption in Lokayukta.

The Special Investigation Team set up to probe the allegations of corruption in the Lokayukta office grilled the complainant, M.N. Krishnamurthy, for several hours. He had identified Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao’s son, Ashwin Rao, as the person misusing Lokayukta’s office for taking bribe.

All Legislative Assembly members, Congress and Opposition members alike demanded that Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao quit office for the alleged bribery scandal rocking the institution

Karnataka Governor gives nod for Lokayukta Bill

Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai R. Vala has given assent to the Karnataka Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which was passed by the legislature primarily for removal of Karnataka Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao.

According to the Bill, once the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court or the judge nominated finds the Lokayukta guilty of misconduct or incapacity, then both the Houses of the legislature can pass a motion with two-third majority stating that the Lokayukta should be removed.

As per the new bill, a judge who has served not less than 10 years is eligible to be the Loakyukta, and a judge who has put in not less than five years as high court judge, can become the Upa Lokayukta.

The Lokayukta is appointed by the Governor of Karnataka on advice of Chief Minister of Karnataka in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, the Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, the Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.



The Lokayukta has the power to investigate Chief Minister, all other Ministers and Members of the State Legislature and all state government employees.

The Lokayukta has the power to investigate Chief Minister, all other Ministers and Members of the State Legislature and all state government employees.

Lokayukta’s removal

The first step has been taken towards removal of Karnataka Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao by the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular).

They submitted separate petitions to Legislative Assembly Speaker to initiate the process of conducting an inquiry into the allegations of corruption.

The Opposition submitted a similar petition to Council Chairman as well Rao, who has not budged despite calls for his resignation and is on a long leave The petition was signed by 83 MLAs, more than the number mandated by the

Karnataka Lokayukta Act. The State amended the Lokayukta Act during the previous session of the State

legislature in July and simplified the procedure for removal of the anti-graft ombudsman.

For the Lokayukta’s removal, one-third members of either House or both Houses of the legislature must sign a notice for a motion for the removal on the ground of ‘proved misbehaviour or incapacity’.

The Speaker would refer it to the Chief Justice of the High Court for investigation in two or three days.

Once the Speaker or Chairman (or both) refer the petition to the Chief Justice, the Lokayukta would be precluded from discharging duties during the pendency of the motion. The government can appoint an advocate to conduct the case.

If the investigation report finds truth in the allegations, the report would be taken up for consideration by the House or Houses as the case concerned in which the motion is pending.

Once the House or Houses adopt the report, it would be sent to the Governor for assent. And once the Governor gives his assent, the Lokayukta would be removed from office.

Removal of Upalokayukta

The state assembly adopted a motion on the removal of Upalokayukta Subhash B. Adi on the charges of “misuse of office, misconduct and overstepping jurisdiction”.

The Assembly has already adopted a motion on the removal of Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao over an alleged extortion racket in the anti-graft ombudsman’s office involving his son.

Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa accepted a petition singed by 78 members of the Congress seeking the removal of Mr. Adi.

The Congress submitted the petition under section 6 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, which was simplified during the last session of the legislature for the removal of the Lokayukta and the Upalokayukta.

Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar termed the government move on the removal of the Upalokayukta “anti-democratic”.



State seeks to make B'luru top aerospace hub

In order to turn Bengaluru into a top manufacturing hub for aerospace and defence components and products, the State government has requested the Centre to establish an exclusive ‘Defence and Aerospace Cluster’ near Tumakuru, in line with the Make in India theme.

Tumakuru is one of the four regions in the State and 16 in the country marked as NIMZ in 2014 as part of the Centre’s plan to boost manufacturing.

Besides manufacturing components, systems and sub-systems, the cluster will also export finished products and provide a range of auxiliary units across avionics, forging and other sectors

An Aerospace Technology Innovation Centre to provide R&D support to the SME sector is also set to come up at the Aerospace Park. The State has requested the Centre to set up an Aerospace Common Finishing Facility at Rs 96 crore, of which 50 per cent will be as Central grants

Tiger corridors

Tiger corridors running through nearly 250 villages, housing nearly 2.5 lakh people, are being proposed as one of the ways to ensure a sustainable tiger population in the State.

In a push for corridors across the Western Ghats, researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun – an autonomous Union government institute that oversaw the recent tiger census – suggested three “regulated” corridors for Karnataka, stretching from Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve in the north to Nagarahole and Bandipur in the south.

The study, ‘Connecting tiger populations for long-term conservation’, notes that these corridors pass through 246 villages in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara and Bengaluru (Rural and Urban) districts.

This “circuit” would connect to similar corridors in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra.

The corridors were based on ‘least cost’ and ‘least resistance’ pathways – that is, the optimal areas for connections between reserves based on ecology and habitations.

Bottlenecks in corridors need special attention through enhanced protection and restoration of ecology inputs. Infrastructural development within corridors should be minimal

The corridors allow for long-term conservation and exchange of gene flow between fragmented tiger populations.

A corridor connecting reserves along the Western Ghats may absorb the increasing tiger population in the reserves of south Karnataka.



Karnataka to get institute on conservation of Western Ghats

The Centre has agreed to sanction Western Ghats Development Institute to Karnataka for conservation of the ecologically sensitive areas of Western Ghats in six States.

The institute would be set up on 117 acres at Chakra in Shivamogga district for undertaking research and management of the Western Ghats, one of the eight biodiversity hotspots in the world.

The institute would take up environment management with active participation of locals

Baduku Besaya

The spree of suicides by farmers owing to debts and failure of crops has made government agencies to find various means and ways to reach out to the farmers in order to instil confidence in them.

The district administration and the Department of Information and Public Relations in Kolar, a perennially drought-hit district, have harped on an awareness campaign among the farming community.

Named ‘Baduku Besaya’, the campaign includes performing of street plays, singing songs, interaction with farmers and providing counselling by psychologists to the needy farmers.

Making farmers realise the importance of life and agriculture, and ill-effects of suicides on their family members and motivating them to face the hurdles boldly was the main intention of the campaign

M-sand units can avail 5% subsidy on loan interest

To encourage production of manufactured sand (M-sand), the State Cabinet has decided to provide five per cent subsidy on interest on loans taken to set up M-sand units in districts which lack natural sand resources.

A Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to grant interest subsidy for conversion of crusher units into M-sand units and to promote production of M-sand in districts.

The decision was taken following depletion of groundwater in rivers and water bodies owing to extraction of natural sand by the sand mafia.

Committee to focus on farmers, outreach programmes, education

The State government has constituted an advisory committee to oversee the functioning of the regional centre of the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST) established in Kalaburagi district a year back.

The 13-member advisory committee included two-time B.C. Roy Award Winner and Professor Emeritus P.S. Shankar. The KSCST, with the support of the Indian Institute of Science, had been providing support to the government for formulating science and technology-based policies.



A regional centre was established in Kalaburagi in 2014 to coordinate activities in the north Karnataka region.

In the first meeting of the advisory committee chaired by Dr. Shankar in Kalaburagi city recently, members decided to focus on outreach programmes to improve the quality of education in schools and colleges in the region, conduct entrepreneurship programmes for unemployed graduates, and take up weather forecasting to provide the farming community with information on climatic changes and rainfall.

Voting ink marker pens

Marker pens are set to replace ink vials and brush/plastic applicators Acting on the advice of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Mysore Paints and

Varnish Ltd. (MPVL), a government of Karnataka company, which has been supplying ink for elections since 1962, recently made a presentation to the ECI on its plans.

MPVL is the sole supplier of ink for elections in the country. The indelible ink is made of a special chemical combination formulated by the National Physical Laboratory.

The ink supplied in vials spills over after application. To address this, the ECI asked us to find a solution, which should be user-friendly and eco-friendly — a marker pen with a cartridge containing indelible ink in different formulation. This reduces waste and the application becomes easier

Marker pens are convenient to store and also lasts longer. MPVL is reckoned to be a one-of-its-kind (among the PSUs) in the country to

manufacture voters’ ink. Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, maharaja of the erstwhile princely State of Mysore, founded the company in 1937.

State drug testing lab has vital role in national survey

The State drug testing lab has a significant role to play in the Union Health Ministry’s national drugs survey, a mammoth scientific study taken up to assess the extent of spurious drugs and drugs not of standard quality (NSQ) in the country.

The lab, among the three government NABL-accredited in the country (Gujarat and Maharashtra are the other two), is responsible for analysing 2,000 of the 45,000 drug samples collected from across the country.

The survey is one-of-its-kind. Initiated in April this year by National Institute of Biologicals, the survey involves sampling drugs followed by complete testing of drugs for the first time in India

It is a statistically-designed collection of samples under 15 therapeutic categories. Of the 45,000 samples, 2,064 samples have been collected from Karnataka

Rationalist MM Kalburgi's cold blooded killing

Dr MM Kalburgi (78), renowned Kannada writer, research scholar and rationalist has entered the history books as the first litterateur from Karnataka to be shot dead allegedly for his views on idol worship and Hindu rituals

Though no group or persons have claimed responsibility for shooting Dr Kalburgi at point blank range at his home



Initial reports suggest that right-wing activists might be involved. People and political leaders in Dharwad, the literary capital of Karnataka that has

produced the highest number of Jnanpith awardees in Kannada, are still in a state of shock and disgust.

For, this kind of cold-blooded murder targeting litterateurs was unheard of Karnataka till date.

Born in Vijayapura (Bijapur) district in 1938, Dr Kalburgi studied Kannada literature and taught at the Department of Kannada, Karnatak University, Dharwad, one of the oldest universities in Karnataka

He was also the vice-chancellor of the Kannada University, Hampi, Ballari (Bellary) district.

He had won several important awards, including those from Central Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Sahitya Academy, Pampa Award, Nadoja Award and Nrupathunga Award.

He had authored over 100 books in Kannada and was a natural orator too. He was considered an authority on Vachana literature (propagated by the 12th Century philosopher and social reformer Basavanna).

In fact, Basavanna was opposed to religion, religious practices and Brahminical rituals. Followers of Basavanna are called Lingayats in Karnataka and Dr Kalburgi belonged to the same community.

Of late, Dr Kalburgi had developed a penchant for such subjects and they reflected in his public speeches, which led to anger among a section of society.

Last year, the police had filed a case against him for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindus after he criticised idol worship quoting a literary work of another celebrated writer and Jnanpith awardee late Dr UR Ananthamurthy. Not to be cowed down by such intimidations, Dr Kalburgi continued his campaign against idol worship and Brahminical rituals.

His home in Dharwad town was targeted by miscreants, who pelted stones and bottles. In another instance, activists disturbed his public speech when he raised the issue of idol worship.

For the last eight months, the police had deployed personnel outside his home and they also accompanied him wherever he went, as he faced threats because of his comments. The litterateur had never revealed in public whether he received any threats directly or indirectly.

GI footprint spread across Karnataka

With 33 of its products obtaining the Geographical Index tag, Karnataka has established itself as the capital of GI products. The state leads the nation on GI certification followed by TN which has 24 products obtaining the GI tag

The bitter battle between West Bengal and Orissa over the origin of delectable Rasagulla has put spotlight on Geographical Index (GI) products.

While the preparations are on full swing at the national level for the preparation of nation wide GI products registry, it has also cut open the intense competition between states to grab GI tag for various products from their states.

The GI tag not only helps the states brand themselves but also provide market with good returns for the GI products at global level



Even as the race to obtain GI tag is gaining momentum, Karnataka has already established itself as a capital of GI products. With 33 of its products obtaining GI tag already, Karnataka leads the nation on GI certification followed by Tamil Nadu which has 24 of its products obtaining GI tag.

Aimed at providing global market to unique products of the nation with a legal cover, Government of India had brought GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) act way back in 1999 and the act came into force in 2003.

Headquartered at Chennai, the GI Registry, every year, receives hundreds of applications for certification and thereby claiming market attention.

Though not all products will succeed in getting the GI tag, a few products after passing thrugh rigorous tests qualify for the GI tag which will be valid for a 10-year period.

As per the information by GI Registry, Darjeeling 'Tea' was the first product to obtain GI tag back in 2003 and till date a total of 191 products have been certified and awarded GI tag by the registry. While the tag provides much required legal cover for the products, it also helps in safeguarding products that are entwined with the history, culture and heritage of the country.

What's in GI Tag?

Geographical Indication of goods is nothing but authentication of products either grown or produced from a specific geographical location or place of origin. The GI tag typically conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness of the product largely attributed to products' geographical origin. The GI tag also protects goods from copyright violation and put an end to illegal trade of spurious goods in the name of original products.

Mysuru tops the state list

While Karnataka tops the list at the national level, it is Mysuru which has the highest GI tag for variety of products either grown or manufactured within Mysuru district. As many as 10 different products of Mysuru have obtained GI tags and thus endorsing the sobrquet culture capital of Karnataka.

How do you get GI tag?

If you have come across any products that deserve GI tag, such products must first be reported to Bio-Centre of the Horticulture Department located on Bannerghatta Road at Hulimavu, Bengaluru. The expert will examine the product as per the parameters set by GI registry. Subsequently, it will be enrolled in the application and registered with the GI Registry in Chennai. Thereafter, the products will be notified through an official gazette and if there are no objections, an expert committee will submit a report to the registrar for award of GI tag.

How many more from Karnataka?

Already at the top, Karnataka has further registered for GI tags for 5 more products and decision of the GI Registry is awaited. The fresh applications include—Kolhapur Sandals



(Karnataka-Maharashtra), Durries (Blankets) of Guledgudda, Cotton Sarees of Udupi and Arecanut products of Sirsi, Siddapura and Yallapura.

GI Tag valid for 10 years

Is GI tag valid for entire life? Though people normally think so, the actual validity of GI products is only 10-years. Subsequently the applicants have to resubmit application extending GI tag. Depending on the circumstances, the GI Registry will take a call whether the tag should be extended or not.

Mysuru: * Mysore silk (handicraft) * Mysuru incense sticks (manufacturing) * Mysuru betel leaves (agri produce) * Nanjanagudu banana (agri produce) * Mysuru jasmine (agri produce) * Rosewood carvings (handicraft) * Mysuru sandal oil (manufacturing) * Mysuru Sandal Soap (manufacturing) * Traditional painting (handicraft) * Ganjifa art (handicraft)

Bengaluru Rural:Bengaluru Blue Grapes (Agri Produce) n Bengaluru Red Onion (Agri Produce)

Kodagu: Green Cardamom (Agri Produce) n Coorg Mandarin-Oranges (Agri Produce)

Ramanagara: Chennapattana wooden toys (handicraft)

Chikkaballapura:Devanahalli Pumello

Chitradurga: Sarees of Molakalmur (handicraft)

Ballari: Hadagali jasmine (agri produce) n Red banana of Kamalapura (agri produce) n Banjara embroidery of Sandur (handicraft)

Dharawad: Peda (food) n Navalagund durries (blanket)

Bagalkot: Ilakal sarees (handicraft)

Haveric: Byadagi Red Chilli (Agri Produce)

Koppal: Toys of Kinnala (Handicraft)

Shivamogga: Appe Midi (Tender Mango) of Sagara (Agri Produce)

Udupi: Udupi jasmine (agri produce) n Udupi Mattagulla (brinjal) (agri produce)

Dakshina Kannada: Malabar Arabica Coffee (agri produce) n Malabar Robusta Coffee (agri produce)

Centre has lauded Karnataka's solar energy policy

Centre has lauded Karnataka's solar energy policy and expressed a desire to include some of its provisions into their policy



The minister said that the government has decided to produce as much as 9,500 mw solar power by giving farmers a chance to produce the alternate energy after installing solar plants.

The state government had last year cleared the solar energy policy, which encourages farmers to set up small solar power plants in their farms to produce energy and sell it to electricity supply companies

Mahadayi water dispute

The river

The Mahadayi originates in the Western Ghats and flows 35 km in Karnataka and 52 km in Goa. The downstream state constitutes a large part of the river’s catchment (78 per cent), which also includes runoff from Maharashtra, although the main stem of the river does not flow through that state. Maharashtra, as a result, is also party to the water-sharing dispute

The dispute

Karnataka side

Mahadayi or Mandovi river is said to be the life line of Goa, about two-third of it flows in Goa. Two of its tributaries are Kalasa & Banduari nalas. Karnataka wants to construct dams across the Kalasa and banduri and divert water to Malprabha river which flows in the Belgaum District. This diversion of water will cater to the drinking water needs of villages and towns of Belgaum, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag districts.

Goa

This diversion has been opposed by Goa. Goa claims the transfer of water violates the National Water Policy, which does not allow transfer of water from a deficient basin. In their correspondence with the Union water resources ministry, Goa said its annual demand for water in 2050 would be 2,674 mcm, which is much more than the river’s usable yield.

Goa depends upon the flow of River Mahadoyi for keeping its Zuari River navigable till the Mormugao harbor in Panaji.

Background

The farmers in Navalgund and Naragund taluk, which lie in the Malaprabha command area, launched an agitation in 1980 against the government for forcibly collecting betterment levy without providing water. Shortage of water in Malaprabha was the reason for non-supply of water for irrigation.

The then chief minister R Gundu Rao appointed a committee headed by S R Bommai, to study the problem and suggest remedies. The Bommai Committee recommended



linking of Mahadayi to Malaprabha. However, nothing moved in this connection till Bommai became the chief minister in 1989.

Bommai entered into a pact with the then Goa CM Pratap Singh Rane and Karnataka signed an MoU with Goa providing for construction of a dam near Kalasa in Karnataka. According to the MoU, Karnataka would get 45 tmc of water from Kalasa stream and set up a power generation unit. Goa also used power as per the pact. But because of the sudden fall of Bommai government and the dissolution of the assembly, the MoU remained stalled.

Subsequent governments in Goa have objected to the implementation of the project citing damage to ecology.

The matter was referred to National Environment Engineering Institute (NEEI) which gave a green signal to the project.

Karnataka again started pursuing the project while the Goa government kept on opposing it.

S M Krishna government took up the issue and renamed the project as Kalasa-Banduri nala project envisaging diversion of nine tmc of water from Mahadayi to Malaprabha to solve the drinking water problem in Hubli-Dharwad. The Central Water Commission cleared the project in April 2000 and the central government accorded an in-principle clearance to the project.

Karnataka began the work on diversion in 2002. It planned two dams, one each on the Kalasa and the Banduri tributaries of the Mahadayi, to store water to be diverted via canals to the Malaprabha. Work came to a halt the same year.

Goa had approached Supreme Court seeking order, staying the implementation of the project. The Supreme Court, while refusing to accede to Goa's request, has allowed Karnataka to go ahead with the project and asked it to obtain Centre's clearance before utilizing the water.

Setting of river water tribunal- timeline

In July, 2002, the State of Goa made a request under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (as amended) for constitution of the Tribunal under the said Act and refer the matter for adjudication and decision of dispute relating to Mandovi River.

The issues mentioned in the request included the assessment of available utilisable water resources in the basin at various points and allocation of this water to the 3 basin States keeping in view priority of the use of water within basin to decide the machinery to implement the decision of the tribunal etc.

Meanwhile the Govt. of Goa filed a suit in the Hon’ble Supreme court in Sept, 06 for setting up of a water dispute tribunal

Central government has constituted Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) in 2010. headed by a Retired Supreme Court judge J.M. Panchal.

In this dispute along with Goa and Karnataka, Maharashtra is also a party.

The tribunal



The tribunal setupto resolve the Mahadayi river water dispute among Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, headed by retired Justice JM Panchal, visited the project area in Belgaum

The team visited the proposed sites of Haltara dam, Kalsa dam, Kotani dam, and Surala and Kalsa river connecting areas. They were accompanied by legal and technical experts from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

The project aims at utilising only about 7.50 tmcft of water of the Mahadayi basin through a diversion project at the confluence of Kalasa and Banduri nalas near Kanakumbi in Khanapur taluk, Belgaum district.

The tribunal is expected to give its final verdict by the end of 2015.

In News:

With their hopes of an early solution to the Mahadayi river water dispute getting dashed following the reported lukewarm response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the all-party delegation from Karnataka, farmers from Navalgund and Nargund taluks are up in arms against the State and Union governments.

While the farmers have decided to intensify their agitation by continuing road blockade indefinitely and launching a relay hunger strike, a call for ‘Dharwad bandh’ has been given by a non-political forum of various organisations

State govt. to move tribunal on Mahadayi water diversion

The government will file an application before the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal seeking interim award on sharing of river water between Karnataka and Goa

In its interim application, the State government would appeal for awarding 7.56 tmcft of water to meet the drinking water demands in Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi and Bagalkot districts; 7 tmcft of water for agricultural activities, and 1.56 tmcft for Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district.

The government has decided to file the interim award considering the severe drought in most districts of north Karnataka

Farmers and various organisations have welcomed the government’s decision, but stated that they will not withdraw their protest till the award is granted.

The State will appeal for 7.56 tmcft of water to meet drinking water needs in Gadag, Dharwad, Belagavi and Bagalkot districts

Pulling vultures back from the brink

Protecting the last six long-billed vultures in inland south India has become a challenge for the Forest Department even in a protected vulture sanctuary in Ramanagaram.

With rampant trespassing in 346.14 hectares in and around Ramadevara Betta — which became the country’s second vulture sanctuary in January 2012 — the department has now decided to fix a fee to enter the park.



According to ornithologists and wildlife experts, in the absence of an entry fee, the haven for the endangered species had become an open ground for miscreants. Recently, forest officials arrested two persons for allegedly attempting to harm the vultures. A similar attempt was recorded last October.

Apart from this, plans include building watchtowers to allow wildlife enthusiasts to have a glimpse of overhead circling and landing of vultures, besides developing an information centre which, apart from mentioning dos and don’ts in the sanctuary, will also explain the behavioural pattern of vultures.

Ideal habitat

Long-billed vultures made Ramadevara Betta their home as the crevices of the tall granite hills — which are among the world’s oldest granite outcrops — are suitable for their mating and breeding activities, he said.

Shivananjaiah, environmentalist, who was part of the movement to make the area a sanctuary, recalled that there were hundreds of long-billed vultures a few decades ago. Their habitat was disturbed during the shooting of the iconic Bollywood blockbuster ‘Sholay’ in the 70s and Hollywood classic ‘Passage to India’ in the 80s. “Now their number has dwindled to just six,” he said.

Though they returned in later years, their numbers did not increase owing to scarcity of food, water and increase in environment pollution

Tiger Prey Found Across Seasons Outside Five Reserves in Karnataka: Study

Just outside the protected areas of five tiger reserves in Karnataka, five herbivorous species — four of them tiger prey — have been mapped across seasons despite their vulnerability to poachers and prone to conflicts with humans.

These findings will help in better planning, chalking out protection measures and prevention of conflicts outside the tiger reserves, feel wildlife experts. The findings were revealed in a new scientific study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India Program.

It has assessed seasonal distribution patterns of these animals in around 7,500 sqkm area adjoining Dandeli-Anshi, Bhadra, Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger reserves.

The five species include elephants, gaur, sambar, chital and wild pig which form the principal prey for tigers in this landscape.

To examine the patterns of their occurrence, structured interviews were conducted with 3,860 local households in 1,565 villages located within 10 km radius of the tiger reserves.

A parallel in 2013 had also found that 64 per cent of households reported experiencing crop loss to due to presence of wildlife and losses were similar across the five tiger reserves.

This approach of assessing and mapping species distribution is vital to focusing where species protection efforts need to be targeted and determining which habitat areas need to be monitored to ensure that the species can move freely



Of the five species, gaur was the least wide ranging and pigs the most wide-ranging species. As expected, forest cover influenced distribution of all five species, and distance from the tiger reserve and human population densities had a negative influence. Chital was more wide-ranging in dry seasons while elephants in wet seasons. However, the other three species remained unaffected by seasonality.

Elevation, on the other hand, positively impacted elephant and gaur occurrence, and negatively impacted chital occurrence in both seasons.

Dharwad Wins Race for IIT

Dharwad has won the race for the Indian Institute of Technology. The Union HRD Ministry took this decision and a government order in this regard will

be issued Along with Dharwad, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district Mysuru and Raichur

were in the race for the country’s premier technical education institute. The Union government had sanctioned IIT to Karnataka in its 2015 budget. The

proposed IIT will come up on a 200-acre plot near Belur Industrial Area on the outskirts of Dharwad. A team from the HRD Ministry had recently visited all three cities to assess the plots offered by the respective district administrations.

HC stays law on mandatory rural service

In a temporary relief to several students who are awaiting conferment of degrees despite completion of various medical courses, the Karnataka High Court stayed the law that makes one year compulsory service training at government hospitals for all medical students prior to conferment of degrees.

The court has stayed both the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Medical Course Act, 2012, and the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses (Counselling, Allotment and Certification) Rules, 2015.

Justice Ravi Malimath passed the interim order on a batch of petitions filed by several students, who have just completed their MBBS, MD and various super-speciality courses in different medical colleges.

The High Court of Karnataka directed all medical students, who have approached the court against the law on one-year compulsory service training in government hospitals, to submit individual undertakings for making themselves available to undergo the training if the final verdict goes against them.

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The students had moved the court as the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences had only issued provisional degree/diploma certificates as the Act barred the university from awarding degrees for failure to undergo compulsory service training. And the Karnataka Medical Council refused to register them as it can enrol them as registered medical practitioners based on the final degree certificate and not the provisional one.

The Act, which came into force with effect from July 24 this year, applies to all candidates studying MBBS, PG, diploma, and super speciality courses in government, private and minority colleges in the State irrespective of the quota they belong to — merit, payment or NRI.

One of the main contentions raised in the petitions were that one-year compulsory service training cannot be implemented retrospectively by forcing the students, who were already admitted to medial courses prior to enforcement of the new law.

Pointing out that many of those who have just completed super speciality or postgraduate courses are in the age group of 35 to 40, it was argued on behalf of the petitioner that sudden imposition of new law with retrospective effect would affect not only their career, but also put them into a difficult situation as many students had taken educational loan.

Satellite imagery for assessing crop yields in Shivamogga

In a bid to clear crop insurance claims faster, the Agriculture Ministry roped in Isro for pilot project to use satellite imagery for gathering accurate data on crop yields and the extent of losses due to natural disasters.

The pilot project would be carried out in the rice fields of Shivamogga in Karnataka and Kurukshetra in Haryana as also in the cotton fields of Yavatmal in Maharashtra and Seoni in Madhya Pradesh.

The project will also be carried out during the 2015-16 Rabi season in eight districts in same states to assess the crop yields of rice, wheat and sorghum

Getting timely data on crop losses has always been a problem area which has led to delay in crop insurance payouts. The new project - Crop Insurance using Space Technology And Geo-informatics - would address the issue.

Android-based application for assessing the large-scale damage to standing crop due to hailstorm was also launched.

The app will be used by state agriculture officials and the data will help the Union Agriculture Ministry in having very fast assessment of damage to crops because of hailstorm. Farmers can download the app and send pictures of hailstorm to government officials using smartphones.

This will help the government in very fast assessment of hailstorm damage to crops. The project will be jointly conducted by Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre,

Indian Space Research Organisation, India Meteorological Department, State Agriculture Departments and Remote Sensing Centres, Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)



Power-saving LEDs to light homes across State

The State government will work towards transforming household lighting by enabling domestic consumers to replace the existing bulbs/lights in their homes with energy efficient LED bulbs.

The Energy department, which is planning to roll out the Central Government proposal of introducing LED lighting in households under Demand Side Management Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP), plans to replace six crore existing bulbs across the State in the first phase

Each household can purchase up to 10 LED bulbs at the heavily incentivised rates of Rs 90 to Rs 100

Presently, the market rate of these bulbs varied from Rs 350 to Rs 450. Consumers need not even go purchase the bulbs. The department will ensure that the bulbs are replaced as and when consumers place the demand. Also, the department will deduct Rs 10 per bulb in the consumers’ monthly electricity bill.

A 9 watt LED bulb will be equivalent to 14 watt CFL bulb and 60 watt incandescent bulb. The accruing energy savings will be anywhere between 50 to 80 pc.

If consumers want to replace the LED bulbs, they can purchase them at the same subsidised rates in the market. These bulbs will carry a government label

In the second phase, the government will impress upon the urban local bodies to switch over to LEDs. As many as 4.5 lakh streetlights in Bengaluru City and a total of 12 lakh streetlights across the State will be replaced with LEDs. All conventional fixtures like sodium vapours, metal halides and tube lights will be replaced. The energy savings will be around 50 pc if this is done.

UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage tag and Mysuru Dasara

Concerted efforts are yet to be made to get Mysuru Dasara recognised under UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage, despite its history and unbroken tradition of nearly 700 years.

Though the Department of Archaeology, Heritage and Museums tried to make a case for Mysuru Dasara a few years ago, there were no sustained efforts to give a fresh push to the request.

Mysuru Dasara has all the attributes to be recognised as an intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO, and experts from various fields should come together to document it and make a presentation to the Government of India for submission before the UNESCO

Mysuru dasara

Mysuru Dasara is a platform for showcasing the art and culture of the people of Karnataka and has evolved over centuries.

Today, it is among the most important cultural events with public participation and is known across the country. It is truly a reflection of the customs and traditions of the State



A team which undertook excavations at Hampi in the early 1970s discovered the Mahanavami Dibba which has come to be associated with Dasara. It underlines the historicity and continuity of the festival. The Mahanavami Dibba is akin to a stage and was used by the kings of Vijayanagara to watch the procession, and the Navaratri festival which establishes the historicity of the events. After the fall of Vijayanagara empire, it shifted to Srirangapatana in 1610 A.D. when Raja Wadiyar ascended the throne and decreed that Dasara be celebrated on a grand scale.

It was held even during the regime of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan at Srirangapatana. But, after the fall of Tipu Sultan in the battle against the British in 1799, the capital was shifted to the present Mysuru, and since then Dasara is being held in the city

Though the Department of Archaeology, Heritage and Museums tried to make a case for Mysuru Dasara a few years ago, there were no sustained efforts to give a fresh push to the request.

Intangible cultural heritage tag (ICH)

The UNESCO website mentions that practices that are traditional, contemporary and alive, in which diverse cultural groups take part and has been passed on from one generation to another can be termed as ICH. And Mysuru Dasara meets most of the UNESCO parameters.

The UNESCO has recognised that the concept of intangible cultural heritage cannot be confined to built monuments and should include oral traditions, performing arts and social practices, rituals, festive events, and knowledge and skill to produce traditional crafts.

Importance- It gives us a sense of identity and belonging, linking our past, through the present, with our future. It is of both social and economic importance.

At present, Vedic chanting; Ramlila; chanting of the Buddhist hymns in Ladakh; Sankirtana — ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur; Mudiyettu — a ritual theatre and dance drama tradition of Kerala; Sanskrit theatre of Kutiyattam; Kalbelia folk songs and dance of Rajasthan; are among the nearly 10 Indian traditions recognised as intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO.

Central University of Karnataka to document endangered languages

The Union government has taken up a project to document endangered languages and identified eight universities to shortlist and document them. Their grammar too will be documented.

The Central University of Karnataka (CUK) at Kadaganchi in Kalaburagi district and the Central University of Kerala at Kasaragod will take up the work in South India and CUK will be the lead university.

The identification of endangered languages, apart from the list released by the UNESCO recently, had become a daunting task after the failure of the Census Commissioner to identify those on the verge of extinction in the Census 2011.

Census reports from 1961 to 2001 had the details of all the languages and their status, but the 2011 census did not have these details.



As per the information available with the Registrar General of the Languages division in the Union Home Ministry, there were more than 190 languages about which there was no information.

In Karnataka there were 49 tribal communities and there was no information about their languages, dialect and grammar.

Farmer to launch Dasara festivities

Puttaiah, a 67-year-old progressive farmer from H D Kote taluk in the district, inaugurated the 405th Navaratri festivities, by offering floral tributes to the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hill.

He shared his success formula of comprehensive farming to instil confidence among fellow farmers who are in distress due to drought and declining crop prices.

Jamboo Savari

The Jamboo Savari was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the palace premises at 12.30 p.m., while Governor Vajubhai R. Vala inaugurated the torchlight parade at the Bannimantap Grounds

Though a low-key affair this year, with cultural programmes restricted to the palace, and popular variety shows cancelled to commiserate with the farmers reeling under drought, the elephants have their task cut out, their role and protocol well-established, for which they have geared up

The Nishane and Naupat elephants carrying the royal insignia will take the lead to set the caravan rolling from the Amba Vilas Palace. After them will be the cultural troupes and the tableaus.

Though the Vijayadashmi procession has evolved as a spectacle to showcase the cultural diversity and progress of the State in various spheres, the folk artistes will be drawn from the district to underline the low-key Dasara.

The cynosure of all eyes will be elephant Arjuna, who will carry the golden howdah on his back. People in tens of thousands line up to witness this spectacle all along the procession route.

Controversy

The practice of the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari being carried in the golden howdah during the Jamboo Savari is of relatively recent origin.

It became a practice after the abolition of the Privy Purse in 1971. Till then, the maharajas would sit in the golden howdah and a designated elephant would take them out in the procession.

The government stepped in to promote Dasara in 1971, and instead of the maharaja, the idol of goddess Chamundehswari was placed in the howdah and the practice has continued since.

The core of the 750-kg howdah, or Ambari, is wood but is covered with 80kg of gold, an official publication of the Palace Board on the Mysuru Palace states. Balancing the structure is a tedious task , and the process is strenuous for the animals



Animal rights activists have in the past called for reducing the burden on the elephant by placing a lighter wooden replica, or placing the original howdah in a chariot and get it drawn by elephants.

But, the State government has brushed away such suggestions citing “tradition”, which is actually only of recent origin.

The Animal Welfare Board of India, under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, has written a letter to the State forest department seeking status and registration details of Mysore Dasara elephants

The letter also states that if details of the elephants are not provided they will not be allowed to parade at the celebrations.

The Board wrote a letter to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) in December 2013 and again in October 2015. They questioned the Mysore Dasara elephant parade and during other festivals in Karnataka.

The letter points out that the elephants are not registered with the Board under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001. All animals which are used for parade and other such paid events come under the ambit of animal performances and hence, need to be registered with the Board

The letter of October 2015 cited the recent order of the Supreme Court (writ petition between Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and others versus Union of India and others) dated July 14, 2015. It termed the act of using elephants for Dasara as a cruelty

Conclusion of dasara festivities

The 11-day Dasara festivities concluded on a ceremonial note with the famed Jamboo Savari marking the culmination of the State-funded celebrations here on Friday

Despite the scaling down of the celebrations, the finale saw a sizeable crowd that watched the cultural jamboree unfold along the 5-km-long ‘Raja Path’, starting from the Amba Vilas Palace to the Bannimantap stadium.

Like every year, the focus was on the 750-kg golden howdah, which had the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, and Arjuna, who carried the ‘ambari’.

Arjuna, flanked by ‘kumki’ elephants — Chaitra and Kaveri — began his majestic walk after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other dignitaries showered petals on the howdah

This was followed by firing of 21 rounds of cannon shots even as the police band played the national anthem and the three elephants raised their trunks in salute. Guarded by a team of Chamundi Commando Force, Arjuna and the two other jumbos marched out of the palace with the crowds giving them a loud cheer.

After the customary ‘Nandi Dwaja’ puja at the Balarama Gate of the palace at noon, the procession got off to a start with the stately march of six caparisoned elephants — led by ‘Nishane’ elephant Balarama. Abhimanyu, Gopi, Vikrama, Harsha and Prashanth followed Balarama amid performances by the cultural troupes.

Braving the heat, thousands of people gathered inside the palace and along the procession route. Compared to last year, the turnout was low but not the enthusiasm.

Earlier, in his address after performing the Nandi Dwaja puja, the Chief Minister said the stateliness of Mysuru Dasara had not been affected despite scaling down of the festivities because of drought.



Ban on non-essential plastic products

All non-essential plastics that can be replaced with eco-friendly materials will soon be banned across Karnataka. The State Cabinet took a decision to ban manufacture, sale and use of plastic carry bags, irrespective of its thickness.

Taking the fight against polluting with plastic a step further, the Cabinet has decided to ban plastic carry bags, glasses, plates, cups, flags, buntings, flexes, banners, sheets used on dining tables in marriage halls, and plastic used for sale of food items, such as chips.

However, it has not banned plastic for water bottles, milk sachets, plastic bags used for growing nursery plants, and for medical drips.

Unlike previous notices, the draft notification empowers numerous agencies to crack down on those manufacturing, storing or selling the banned products. Apart from Regional Officers of the KSPCB, officers of Commercial Tax, Urban Local Bodies, district administration, health department, revenue officers can file cases.

There is force of law and implementation will be stricter.

Implementation may be difficult

For nearly four years, Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 has been in force, prohibiting sale of bags lesser than 40 microns. However, these bags are still is use in most small shops.

There is no will or manpower to enforce these rules. The ban may also have to pass the legal hurdle. In 2013, the Dakshina Kannada district

administration enforced a total ban on plastic bags. The Canara Plastic Manufacturer and Traders’ Association (CPMTA) moved the Karnataka High Court against the order. Until the verdict was delivered in 2014, a court stay scuttled enforcement of the ban. The court upheld the view that the 2011 Plastic Waste Rules, 2011 has to be implemented, where only manufacturers of bags lesser than 40 microns can be punished, rather going after those who complied with the rules

Draft notification issued

The Forests and Ecology and Environment departments issued the draft notifications that seek to ban numerous plastic products.

The notification empowers BBMP officials, deputy commissioners and revenue officers in districts and taluks, health officers and commissioners of local bodies, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) officers, Commercial Tax Department and Food and Civil Supplies officials to enforce the ban.

CFTRI develops the high-nutrient grains, distributes to farmers

The power of ‘super foods’ — Teff, Chia and Quinoa — was unveiled at the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) with its scientists developing a wide variety of ready-to-eat foods made from these high-nutrient grains.



Teff, a whole-grain cereal crop, which is the staple food crop of Ethiopia, is considered exceptionally nutritious as it contains gluten-free protein. It is said to play a key role in the prevention/cure of dietary disorders and combating malnutrition among children and adolescents.

Since the price of imported flour of Teff is very expensive, the CFTRI has introduced the crop for the first time in the country to make it affordable here.

Chia is a plant of Mexican and South American origin and known for its nutraceutical value. Seeds contain about 30 to 35 per cent of oil, which is the richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Like Teff, it is gaining popularity as a ‘super food’ across the world, thanks to its rich source of protein.

Chia is being cultivated as a profitable commercial crop as its demand in the international and Indian market has gone up.

This has been introduced to farmers and it is being grown in some parts of Mysuru district. Two high-yielding varieties – CHIAampion W-83 and CHIAmpion B-1 – had been developed by the CFTRI

Quinoa grains have a natural blend of protein and starch. It comes under the ‘super food’ category for its nutritional value and importance in curing dietary disorders.

Being a pseudo-cereal, Quinoa was earlier cultivated in South America, which later spread to Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. The year 2013 was declared as the International Year of Quinoa by the United Nations, thanks to its ‘high nutrient value and potential to contribute to food security worldwide

Six high nutrition products to be launched

Six food products with high nutritional value, developed by scientists at the CSIR-CFTRI in Mysuru, will be formally released

These foods have been developed as part of CFTRI’s ‘Nutri-Food Intervention for Combating Malnutrition among Children’.

Mysuru had been identified as a pilot district under the project, funded by CSIR Rice-milk mix, Spirulina choco-cereal bar, nutri chikki with added Spirulina, high-

protein rusk, fortified mango bar and sesame paste are the products. The high-energy foods address nutritional deficiencies in children.

Tipu birth anniversary made govt programme

The State government has decided to officially observe Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary. It issued an order stating Tipu’s birth anniversary will be observed on Nov 10 every year.

The order states that the decision was taken following a long-pending demand from people across the State. Tipu, also known as the Tiger of Mysuru, ruled the Mysore kingdom between 1782 and 1799.

Celebrations will be observed both at the district and taluk level, for which the Minorities Welfare Directorate has set aside Rs 50,000, and Rs 25,000, respectively

Controversy over Tipu Sultan Jayanti



This is the second time in the recent past that the enigmatic ruler had evoked strong sentiments more than 200 years after his death.

It was two years ago that a similar furore was witnessed when the government decided to establish a central university near Mysuru named after the warrior ruler and was opposed by BJP leaders.

Taking on BJP leaders, some of whom have coloured Tipu Sultan as indulging in forcible conversion, Prof. Rangaraju, a history professor from Mysore university said religious conversion was not something unique only to Tipu Sultan and existed in India since historical times.

There was large scale conversion to Buddhism during the period of Asoka in 2nd Century B.C., while Hinduism got State patronage during the Gupta era from 4th Century A.D. to 6th Century A.D. In later centuries, Sri Ramanujacharya converted Bittideva of Hoysala dynasty from Jainism to Sri Vaishnavism and he assumed the name of Vishunvardhana

There are records that he helped Sringeri Mutt, which had come under attack of the Marathas while he contributed to the maintenance of Sri Ranganathswamy temple at Srirangapatna and Srikanteshwara temple at Nanjangud

Historian Sheikh Ali, former Vice-Chancellor, Universities of Mangalore and Goa and an authority on the subject, has aired his views in the past as to how Tipu Sultan was ahead of his time and was also a reformer and stern with his enemies, be they Hindu or Muslim.

Tipu Sultan

Tipu Sultan (1782-99) who continued his father’s anti-British policy by fighting the third and fourth Anglo-Mysuru wars dreamt of driving the British out of India.

He sought the assistance of Napoleon, the French ruler and also the rulers of Turkey and Afghanistan.

Tipu was a scholar and a bold general. He introduced sericulture in Mysuru Kingdom; and took firm steps to establish industrial

centres producing quality paper; steel wires for musical instruments, sugar and sugar candy.

He was very keen on promoting overseas trade and initiated State trading and founded stores not only in different centres of his kingdom but also at Kutch, Karachi and Basrah in the Middle East.

He had a curious mind and was keen on introducing novel thing in every walk of life. He was pioneer in introducing Rocket technology during his struggle against the British. However, his ambition of driving the British failed and he died in 1799, fighting

against the British during the fourth Anglo-Mysuru war at Srirangapatna. Mysuru fell into the hands of the British who handed over parts of it to the

Marathas and the Nizams, their allies in this venture, and crowned the Hindu prince, Krishnaraja Odeyar III, as the ruler over Mysuru Kingdom, whose territories considerably reduced.

Later, under the instructions of the Madras Presidency, Francis Buchanan visited the area ruled formerly by Hydar and Tippu, during 1800-01 immediately after the demise



of Tippu, (1799). He has left a vivid account in his Travelogue is worth to be noticed.

POS machines to plug pilferage at ration shops

To cut pilferage in the public distribution system (PDS), the government has decided to set up biometric system-based point of sales (POS) machines in all fair price ration shops across the State.

The government has also conceded a long-pending demand of PDS shop owners of doubling their commission from Rs. 35 to Rs. 70 a quintal of the food material sold. Owners, who have installed these machines at PDS shops, will get an additional commission of Rs. 17.

There are about 20,500 government-controlled ration shops in the State, serving over 1.03 crore BPL card holders and 11 lakh APL card holders.

This scheme is being executed by the Food and Civil Supplies Department. The POS machines provide real time details about ration. At present, there is no system to know real time details of ration in PDS shops during the month end.

Those who purchase ration will have to give a thumb impression on this machine. It then authenticates the biometric details of the ration card holder before generating the bill. The sim card-based machine also sends information to the central server so that there is no scope for pilferage

Owners themselves have to bear the cost of the machine, which is in the range of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000. Based on the successful execution of a pilot project in Udupi district, the POS scheme has been extended to all PDS shops across the State.

Presently, there are possibilities of shop owners selling the remaining food items to others at a higher price, instead of distributing it to the beneficiaries. With the installation of POS machines, as soon as any person gets the ration in the shop, the data is immediately sent to the server and uploaded on the website

Once the machines are installed, authorities will get exact details of the items sold in ration shops. There will be no scope for diversion of food items by shop owners

Mounting food subsidy is one of the reasons for cracking down on bogus cards as well as diversion of items.

School Nurturing Programme

The State government launched ambitious programme named School Nurturing Programme, in 2009, to get corporates to adopt such government schools which lack basic infrastructure and improve infrastructure

The Department of Public Instruction had planned to involve companies and non-governmental organisations to develop government schools by chalking out a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy.

But it does not seem to have had the desired effect This was because there was no follow-up. Also the department could not win the

confidence of companies. There is a need for the department to engage in a dialogue with companies to explore

partnership.



After a series of sexual assaults, security appears to be a concern. Companies may come forward to install CCTV cameras in schools and the government can explore the possibility of bringing matching grants for such projects

Kannada Virtual University

The Department of Kannada and Culture has planned to establish a Kannada Virtual University (KVU) on the lines of the Tamil Virtual Academy (TVA).

The Kannada Software Development Committee (KSDC) recently decided to take forward the plan of setting up the KVU and submit a detailed project report (DPR) to the government shortly.

Once the KVU or Kannada Vastavopama Vishwavidyalaya is established, Kannada community living in different parts of the globe, as well as others interested in learning Kannada and acquiring knowledge on the history, art, literature and culture of Kannadigas will get Internet-based resources,

The KVU will help in developing and delivering Internet-based learning material in Kannada, customised programmes to meet the cultural needs, besides offering academic programmes in Kannada and awarding certificate, diploma and degree on completion of prescribed requirements

Lake development authority

The rules for Karnataka Lake Development and Conservation Authority (KLDCA) Bill, 2014, which was passed by the Assembly in February, was cleared by the Law Department on October 28.

The confusing array of bureaucracy that shrouds lakes is expected to make way for a simpler protection of lakes with the enforcement of the Act.

With this, the rules will now be approved by the Minister for Environment and Forests before a draft notification is published. A few more government procedures to be followed, and officials expect the authority to be up and running by November-end.

The formation of the authority will see the “automatic” merger of the Lake Development Authority, a registered society that has oft been called by activists as being “toothless” in handling of lakes.

Karnataka Lake Development and Conservation Authority Bill, 2014

Passed in the legislature in February 2015 Governor gives assent in April

It will comprise

A 16-member governing council, including three ‘non-officials’ and subject experts Minister for Minor Irrigation will be the chairperson of the governing council A 12-member executive committee of principal secretaries and heads of Bengaluru

civic bodies



It will cover

Lakes and catchment areas in municipal corporations of Mangaluru, Hubballi–Dharwad, Mysuru, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Davangere, Ballari, Kalaburagi, and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

Its objectives are

Protect, reclaim and rejuvenate lakes Create habitat for flora and fauna in lakes Conduct environment impact assessment for all lakes Utilise the lakes for the purpose of drinking water, irrigation, education or tourism

It can

Raise funds for development of lakes Order for removal of encroachments Penalise those dumping in lakes, discharge sewage (directly or indirectly) or

encroaching lake-bed: imprisonment between three and five years; and fines between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 20,000.

Penalise government officials who have not stopped encroachment or pollution of lakes: imprisonment for a maximum of a year, fine of Rs. 10,000.

Vertical farming

With the land available for farming fast-shrinking and given the exponential increase in population, Indian agricultural scientists and policy makers are giving serious thought to ‘vertical farming’ that makes effective use of urban spaces for growing horticultural produce.

It involves cultivation of various horticultural crops — fruits and vegetables, besides rare varieties of flowers such as orchids in multiple layers, with the help of proper supporting structures that can go up to a height of 20 to 25 floors. Apiary is also part of the vertical farming system.

This will ensure availability of organic, fresh vegetables and fruits on one’s doorstep. Residents can use their kitchen waste, which will also help fight the problem of garbage disposal

This would also add aesthetic value Scientists also hope to encourage urban residents to go for commercial cultivation

through vertical farming According to experts, it is possible to take up normal cultivation that uses soil if the

vertical gardening system is taken up outside the house. Similarly, soilless farming, backed by LED lights to make up for shortage of sunlight, would have to be tried out for cultivation either inside the house or on a commercial basis



Animation industry – Karnataka

Animation has become a part of our lives. Pictures, digital apps, mobile gaming, it has permeated into our lives in various forms

The State government is considering a proposal to establish digital art finishing school A digital media city of global standards will be set up in Karnataka. Karnataka was the first state to have come up with a separate policy for digital

industry. Drafted in 2013, the policy will be implemented now The government was committed to digitising every fine arts college in the State.

Background

Aimed at attracting investments in the field of digital art, the State Government came up with the Karnataka Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics policy.

It focusses on developing and nurturing the animation and gaming segment of the information technology industry.

In this policy, the first of its kind in the country, the Government has announced the creation of a venture capital fund of Rs. 50 crore, to be funded jointly by the Government and private investors, to help entrepreneurs. The Government's contribution to this fund is 26 per cent

Another key policy announcement is the decision to set up a centre of excellence in this field in a private-public partnership mode. While the State and the Centre would invest 20 per cent and 30 per cent respectively, the private partners would provide 50 per cent.

Other moves proposed include promotion of public and private parks in this sector, setting up animation, visual effects, gaming and comics parks on the SEZ model and providing financial assistance for setting up digital art centres.

Further, ten fine arts colleges, located in Gulbarga, Bidar, Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Raichur, Bellary, Chitradurga, Chamarajanagar and Tumkur, have been identified for digital art centres.

Vanya Darshana

The department would launch ‘Chinnara Vanya Darshana’ programme from December for class nine students in schools on the forest fringes.

To start with, the programme will be launched in Gadag and Belagavi districts and will be extended to other districts subsequently

By making activities under the programme a part of the academics, the department hopes to create awareness among students about preserving and conserving forests and wildlife.

Here, students will be get to stay overnight in forests. Cultural and essay writing competitions too will be organised.



Gram Swaraj Panchayat Raj bill, 2015

The State Cabinet gave its nod for incorporating several changes in the panchayat raj legislation

Amendments are based on the recommendations made by a committee headed by former speaker K R Ramesh Kumar.

As many as 110 amendments will be incorporated. Changes to be brought

1. The present 20-month tenure of gram/taluk/zilla panchayat presidents will be extended to five years.

2. Apart from gram sabhas and ward sabhas, habitat sabhas will have to be held in isolated habitations at least once in six months.

3. All zilla panchayat presidents will be given minister-of-state rank. 4. Holding panchayat adalats and making it mandatory for calling tenders for works

above Rs 20 lakh

Parliamentary secretaries

Chief Minister has appointed 10 Congress legislators as parliamentary secretaries

Who are parliamentary secretaries

legislators who assist the ministers. enjoy the status of Cabinet, minister of state or deputy minister rank. given salaries and facilities like bungalows, vehicles and TA/DA, on a par with cabinet

ministers or ministers of state

Comments

After the recent cabinet expansion ministry is full with all the 34 berths being filled up. The strength of the ministry, as per the constitutional amendment, in Karnataka has

been pegged at 34 (15 per cent of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly) To circumvent this, chief ministers appoint parliamentary and political secretaries,

usually sanctioning them minister of state rank Legal experts argue that the post is not covered under the law.

A J Sadashiva Commission

The State Cabinet decided to refer the report of the A J Sadashiva Commission to the Law department with a mandate to incorporate the 2011 census data

The panel was set up in 2005 following complaints by the most backward groups within the Scheduled Caste category that only some groups had cornered all the reservation benefits, while they had been denied their fair share of the constitutional rights.

The Sadashiva Commission had submitted its report in June 2012



It had recommended that the present 15 per cent reservation benefits for the Scheduled Castes be divided among the left hand, right hand, other Scheduled Castes and ‘touchable’ groups in the ratio of 6, 5, 1 and 3 per cent, respectively

The commission had arrived at its recommendations based on the 2005 statistics of the Scheduled Caste population.

The Cabinet felt that the 2011 census data collected on the Scheduled Caste commuities should be incorporated into the report. Besides, inputs from the socio-economic survey (popularly known as the caste census) could also be included

The Karnataka Backward Classes Commission, which conducted the census earlier this year, is likely to submit its report in a month,, which has recommended internal reservation among the Scheduled Castes,

IISC makes it to top 100

The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, broke India’s poor ranking spell by making a debut in the world’s top 100 universities for engineering and technology.

made its entry at 99th spot on a list that remains dominated by the U.S. institutions with Stanford, CalTech and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the top three positions in the Times Higher Education Ranking for Engineering & Technology’.

THE has singled out the year as one of Asian progress, with the U.S. holding 31 positions — down from 34 last year — while Asia holds 25 positions in the Top 100, up from 18 last year

THE has singled out the year as one of Asian progress, with the U.S. holding 31 positions — down from 34 last year — while Asia holds 25 positions in the Top 100, up from 18 last year

Renewable energy project at Birur railway station

As part of the Indian Railways’ push to tap renewable energy, the Mysuru Division is tapping solar energy resources to reduce its dependence on conventional forms of energy dependent on coal and water.

With this in mind, a 15 kW capacity wind and solar hybrid project is being established at Birur station at an estimated cost of Rs. 37.34 lakh

The unit at Birur would generate nearly 20,000 units of electricity a year, against the annual requirement of nearly 1.2 lakh units of that station, and hence the savings would be considerable.

In addition to Birur, a proposal has been submitted for establishing a similar solar and wind hybrid unit to meet the power requirements of Chitradurga railway station.

Renewable energy is also being tapped to power the level-crossing (LC) gates, and there are 14 such gates operational in the Mysuru Division

Significance

The power generated will light the station building, platforms, unreserved ticketing system and passenger reservation system centres, apart from the waiting halls. This



will help reduce dependence on the Electricity Board grid. It will also ensure uninterrupted power supply to the station.

This is in pursuance of the Railway’s drive to meet a portion of its energy from renewable energy sources like solar, wind and biomass.

Incidentally, the Railways is among the single largest entities consuming nearly 2 per cent of the country’s total power generated to meet its operational requirements.

Leopards thriving in the state

In perhaps the most stark evidence of the ability of man and animal living in relative harmony, researchers have tabulated that leopards occupy around 84,000 sq. km (or 47 per cent of the State’s area) outside protected forest areas in the State.

They were found in 70 taluks of the 175 in the State; with leopard “attacks” being reported in 51 taluks.

Interestingly, leopard cubs were spotted in 18 taluks, which indicates an “active, breeding” population of the feline thriving amid agricultural land. This indicates that leopards and other wild animals can live close to human being without serious conflict if we proactively deal with their presence

The researchers were also critical of the current “expensive” approach of relocating leopard found “strayed” in human areas — for, in many cases, “relocated” leopards returned to their original spot within three months. Aggressive removal of these creatures was, in fact, observed to increase the attacks on livestock.

Further they said there’s a need to stop the reactionary measures. There’s a need to start helping people through livestock sheds and precautions

The researchers have found a correlation between districts with high population of stray dogs reporting higher leopard population; while livestock seemed not to aid in thriving leopard population. Dogs, it is estimated, account for nearly 40 per cent of a leopard’s diet.

This shows that leopards occur across large parts of the State and can live close to human beings without serious conflict if we proactively deal with their presence. Making people aware of them and helping them reduce livestock losses can go a long way.

Mudhol hounds may be inducted to the army

If the experiment of Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University and the Indian Army to test the capabilities of the dog breed in security and combat operations yields a positive result the indigenous Mudhol hound may make it to the Army

The native breed may be drafted into the country’s fighting force if the performance of the hound matches the Army’s expectations.

The sight hounds, that have an accentuated sense of sight, could prove to be invaluable for actions like reconnaissance and sighting of the enemy.

The University’s Canine Research and Information Centre (CRIC) in Thimmapur in Mudhol taluk in Bagalkot district, that selectively breeds the variety, will supply the puppies.



They are a disease resistant and hardy species that do not demand any specific food. They can adjust to any climate and perform well

Basavanna statue in London

A bust of 12th century reformer, poet and philosopher Basaveshwara was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the banks of the Thames in London

It led to much jubilation in Karnataka, especially in northern and north-eastern parts of the State. This part of Karnataka has a sizeable population of Lingayats for whom he is a major icon.

The is sending interesting political echoes, with a strong sense that it is an attempt at reasserting Lingayat identity beyond the Tungabhadra.

Several Veerashaiva/Lingayat institutions across the region celebrated the event by distributing sweets across denominations and subcastes.

They describing it as a great honour accorded to the reformer who dreamt of building a casteless, classless society.

The significance, however, goes far beyond symbolism. The event would have a political impact. Lingayats in Karnataka, Telangana and

Maharashtra will link this with Lingayat leaders such as B.S Yeddyurappa in the BJP and the community’s affiliation with the party in general

Incidentally, Mr. Yeddyurappa had allocated Rs. 3 crore for the installation of the statue in his 2011-12 budget.

State to digitise all legislature proceedings

The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council secretariats are finding it difficult to maintain records of speeches and statements made by members on the floor of the Houses.

With members of the ruling and Opposition parties often seeking proceedings from the 1950s and ‘60s, a decision has been taken to digitise them

To make access to old records easier, both Houses of the State legislature have decided to digitise all proceedings since 1952 — when the first Assembly was constituted.

Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy and Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa have cleared the project, which will be executed by a library committee of the legislature. All old paper records of the Assembly and Council proceedings will be scanned.

Officials of the Assembly secretariat will sign an agreement with a private firm soon to commence the process of digitising the records. Officials are negotiating the cost of the project with the firm.

The proceedings will be digitised subject and name-wise. Once the work is complete, the secretariat staff can take printouts of

proceedings/speeches made by any leader in the Assembly or Council, It is easy to preserve digital archives and access them instantly. Unlike paper files,

these are easy to maintain and ensure faster retrieval of information.



Digitisation ensures better service as relevant information sought by MLAs/MLCs can be located easily. Currently, the staff spend a lot of time on retrieving records demanded by members during the legislature session.

State of Digital India in schools – Karnataka

The Ministry of Human Resource Development’s (MHRD) is planning to launch a series of mobile apps and ICT-based initiatives. This will be a part the ‘Digital India’ campaign.

But a large number of schools in the State are yet to get computers or Internet. As per the latest District Information System for Education report for 2014-15, only 38 per cent of schools in the State have computers. A large number of schools that have computers do not have Internet.

As many as 4,396 government and aided high schools across the State face this problem. Sadly, they are all part of the ICT phase-3 project implemented by the Department of State Education Research and Training.

The students, meanwhile, have got no exposure to computer education. the computers given in the earlier phases are gathering dust as they are in an unusable

condition. Many school managements do not have funds to get them repaired. With this being the situation at ground zero, experts and teachers feel that

strengthening the school education system using ICT tools is a difficult task. Last week, demonstrations of about four schemes such as Shala Siddi, Shala Darpan,

Saransh and using IVRS in the midday meal scheme were presented in New Delhi at the national conference on ICT in school education.

Without basic infrastructure and Internet connectivity in place, the apps and ICT-based initiatives will serve no purpose.

The new schemes to be launched

1. E pathshala is a web portal with educational resources for students, teachers and parents

2. Shala siddhi a web portal that helps schools assess themselves 3. Saransh allows schools affiliated to CBSE to see a comprehensive overview of their

students from classes 9 to 12 4. Interactive voice response system monitors daily implementation of midday meal

scheme and attendance of students

The Gram Panchayat bill envisages tax collection for local bodies

To allow greater autonomy at the grassroots level, gram panchayats (GPs) in the State will be empowered to generate more funds to meet their own expenses and improve infrastructure.

The bill envisages GPs to collect tax from owners of residential buildings, commercial buildings, industries, factories, IT parks, hardware parks, textile parks, power plants, special economic zones, vacant plots, and on advertisement and hoardings.



The GPs will be empowered to levy taxes on mobile towers, windmills and solar parks, collect vehicle parking fee from owners of buses, trucks, and motorcycle, fee on registration of cattle, fee on grazing cattle in grazing lands, and road cutting charges.

It provides for devolution of funds based on the recommendations of the State Finance Commission and not less than 20 per cent of such funds should be untied grants.

GPs are at present suffering from inadequate funds and many of them have no money to pay electricity and water bills.

The Bill also makes it mandatory for declaration of assets and liabilities of elected GP members.

Welfare of acid attack victims

The Karnataka state has seen 144 acid attack victims since 2003-04. A large number have lost (some partially) their sight and are badly scarred. A majority of the victims are poor, with medical bills mounting over the years.

The Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSCW) has directed all zilla panchayats to provide free houses or residential sites to the acid attack victims.

In addition, the victims are eligible to draw disability pension, get cash compensation and medical treatment expenses.

The victims are also eligible to get welfare pension meant for people with disabilities, cash compensation of Rs. 3 lakh, and compensation for treatment up to Rs. 20 lakh, she said.

According to sources at the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Bengaluru, identifying acid attack victims and houses/lands for them are under way in several ZPs.

Is RTE the reason for reducing demand for govt schools?

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Ratnakar, in the Legislative Council said the State government had second thoughts on the quota because it was proving detrimental to government schools

However an analysis of enrolment data at the macro-level reveals that the percentage of decline in enrolments in government schools and the increase in the percentage of private school enrolments has been happening long before the RTE Act came into force.

Statistics show that there has been a consistent decline in enrolments in government schools before enactment of the RTE Act. The decline rate has, on an average, remained the same even after the Act was brought into force.

Instead of streamlining, the government seems to think that scrapping the quota is the solution

Despite the government providing seats under the quota, parents are not willing to compromise on the “quality” of schools.

For the 2015-16 academic year, although there were 2.57 lakh applications vying for 1.11 lakh seats, 223 schools that have poor infrastructure received zero applications under the quota. In contrast, in some schools, one seat was being contested by almost 20 applicants.



Maritime board Bill passed

The Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Maritime Board Bill, 2015 It provides for setting up of a maritime board for finding ways and means to take up

development projects at ports. According to the Bill, Karnataka Maritime Board will also take up maintenance of

activities in relation to ports, harbours, inland waterways, and coastal protection to fuel economic growth in the coastal region.

It is also aimed at developing all ports on PPP mode, and developing and maintaining fishing harbours.

Panel for permitting sand extraction from 500 deposits

A seven-member committee of the Legislative Assembly headed by S. Rafiq Ahmed (Congress) has tabled its interim report in the Assembly the committee. It suggested wide-ranging reforms in sand mining.

The committee, which held discussions with seven departments and visited several places, expressed dissatisfaction over the implementation of the 2011 sand policy by the PWD.

Authorities suggested payment of a portion of the royalty to gram panchayats for developing infrastructure.

Recommendations

Recommended establishment of sand depots in Bengaluru and Hubballi–Dharwad on a pilot basis.

Establishment of a single-window agency for dealing with permits pertaining to sand extraction

Permitted extraction of sand from 500 spots by December-end The police should refrain from exercising powers on vehicles transporting sand Formation of a panel comprising officials of the departments of Mines and Geology,

Environment, and Forests, tahsildar, and MLAs in each district to crackdown on illegal sand extraction.

It said the Public Works Department (PWD) or Mysore Minerals Ltd. must take steps to run the sand depots.

In the case of shortage of staff, it recommended outsourcing manpower for handling the depots and sale of sand from the depots at government price.

It recommended developing a website for providing information on sand extraction, transportation, prices etc.

People should be allowed to book sand from BangaloreOne and KarnatakaOne centres and Nemmadi Kendras by making advance payment.

Wide-ranging reforms to simplify procedures for granting permits for setting up manufactured-sand (M-sand) units.

The committee favoured granting electricity subsidy, tax holidays, and capital subsidy for promoting investment in M-sand.



The committee opposed transportation of sand to other States and recommended enforcement of strict measures at check-posts.

On the lines of Maharashtra, it said Karnataka should seek permission from the Centre to use suction pumps to extract sand from riverbeds.

Current status of mining

Currently, sand is being extracted from 89 spots. A total of 727 sand deposits have been identified across the State.

The Mines and Geology Department has granted permission for extracting sand from 464 deposits.

Infrastructure projects underway in Karnataka

A total of 87 infrastructure projects with a combined value of Rs.87,518.77 crore are underway in Karnataka and transportation projects are leading the way with around 52 projects worth Rs.36,237 crore currently underway.

Key focus areas for the state are agri-infrastructure, energy and urban and municipal infrastructure. In the coming years, the focus will be on social infrastructure, education and health according to Industries Department officials.

Road network - Around 50 packages have also been launched for 10,000 km of core road network throughout the state to assist industry. Eight of these packages of 1302.53 km of roads are under implementation currently.

Upgradation of distribution network - The electricity distribution network for the city is at least 20 years old and this network is now being upgraded by the government across the State. The total outlay for these works is Rs.5,100 crore and it will be used for the upgradation of lines and the installation of new sub-stations to cater to the demand.

New thermal power plants- The next few years will see the addition of nearly 3100 mega watt of power as the Yermarus (1600 MW) station, Edlapura (800 MW) station and the third unit of the Bellary Thermal Power Station (700 MW) come on stream. To evacuate this power, three major 400 kV stations are being planned at Kalaburagi, Chikanayakanahalli and Ballari.

Industrial areas- Recently, the Government also inaugurated three new industrial areas in Nanjangud taluk with a total land area of 2,315 acres which will be developed by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board.The areas are expected to provide jobs to 25,000 people at an investment of Rs.15,000 crore.

Land bank- As part of its land bank project, the Government also has around 40,000 acres of land bank available for industrial projects.

Devadasis: SC pulls up Centre for delay in response

The Supreme Court expressed alarm at the apparent lack of concern shown by the government’s delay in filing a response to a PIL petition against the practice of dedicating girls as “Devadasis” to temples.



The Social Justice Bench led by Justice Madan B. Lokur pulled up the Centre on a writ petition filed by the Kerala-based NGO S.L. Foundation

The petition highlighted the dedication of Dalit girls as Devadasis at the Uttangi Mala Durga Temple in Davanagere district in Karnataka in February 2014. The NGO argued that young girls were forced into the Devadasi system and eventually pushed into prostitution

The NGO had contended on the basis of a National Commission for Women (NCW) report that the practice still continued at several places and at least 2.5 lakh Dalit girls were dedicated to temples on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border.

The court gave the Centre a four-week deadline to come clear about what steps it had taken so far to end the social evil.

The apex court had earlier called the age-old practice a “national shame” and directed the Karnataka government to ensure that no such function took place.

The Bench had earlier sought the government to file its response to chalk out the steps taken for the abolition of the system, prevailing in Beriya and Nat communities.

A recent survey revealed that there were still over 30,000 devadasis in the country.

KSPCB to start measuring stench

In perhaps the first of its kind measure to malodour that routinely envelops parts of the city, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) will attempt to ‘measure’ the stench coming from large open drains.

As per the ‘recommendation’ of a task force on air pollution, the KSPCB has formed teams to ‘identify’ spots where flowing sewage is raising a stench.

The lone machine to measure odour – in terms of Volatile Organic Compounds – will be pressed into service in these areas.

Though there is uncertainty over the technology and even legal recourse that the board can take, officials hope that once a ‘reading’ is taken, notices can be issued to civic authorities to contain the smell – in the same way pharmaceutical industries and distilleries use odour-control machines to eliminate smell at the source.

FRP for sugarcane farmers

For the first time, sugarcane farmers in Karnataka will get prices linked to the sugar recovery percentage of their produce

At its meeting in Bengaluru, the sugarcane price board instructed all 63 sugar factories in the State to provide fair and remunerative price (FRP), which is linked to the sugar recovery percentage of their produce.

Though the FRP is supposed to be linked to recovery percentage, the board had not insisted on implementing the norm last year due to falling sugar prices.

As per the norms factories would have to pay Rs. 2,300 per tonne at a sugar recovery rate of 9.5 per cent. Any higher recovery rate will get them an additional Rs. 245 per tonne for every percentage point hike beyond 9.5 per cent

The board also ratified the decision to make farmers pay for the cutting of the standing sugarcane crop and its transportation to factories. A formula, which decides the



expenses based on factors such as extent of land and transportation distance, has been finalised

While some sugar mill owners demanded that the government assist them in paying the full FRP, the authorities asked them to pay the arrears of Rs.1,400 crore to farmers before seeking help.

Farmers’ representatives expressed their displeasure over some sugar mills issuing advertisements expressing their inability to pay farmers.

Vaccination drive against Kyasanur Forest Disease

A total of 92 KFD positive cases were reported in the district in 2012, followed by three in 2013, 143 in 2014 and 41 this year.

According to the existing guidelines, vaccination would be undertaken in the five-km radius of the place where KFD positive cases had been reported.

The Department of Health and Family Welfare will undertake a vaccination drive against the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), , in the district from December 2 to 5.

Those between the ages of 6 to 65 will be covered under the vaccination drive The department plans to administer three doses of the vaccine to ensure complete

protection against the disease. The second round of vaccination would be taken up during January and the third one,

which is known as booster dose, would be administered in June 2016.

Kyasanur Forest Disease or monkey fever

KFD is a tick-borne viral disease that was first reported in 1957 from Kyasanur, a village in Shivamogga district

It gets transmitted from monkeys to humans through tick bite Major symptoms comprise high fever, joint pain, bleeding in nose and gums 531 people have died of Kyasanur Forest Disease in Karnataka since 1957 It is proposed to cover 31,550 people under this year’s drive About 805 places have been identified in Tirthahalli and Hosanagar taluks as most

affected areas

Channapatna craft losing sheen

The Channapatna handcraft can be traced to the reign of Tipu Sultan who invited artisans from Persia to train local artisans in the making of the wooden toys.

The traditional wooden toy-and-doll craft, with perfected lacquer-ware of Channapatna (on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway), is protected by a geographical indication (GI) tag

But today a crisis stares the industry in the face. The second and third generation craftsmen are looking at other professions and migrating to cities for better income.

Although thousands of families are even now engaged in the trade, the signature hand dexterity associated with Channapatna lacquerware didn’t survive. Lacquering attaches a heritage value to it

Out of nearly 5,000 families who were adept at lacquerware, only 500 survive today.



The lacquering art of Channapatna is known for its mix of vegetable dye and food grade pigments, with natural shellac insect residue obtained from the trees of Amaltaas and Kusum in West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa.

Reason

When the European market opened up to Channapatna in the 1970s for wooden napkin rings, lakhs of such rings were exported worldwide

The toy city saw instant money in this ‘golden era’ that broke down in two decades when the European traders procured napkin rings at half the price from Chinese markets.

Channapatna’s downfall started with the napkin exports taking off, as Europeans unfortunately didn’t want the lacquering expertise to go on the rings, but preferred uniform, single tone coloured ones. This ‘faded’ the art of lacquering that demands shades of tonal gradations

Tonal gradation was slowly forgotten since the 1990s,

Aviation MRO centre proposed in Bengaluru

An industry-led centre of excellence in aviation MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) has been proposed to be set up in Bengaluru.

The proposal has been made to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., which has a ready runway at its old military airport, and with CSIR’s research body, National Aerospace Laboratories.

The city has the advantage of being the aerospace capital and the hub of information technology

Maintenance, repair and operations(MRO) industry

Aviation MRO in the country is currently worth $ 700 million and is set to reach $ 2 billion by 2020

Maintenance, repair and operations(MRO) involves fixing any sort of mechanical, plumbingor electrical device should it become out of order or broken (known as repair, unscheduled, or casualty maintenance). It also includes performing routine actions which keep the device in working order (known as scheduled maintenance) or prevent trouble from arising (preventive maintenance).

Airlines in India spend about 13–15 percent of their revenues towards maintenance, the second-highest cost item for airlines after fuel.

Generally airlines carry on-tarmac inspections (A and B checks) in-house and work with third-party MROs for engine, heavy maintenance (C and D checks) and modifications.

Almost all airline MRO infrastructure in India is captive (largely with Air India) with only one fully operational independent third-party provider MRO, Air Works, with an EASA-certified facility in Hosur, near Bengaluru.

Air Works provides heavy maintenance capability for Airbus A320, ATR 42/72 and Boeing 737/NG family of aircraft.



Till recently, in the absence of quality infrastructure, airlines carried out maintenance outside India at the nearest available MRO location (South East Asia, Middle East or Europe) incurring a ferry flight, logistics costs and engine and component hours.

Having the flexibility to get the aircraft serviced in India, at a local MRO with EASA-approved facilities, results in 30–40% saving in aircraft maintenance costs for an airline,

The issues

The tax regime on import of spares into the country making them 30% more expensive as compared to international MROs.

the other key impediment to growth of airline MRO capacity in India is the lack of availability of hangar space at key international airports. This limits the ability of MROs to tap into the larger potential market of aircraft operating within 5–6 hours of flying distance from India

Manipal hospitals use supercomputer for cancer therapy

Manipal Hospitals corporate and teaching facilities will adopt IBM’s supercomputer, called Watson, to fight cancer

This would be the first deployment of Watson in India. Watson for Oncology was developed by IBM in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, one of the world’s leading cancer centers.

Advantages

Watson uses natural language processing and machine learning to analyze large amounts of medical data to speed up the diagnosis process.

It would reveal insights that would help oncologists provide cancer patients with individualized healthcare.

This includes assessing individual tumours to suggest which drug should be used to target them

The company decided to take the help of Watson as there was a shortage of oncologists to treat a growing number of patients.

Manipal can combine clinicians’ expertise across various types of cancers with Watson’s cognitive computing technology.

The machine’s learning capability enables it to continuously learn about oncology over time. Doctors will have access to peer reviewed studies, clinical guidelines, and expert perspectives.

Cancers of all type claim approximately 6,80,000 lives each year in India, making it the leading cause of death in the country after heart diseases, according to the World Health Organization. There are one million new cancer cases diagnosed every year in India, and this is expected to rise fivefold by 2020.

Cognitive computing



Cognitive computing involves self-learning systems that use data mining, pattern recognition and natural language processing to mimic the way the human brain works.

Watson for Oncology has ingested almost 15 million pages of medical content, including more than 200 medical textbooks and 300 medical journals.

This year alone, almost 44,000 oncology research papers have been published in medical journals around the world. This amounts to close to 122 new papers published every day, outpacing the ability of humans to keep up with the proliferation of medical knowledge.

Art for hornbills - art exibhition

The Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), an NGO based in Mysore and Bangalore, started the Hornbill Nest Adoption Programme (HNAP) in Arunachal Pradesh in 2011 to protect hornbills and their nest trees. NCF partners with the Ghora-Aabhe Society (a Nyishi community institution) and the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department.

The program has followed a two-step approach, wherein the Nyishi nest protectors find, monitor and protect hornbill nests and roosts; while people far away ‘adopt’ nests and contribute financially towards providing income and other benefits to members of the Nyishi community to look after hornbills.

Four years on, the HNAP has led to the protection of 33 hornbill nest trees and successful fledging of 60 hornbill chicks by members of the Nyishi community, some of whom were formerly hunting the birds.

Visual artist Mallika Prakash, based in San Francisco, has created ‘Art for Hornbills’ an art exhibition and sale featuring hornbills. Its organised in collaboration with several artists to raise awareness on hornbill conservation in Bengaluru. Artists come together to paint the fabulous hornbill and raise awareness and money for its conservation this weekend

Praise for Khajane tool

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has praised the digitisation of the State treasury using the Khajane software tool and has recommended its use in other States

He said that the tool had ensured transparency and efficiency in the system and made it easier for officials to keep accounts and handle other financial transactions.

Khajane-2 an update on the existing tool, was faster and more efficient in computing revenue and expenses

Karnataka had been at the forefront of technological innovations like Bhoomi and other e-governance tools.

The Khajane tool that had resolved many fundamental issues in the Finance Department. This enabled online submission of bills and e-payment to beneficiaries

Birds flock to karnataka

Migratory birds from Eurasian countries are flocking to the southern parts of the State for their annual winter sojourn.

Their numbers are set to peak in the coming weeks.



The arrival of migratory birds to the State is part of a natural cycle and Karnataka hosts nearly 75 species.

While the bar-headed geese flies over the Himalayas from Mongolia, the other species fly over land from Europe and across Afghanistan, before coming to roost in the warmer regions of southern India.

Migratory birds have been sighted in major lakes in and around Mysuru, which has a vast network of waterbodies supporting the avian population.

They come to roost in parts of north Karnataka, mainly the wetlands around Vijayapura and the backwaters of Ghataprabha and head towards Mandya and Kolar. Hundreds of bar-headed geese congregate at Hadinaru lake near Nanjangud.

The count of the bar-headed geese tends to increase during January, but they have already been sighted in Karnataka and are expected to reach southern parts in the next couple of weeks

Teals, pin-tailed ducks, shovelers, and common pochards are among the few exotic species sighted during winter.

Birds indicate status of ecosystem

The mid-winter waterfowl census to be conducted during January-February is not only an enumeration of birds, but also a documentation of the state of waterbodies in the region.

Being held for more than 20 years, the census shows a pattern in the declining importance of waterbodies due to the growing reliance on borewells for agriculture.

The waterbodies are not maintained and have become dumping yards for waste. Mysore Amateur Naturalists (MAN), which has been conducting the census, expressed concern over the declining number of birds.

During the last few years, the bird count in some of the larger lakes has diminished underlining the growing threat to the ecosystem. Waterbodies in and around Kollegal used to host over 25,000 birds in the ‘90s. But there are hardly any lakes with such a count today.

MAN volunteers have covered over 250 lakes in and around Mysuru, but hardly 60 waterbodies are reasonably well protected

Bt cotton affected by pink bollworm

Disheartening stories of Bt cotton farmers are unfolding across Raichur district, which is one of the major cotton growing districts in the State.

The extent of loss is yet to be measured as no survey has been conducted. Cotton is cultivated on nearly 60,000 hectares of lands in the district, most of which is Bt cotton.

Farmers started switching to the crop in big numbers in 2007-08 and there has been increase in acreage over the years since then.

Bt cotton



Bt cotton is genetically engineered with a gene from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and is toxic to the bollworm, a pest that preys on the cotton plant. There’s also the possibility that the plant is being attacked by other insects.

A team of agricultural scientists from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur (UAS-R) will be visiting some of the affected fields to study the pest menace.

The pink bollworm, with its negligible population, was not a threat to cotton crop when the Bt technology was developed. But over a period of time, the worm massively increased its population and is now causing maximum damage to the crop

Bt cotton is vulnerable to climatic variations and attack by sucking pests and insects outside the resistance-claim purview. Farmers control sucking pests, usually found at the backside of leaf, by heavily spraying different pesticides.

But we cannot control pink bollworm through pesticide spraying as it is inside the cotton boll. The cotton bolls look absolutely normal from outside. But, each boll is infected by the pink bollworm inside. The worm eats cotton seeds and thus prevents the development of cotton staple fibre around it well before the cotton boll opens

Poly house technique

Farmers in villages around Kollegal have found an alternative way to improve their earnings and turn their area into a hub for floriculture.

Thanks to the poly house technique employed for floriculture, over 15 farmers are growing about 60,000 sticks of gerbera flower every month. Each stick is sold for Rs. 6 to Rs. 7 in the booming market for ornamental flowers in Bengaluru.

The Department of Horticulture gives a subsidy of Rs. 16.88 lakh for establishing a poly house on one acre.

Importantly, farmers get spot payment for their produce at the Bengaluru market. Temperature and humidity can be controlled in the naturally ventilated poly houses.

By this way, farmers can achieve expected yield and returns

NACO meet- State cuts a sorry figure

National AIDS Control Organisation’s (NACO) two-day annual review of Care, Support and Treatment was held in Goa from December 4

Karnataka, which had been doing fairly well in HIV/AIDS prevention programme till 2012-2013, cut a sorry figure .

The State did not have data pertaining to the prevention programme (such as number of people tested, number of new infections detected, information on the stock of drugs and testing kits, among other issues) from nearly 200 testing and antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres. This resulted in the State failing to make even a presentation.

This is because employees, who were on a strike demanding regular payment of salaries among other incentives and regularisation of their services, have not submitted monthly reports since June.

HIV prevention in the State has taken a beating in the last two years resulting in a rise in the prevalence and lost to follow up (LFU) cases. This is mainly because of the delay in release of funds by the NACO, along with closure of several projects supported by international funders such as Clinton Foundation, Bill Gates Foundation and USAID.



The delay in release of funds has resulted in irregular payment of salaries to contractual employees coupled with frequent stock-out of drugs and testing kits.

‘Skill Net Karnataka’ launched

Functional Vocational Training and Research Society (FVTRS) launched ‘Skill Net Karnataka’ for the Kaktri Gram Panchayat at Belgavi

It aims to conduct vocational training programmes on strengthening entrepreneurial abilities on viable trades and skills for marginalised communities towards their economic empowerment

The programme will help the beneficiaries to develop innovative ideas, upgrading knowledge, communication skills and a positive attitude and build self-confidence to create self-employment opportunities.

Its an innovative and pioneer programme in Karnataka and aimed at youth empowerment.

Its also a platform for the school dropout youths to explore their hidden talents skills. Functional Vocational Training and Research Society (FVTRS) is a national-level non-

governmental organization mandated to make school dropout youth employable through skill training. FVTRS has its headquarters at Hedge Nagar, Bangalore. For last 23 years, FVTRS has been serving the country with skill development of school drop out youth and has successfully trained over 118000 youth. In Karnataka alone FVTRS has trained over 13000 youths.

Human elephant conflict

As many as 15 elephants were electrocuted in the State this year and there has not been a single conviction. And in the absence of any deterrence, elephants continue to be electrocuted. The latest was the suspected electrocution of a 15 year-old tusker at Haadanuru in the Hedyala range of Bandipur

The scourge of human-elephant conflict is rampant around the Bandipur-Nagarahole-BRT sanctuary belt comprising the Mysore Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant.

More than 95 per cent of the cases were reported from Mysuru-Chamarajanagar-Hassan-Madikeri belt.

While FIRs have been filed and cases booked, there have been no follow-ups and near zero convictions due to failure of authorities to build up evidence.

Failure of govt measures

The government offers 50 per cent subsidy to encourage farmers to install solar fence around their fields to keep wild animals at bay. The initiative, launched last year, has not elicited encouraging response from farmers.

The other solution was setting up railway line fence, elephant proof trench and solar power fence in high conflict zones around the Bandipur-Nagarahole belt. But solar fences have not been maintained; the EPT is filled with silt and enables animals to cross over; while so far only 3.5 km of the rail fence has been installed against a target of 40 km in the first phase.



As per the 2012 census figures, Bandipur harbours around 1,690 elephants, BRT has about 480, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary has 255, Nagarahole has about 1,320 elephants, besides the sizeable population outside protected areas.

Science Express

Pieces of scientific innovation from the city are currently chugging through green fields, forests, across mighty hills and congested cities of the great expanse of the country.

The eight edition of the ‘Science Express: Climate Action Special’ – a 16-coach AC train that will cover over 20 States in its seven-month journey – features two coaches with the research and message of scientists of Bangalore-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and Ashoka Trust for the Environment and Ecology (ATREE).

The ninth and 10th coaches of the express are dedicated to bio-technology, bio-resources, and nature conservation.

For instance, among the exhibits is a model on the use of genetic methods for tiger identification and conservation, a method developed at NCBS.

The Science Express was flagged off at Safdarjung Railway Station in October 15. The train is scheduled to enthral students and visitors at over 64 towns, cities and villages during its journey that ends in Gandhinagar in May 2016.

Though Bengaluru remains closely associated with the train, the Science Express will not stop here. However, it’ll enter Karnataka at the end of March 2016 at Mangaluru, and then at Hospet and Wadi in early April.

State asked to prepare a contingency plan

The High Court of Karnataka asked the State government to prepare a contingency plan to prevent farmers from committing suicide.

A Division Bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice B.V. Nagarathna, passed the order while disposing of a PIL petition filed by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority of India (KSLSA).

The Bench also asked the State government to make sure that all the schemes were implemented effectively so that farmers would not have a chance to face distress situation, leading to suicides.

In its plea, the KSLSA had sought a series of directions to mitigate the problems of farmers.

Besides, the petitioner had sought direction for effective implementation of welfare measures like crop insurance and Suvarna Bhoomi Yajana, under which the government pays an incentive to beneficiaries to diversify their agricultural activities.

Green Tribunal extends stay order on Yettinahole project

A Division Bench of the National Green Tribunal, South Zone, has extended a stay order on the Yettinahole project till December 21.



The tribunal passed the order on after the Chief Engineer of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (KNNL) filed an affidavit saying that it would not carry out any work related to the project till it got clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

On November 18, the Division Bench had ordered status quo on the project after KNNL, the project execution agency, filed an undertaking that it would not carry out works related to the project till they got clearance from the MoEF.

As many as three petitions had been filed pointing out the alleged violation of the Forest Conservation Act and Environment Protection Act by the agency.

The petitioners pointed that KNNL had so far not approached the MoEF seeking clearance for carrying out work in the forests.

KNNL has been executing the project meant to divert 24 tmcft of water from the Yettinahole to the parched regions of Bengaluru Rural, Chickballpur, Kolar and Tumakuru at a cost of Rs. 13,000 crore.

HAM for rescue

At a time when latest technology was rendered ineffective by incessant rains in Chennai, the ‘old fashioned’ radio operators came to the rescue of many who were stranded in the city.

At the peak of the rains, officials of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, had temporarily converted their centre into a Chennai flood control room and requested HAM (Amateur radio) operators in Bengaluru to join relief efforts.

The repeater set up in UB City – provided with ECHO link technology – was linked to the one in Yercaud in Tamil Nadu, which was then linked to the Chennai repeater. While nine HAM operators sat in the control room in Bengaluru, 25 were stationed in Chennai.

HAM radio

Amateur radio (also called ham radio) describes the use of radio frequency spectra for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation and emergency communication.

Its a worldwide group of people who communicate with each other over a wide frequency spectrum using many different types of wireless transmitting modes.

Hams start out in amateur radio for many reasons, but they all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology, regulations and operating principles.

Fishery Friends

The process of getting fish-catch data related to inland fisheries is expected to get revolutionised with the development of a mobile-based application.The app, which has been developed by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), is being used on a trial basis to get details of fish-catch in Karnataka.



The simple mobile app has caught the attention of the scientific community as it involves fishermen, who are the main stakeholders, in collection of the fish-catch data instead of the normal practice of involving officials.

It is being used on an experimental basis in Tunga reservoir in Shivamogga and Manchanabele reservoir in Ramanagaram district for nearly a year.

The CIFRI has identified a few fishermen and women who can read, write and send the data. They have been designated as “Fishery Friends” who will upload the data on the mobile phone on the different types of fish caught in the water bodies assigned to them. All that they have to do is to type the numbers against the names of different fish varieties. As soon as the uploading of data is done, it is automatically recorded in the central server.

Current problems with respect to data collection

Presently the process of getting the fish-catch data involves physical visits by scientists or officials to the water bodies.

There is no authentic fish-catch data, especially on continuous basis, for the inland water bodies.

This is because of the huge number of water bodies, their distant location and the difficulty in last-mile connectivity.

Its further complicated by the severe shortage of manpower in the government establishments to make such visits.

The mobile app takes care of these obstacles. The process of using the app is so simple that a fisherman can be trained in using it within 10 minutes

Astrology based shows on TV under scanner

The government is planning to hold a meeting with heads of various private regional TV channels, which air astrology-based shows, to arrive at a consensus on whether it was misleading people.

Recently Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently hinted at “banning” such shows. The State government will also look into recommendations made by the “non-

governmental committee” headed by Veerabhadra Channamalla Swami of Nidumamidi Mutt.

It is difficult to bring in legislation to curb superstitions by drawing a line between ‘belief’ and ‘blind belief’. The Karnataka Prevention of Superstitious Practices Bill-2015 is in the making

AMRUT scheme in twin cities

Water supply, sewerage and urban transport are set to improve in Hubballi-Dharwad under AMRUT

The Union government has allocated Rs. 75 crore for the twin cities under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.

Priority would be given to improving drinking water supply, drainage network, and city transportation.



Besides, there were provisions for developing gardens and environmental protection schemes

As the urban local bodies (ULBs) have to contribute 30-47 per cent of the total project cost, the State government should enhance its share and lessen the financial burden of the ULBs

Kambala to be held

Despite the Animal Welfare Board of India’s ‘request’ to the State government to stop Kambala for the year 2015-16 it will be held.

Administrations of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi will follow last season’s model wherein the events were held under strict supervision, without giving room for violence.

In a letter dated December 18, the board requested the Chief Secretary to stop Kambala as the Karnataka High Court had dismissed writ petitions challenging orders of Deputy Commissioners of both the districts banning performance of Kambala in 2014-15.

The board, in its letter, said that with the dismissal of the petitions as “infructous”, would mean that orders by Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district administrations banning Kambala would prevail.

The board’s letter followed a complaint by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, that conditions put by the High Court were violated during the last Kambala season.

As many as 65 non-cognizable cases were filed by against Kambala organisers following violence during the performance, PETA said in a release issued here.

The Supreme Court judgment banning Jallikattu would also cover performances like Kambala, it argued.

This season’s Kambala performance started from November 21 with Surya Chandra Kambala at Bangadi and four more Kambalas subsequently. Fourteen more are lined up till March 19.

Edutrac- Monitoring attendance in schools

Edutrac is a mobile phone-based real time data collection system. The Union government in association with UNICEF is trying out Edutrac that helps monitoring affairs in schools

Dakshina Kannada is among the three districts in Karnataka where this system is being implemented.

Since December 14, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction of Dakshina Kannada is getting attendance report by the end of schooling hours every day.

Apart from attendance of teachers and students, the system helps keep track, among others, of mid-day meals distribution, status of school infrastructure, health of children and remedial classes.

All the 927 government schools are being covered under this system. Last week, the UNICEF officials gave training of the system to district level and block

level officials.



How it works

Under IVRS system, the headmaster will receive a call on his/her mobile phone daily. They will have to feed information on the formal questions asked about school attendance, midday meal, health of children and the grants from the government.

Cluster resource persons, after visiting schools in their jurisdiction, will give a missed call to the IVRS number.

Then they will feed answers to questions. The compiled figure will be displayed on www.edutrac.in.

The District and Block Level officers will be getting information in the form of SMS.

3D printing of liver by Bangalore start up

Pandorum Technologies, a Bengaluru-based biotech startup, has developed an artificial tissue that performs the functions of the human liver.

Pandorum said these 3D-printed living tissues made of human cells would enable affordable medical research with reduced dependence on animal and human trials. It will also eventually lead to full scale transplantable organs.

Pandorum’s 3D bio-printed mini-livers that mimic the human liver will serve as test platforms for discovery and development of drugs and vaccines. The firm said these drugs would have better efficacy, less side-effects and be developed at lower costs.

The global artificial organ and bionics market is expected to reach $38.75 billion (Rs.2.5 lakh crore) by 2020 at an estimated CAGR of 9.3 per cent from 2014 to 2020, according to a study by Grand View Research.

KSCPCR recommends to reduce still births

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has recommended the Health Department to take up immediate measures to prevent stillbirths and check perinatal mortality.

Commission chairperson Kripa Amar Alva sent a list of recommendations to Health Ministry. They include

Strengthening labour wards with the required number of doctors and infrastructure and providing additional staff in hospitals should be taken up on a war footing.

Apart from deploying additional nurses and trained Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) in hospitals conducting a large number of deliveries, the department should appoint clerical staff to carry out administrative work. Presently, nurses are burdened with this instead of patient care

Adequate funds for need-based utilisation, yearly maintenance fund for housekeeping and replacement of outdated medical equipment with latest ones also need to be taken up on an urgent basis

Also pointed out that most administrators in government hospitals have little administrative knowledge as they are appointed by virtue of seniority. Every year, a major chunk of funds go unused. In 2014, only 48 per cent of National Health Mission funds were utilised. In the wake of this, it is important to have a qualified administrator.



The other measures included improving caesarean facilities in hospitals, ensuring availability of blood by setting up blood banks in district hospitals and giving it for free to patients, improvising neonatal transport ambulances (Nagu-Magu), setting up helpdesks in all hospitals, and enabling convergence of various departments involved in mother and child care.

Mental health survey by NIMHANS

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) is leading the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) with support from the Union Health Ministry

A team of nearly 60 experts from is busy monitoring the data collection in 12 States. The survey is on in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Manipur, Jharkand and West Bengal

Aim:

1. To estimate the prevalence, patterns and burden of mental, neurological and substance use disorders in a representative population of the country,

2. identify treatment gaps and service utilisation patterns, and 3. assess the current mental health resources

A pilot survey was conducted in the public health observatory in Kolar. The findings of the pilot study that covered 3,000 people would be released in February.

The pilot study helped NIMHANS to finalise the methodology for the final study. It covers not only the prevalence, patterns and burden of mental health but will also look at how to plan and utilise the available services and create the pathway for care

Significace

The survey would help the government plan interventions in the mental health care sector.

It will help not only in stepping up awareness on mental health, but also in creating facilities to treat people with mental health problems

The country’s mental health barometer, including services and facilities to treat and address the relative incidence of diseases, should be in place by April 2016.

Methodology

The survey has adopted a standard methodology used for psychiatric epidemiological surveys — randomised cluster sampling technique using ‘Probability Proportional to Size’ (PPS) methodology. Data is being collected using electronic handheld devices.

Several questionnaires (including socio-demographic proforma, a structured diagnostic interview schedule MINI, WHO-approved questionnaire on epilepsy, Intellectual Disability Screener, etc.,) are being used to collect the information on mental health problems.

Health care seeking, socio-economic and disability-related questions are involved in the survey



To map the services and systems for mental health care in the individual States, the survey teams are using a separate questionnaire developed and based on WHO Mental Health Atlas and WHO AIMS adapted to Indian systems.

Apart from imparting a two-month rigorous training for personnel deployed for the survey, team members from NIMHANS regularly review the progress using multiple methods, including online discussions and also make monthly visits to the States where the survey is on.

Proposed film policy fixes price ceiling on tickets

The new policy on Kannada films requires multiplexes to fix a uniform ticket price and compulsorily screen Kannada films at prime time, twice a day.

The 14-member committee, headed by filmmaker and chairman of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy S V Rajendra Singh Babu, is giving final touches to the comprehensive policy that will be valid for five years

The report will be submitted to the State government by February-end. The panel, which studied Tamil Nadu’s policy on uniform ticket prices in multiplexes,

has suggested fixing an upper limit of Rs 120 per ticket Currently, multiplexes charge arbitrarily depending on the response to a particular

film Tickets are particularly expensive on weekends. Similarly, the panel has also recommended two shows of Kannada films every day in

all the multiplexes or 124 shows a year. Neighbouring Maharashtra introduced a similar policy in 2015.

Subsidy

To encourage people to build at least 300 single-screen cinemas across the State to exclusively exhibit Kannada films, the panel suggested a government subsidy of Rs 50 lakh a cinema.

These cinemas will have to screen just Kannada films for at least three years. They could be used for screening award-winning Kannada films too

Revamping of norms

Besides, the committee has recommended revamping subsidy norms for films to prevent misuse and corruption, welfare measures for film labourers, to hire a professional of international repute to create a comprehensive film city at Mysuru in addition to looking into all aspects of improving the Kannada film industry to make it competitive and provide a level playing field with other language films in the State.

The committee was set up by the State government on the recommendation of Babu during the previous edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival.

Actors Jayamala Ramachandra, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, producers ‘Rockline’ Venkatesh and Muniratna, exhibitor K V Chandrashekhar and director Girish Kasaravalli were also on the panel besides the presidents of the Karnataka Film Chamber and Commerce and the exhibitors’ association.

The previous committee, headed by V N Subba Rao, had submitted its report in 1994.



Key recommendations

1. To fix a uniform upper ticket price at Rs 120 in all multiplexes. 2. To make it compulsory for multiplexes to screen two Kannada films every day. 3. To encourage building 300 exclusive single-screen cinemas by extending a subsidy to

exclusively exhibit Kannada films. 4. To revamp subsidy norms for films to prevent misuse and corruption.

Multiplex complex

The government is in the process of finalising a multiplex complex at the proposed Bangalore International Convention Centre near Kempegowda International Airport. There will be at least six multiplex screens at the proposed centre.

Govt to make, sell cloth bags as an alternative to plastic

The Department of Handlooms and Textiles is planning to manufacture a large number of cloth bags as an alternative to plastic which is set to be completely banned in Karnataka in the days to come.

Since 2013, it has manufactured and sold one lakh cloth bags at its Priyadarshini outlets.

Now, it plans to ask the government for funds to manufacture more cloth bags. Before that, it will conduct a survey to assess the demand

On March 21, 2013, the government had issued guidelines to all religious institutions to discourage plastic and encourage cloth bags.

On April 30, 2014, the Commerce and Industries Department had issued guidelines and circulars to avoid use of plastic and

encourage the sale of cloth bags at government-run handloom stores. Following this, the textiles department manufactured over a lakh cloth bags and sold them.

The government had directed the Karnataka State Khadi and Village Industries Board (KSKVIB), the Karnataka Handlooms Development Corporation, the Cauvery Handlooms and the Handlooms and Textiles Department to manufacture, promote and sell cloth bags at subsidised rates.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board on May 23, 2014, issued a notification stating that cloth bags manufactured by the Karnataka Handlooms Development Corporation are an alternative to plastic carry bags. Its then chairman Vaman Acharya even issued an appeal to eliminate plastic bags, especially those below 40 microns.

Mahadayi row: Centre says no to out-of-tribunal settlement

the Union Water Resources Ministry has turned down the request by Karnataka seeking an out-of-tribunal settlement for the inter-State row over sharing the Mahadayi river waters.

Farmers have been up in arms in north Karnataka demanding a settlement of the issue, so that canal work can be undertaken



Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar too, meanwhile, has turned down the request by Karnataka for holding negotiations and preferred to go with the tribunal proceedings.

Responding to a request made by Karnataka seeking her intervention on it, Ms. Bharti has pointed out that the Centre set up the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on November 16, 2010 for adjudicating the dispute between Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka

During pendency of the issue before the tribunal, the process of negotiation could be initiated only if all the parties concerned showed willingness for negotiation

At present, there is no such proposal from Maharashtra and Goa.

70 p.c. of out-of-school children are from SC, ST, minorities in Karnataka

About 70 per cent of out-of-school-children (OOSC) in Karnataka belong to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other minority communities, reveals the latest Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) survey, indicating that even primary education continues to elude marginalised communities.

The survey showed that 6,633 of the 9,468 out-of-school children belonged to SC, ST and minority communities. This includes children who have never enrolled in schools and those who are dropouts, and aged between 7 and 14.

Before the 2015-2016 academic year, the department had identified 12,878 children who were out of school. As per the Education Department’s claim, 81 per cent of these children are back in schools.

The first comprehensive survey conducted by the State government in February 2015, after the High Court had taken up a suo motu case, revealed that there were 1.7 lakh children out of school and the court had ordered to ensure that there were no dropouts.

Govt. moves to regulate cab aggregators

If the State government has its way, all cabs in Bengaluru, including the ones with cab aggregators, will soon have to fix digital meters and operate within a maximum fare limit

They will no longer be able to dictate fares via surge pricing. The Transport Department will publish a set of rules to regulate private taxi

aggregators. The notification has been cleared by the Law Department and is expected to be released next week.

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The rules also state that digital meters will have to be installed in all cabs. While fares less than the set fare can be considered, the total fare cannot cross the upper limit set by the department

The Transport Department’s move to regulate taxi fares and introduce digital meters instead of GPS-enabled phones will bring order to an arbitrary pricing system.

Currently, the maximum fare for air-conditioned taxis is Rs. 19.50 per km after a minimum charge of Rs. 80 for four km. While aggregators charge anywhere between Rs. 7 and Rs. 10 per km, commuter end up paying more — as much as four times higher during peak hours — because of ‘surge pricing’.

A fixed fare will mean easier commuting, according to users, as they will know exactly what fare they will be paying at all times of the day.

The rules are based on a set of guidelines issued by the Union Ministry last year, which empowered State governments to form their own rules governing aggregators.

The State Transport Department will have much-needed powers to catch and fine cab operators who charge ‘surge prices’ based on demand for cabs

Will commuters benefit?

Not all the time. If the notification is enforced, taxi aggregators may choose to charge the full fare instead of the current discounted rates during non-peak hours.

As of now, aggregators use cabs with tourist taxi or luxury cab permits, which allows them to use the ‘surge pricing’ model. Under the new rules, aggregators will have to register under Section 93 of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act. They will have to pay a licence fee and security deposit to the government.

Highlights

Aggregators to register under Section 93 of Motor Vehicle Act Compulsory verification of drivers Aggregator has to set up and operate a control room Pay licence fee and security deposit to the government

Padma awardees from state

Eleven eminent citizens were chosen from Karnataka for the Padma awards announced on Monday, including two Padma Vibhushans.

Dr.Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre (under Science and Engineering) and Shri Shri Ravishankar (under Others - Spiritualism) were chosen for the Padma Vibhushan. Bengaluru-born Dr. Aatre was DRDO’s Director-General; Secretary, Dept of Defence R&D, & Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister during the period 1999–2005. Shri Shri Ravi Shankar is a spiritual leader who founded the Art of Living Foundation.

PADMA VIBHUSHAN

Name Field State

Dr. Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre Science & Engineering Karnataka



Name Field State

Shri Shri Ravi Shankar Others - Spiritualism Karnataka

Nine personalities were chosen for the Padma Shri awards:

PADMA SHRI

Name Field State

Shri S.S. Rajamouli Art-Film Direction and Production Karnataka

Prof. M. Venkatesh Kumar Art-Folk Artist Karnataka

Dr. Santeshivara Bhyrappa Literature & Education Karnataka

Dr. M.M. Joshi Medicine - Ophthalmology Karnataka

Prof. (Dr) John Ebnezar Medicine - Orthopaedic Surgery Karnataka

Dr. Mylswamy Annadurai Science & Engineering Karnataka

Prof. Dipankar Chatterji Science & Engineering Karnataka

Dr. H.R. Nagendra Others-Yoga Karnataka

Shri M. Pandit Dasa Social Work Karnataka

Malpe becomes first beach in India with wi-fi facility

Malpe beach in Udupi district, one of the main tourist attractions in southern Karnataka, has become the first beach in India to have wi-fi connectivity.

The facility will be available to tourists free of cost for 30 minutes at any time of the day during their visit

The service is being provided by BSNL, supported by the Centre's Digital Drive Initiative.

Database soon of medicinal plants, traditional healthcare

The State could soon have a modern database of local medicinal plants and knowledge pertaining to traditional healthcare practices created using Geographical Information System (GIS).

The Health department has evinced keen interest in a project recommended by the Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC) that proposes to develop a local medicinal plant herbal pharmacopeia on an Information Communication Technology (ICT) platform.

In its recommendation - the latest to be submitted to the State government by the commission headed by renowned scientist K Kasturirangan - the panel has suggested the creation of an inventory of herbal medicines and traditional procedure-based therapies using satellite images and GIS.

By using the latest technology to create a database, we will be integrating traditional community health knowledge and practices with modern science



While there are hundreds of local herbal remedies, some commonly used include: Drinking fresh juice from Giloya shoot with honey, said to provide relief from acidity; Having decoction of dry ginger, pippali and amla twice a day, said to provide relief from cold and cough.

The proposal is to create taluk-level database and documentation. To start with, medicinal plant pharmacopeia for Heggadadevana Kote (HD Kote) taluk

in Mysuru district, has been proposed. Later, it will be extended to other taluks. HD Kote is estimated to be home to 500

medicinal plants in the forest areas of Nagarahole National Park, Bandipur National Park, Karigala, Kalbetta, Kakanakote forest range, among others.

Study group to chart out roadmap for tapping potential of drones

The Karnataka Knowledge Commission (KKC) is coming out with a strategy to utilise Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) technology in the sectors of town planning, crop and forest survey, pollution monitoring, civic operations among others, specific to the State.

UAS - commonly known as drones - are remotely operated small flying machines without a pilot aboard.

The KKC has constituted a study group to prepare a roadmap for tapping the applications of UAS in various sectors.

The panel has also been given the task of coming out with demonstrative projects in association with various departments of the government for end-to-end governance.

This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. Bengaluru - being the hub for aerospace technology development - is the best place to launch the venture

The panel will come out with recommendations on the policy measures that the governments need to take to encourage UAS research in institutions and universities and also a roadmap for adopting the technology into the higher education system.

The study group will come out with a document on legal issues pertaining to UAS and measures to be taken to prevent its misuse

In brief:

*It is a first-of-its-kind initiative to come out with a well-defined policy on drones

*21-member study group with experts, academia and top-ranking officials to hold first meeting next month

*Panel to come out “UAS Technology, Applications and Policy: Karnataka Vision” in six months

*UAS demonstration case studies to be taken up with user government departments

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Demand for Kumki land by farmers of coastal districts

The district unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha has urged the State government to provide ‘Kumki’ land to farmers of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.

‘Kumki’ land refers to those plots situated adjacent to the agricultural land or fields of the farmers. It is used for cattle grazing and to grow grass for cattle. The shrubs grown on ‘Kumki’ land is also used as fertilizer in the fields.

The ‘Kumki’ rights were a basic right enjoyed by the farmers in the two coastal districts.

In fact, the ‘Kumki’ rights were recognised and granted by the then British government to farmers in the district of South Canara (later renamed as Dakshina Kannada, from which Udupi district was carved out in 1997), which was then part of the Madras Presidency.

This was made clear in the Madras Board Standing Order, 1896 The farmers also had the right to use of leaves, wood, agriculture and forest products

grown or available in this land. Till 1973, the farmers could give an application and get the ‘Kumki’ land converted

into agricultural land. But to due some problem arising out of a land dispute, the government gave the power to grant ‘Kumki’ land to the Deputy Commissioner in 1971.

However, the government issued another circular in May, 1973, which prohibited the grant of ‘Kumki’ land. This situation was continuing for the last 43 years.

Over six lakh farmers from coastal and Malnad districts were fighting for the rights for ‘Kumki’ land. As per government figures, nearly 1.97 lakh farmers in Udupi district and 2.13 lakh farmers in Dakshina Kannada, had rights over ‘Kumki’ land.

The farmers had built houses and plantations on ‘Kumki’ land. In many cases, they had also developed dry ‘Kumki’ land and made them cultivable. Hence, the government should provide Kumki’ lands to the farmers, who had been waiting for it for over four decades.

State reaches 8-lakh mark in LED bulb sales

As the number of LED bulbs sold in the country under the Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) touched the 5-crore mark, Karnataka stood in the second spot among the south Indian States with over eight lakh bulbs having been sold.

Within the State, over five lakh bulbs were sold in Mysuru, where the ‘Hosa Belaku’ scheme was launched, beating capital city Bengaluru.

Overall in India, Andhra Pradesh, with over 1.49 crore LED bulbs, stood unbeaten. LED bulbs are being sold for Rs. 10 in the State.

The other States with big sales as on Thursday were Maharashtra (79.4 lakh) and Rajasthan (69.77 lakh).

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), which caters to eight districts, started distributing the bulbs this month. While the number of outlets at which consumers can buy the bulbs has increased, the power utility has also started selling the bulbs across 17 BangaloreOne centres.



Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. (EESL), which is distributing the LED bulbs, plans to sell close to 10 crore bulbs by March.

The DELP scheme is expected to save energy, avoid peak load, as well as reduce emission of carbon dioxide.

The DELP target is to replace all 77 crore incandescent bulbs in India with LEDs.

About Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP)

Objectives: The main objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve environment.

Overall targets

Overall target of number of incandescent bulbs to be replaced - 200 million Expected overall annual energy savings - 10.5 billion KWh Expected reduction of load - 5000 MW Expected annual cost reduction of consumer bills - 40,000 crore Annual estimated greenhouse gas emission reductions - 79 million tonnes of CO2

Implementation agencies: The Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) a public sector body of Government of India are implementing the programme.

Eligibility of acquiring LED bulbs: Every grid-connected consumer having a metered connection from their respective Electricity Distribution Company can get the LED bulbs at about 40% of the market price under the DELP Scheme. Consumers also have the option of paying for the LEDs in equated monthly instalments.

States implemented: The DELP is under implementation in 18 states

Significance

An ordinary bulb is an extremely energy inefficient form of lighting with just 5% of the electricity input converted to light. Efficient light bulbs like Light-emitting Diode(LEDs) consumes only one-tenth of energy used by ordinary bulb to provide the same or better light output. However, high cost of LEDs has been a barrier in adoption of such efficient lighting systems. The DELP on-bill financing scheme proposes to overcome this cost barrier.

Through the DELP scheme consumers can avail from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 10 LED bulbs, depending on the region

About Hosa Belaku scheme

Karnataka Government’s LED Scheme Its energy conservation initiative of replacing conventional electricity bulbs with

energy-efficient LED bulbs. Launched on December 11



Each household will get five to 10 LED bulbs for about Rs 100 each as against the market price of Rs 400 apiece.

Kannada Wikipedia

Bengaluru being the IT capital of the country has made little difference to Kannada’s presence in the cyber world. Compare any major Indian language on Wikipedia with the 13-year-old Kannada language pages, and you are in for a surprise: Kannada occupies the 10th place among Indian languages, while Urdu occupies the first slot in terms of number of articles.

As on January 2016, the number of articles in Kannada Wikipedia is just 19,070, while Tamil (83,432), Telugu (64,451), and Malayalam (41,334) are way ahead. Urdu version occupies the first place with 1,10,367 articles and Hindi version follows with 1,00,912 articles.

As far as the world ranking of languages is concerned, Kannada stands 107th. It is interesting to note that Cebuano spoken by 21 million people and second most

spoken language in the Philippines stands fourth in the list of global languages with 18,65,033 articles after English, Swedish, and German.

It has been 13 years since a small group of tech-savvy Kannadigas got together to create the first few article stubs on Kannada. This resulted in starting the Kannada language edition of Wikipedia in 2003.

Though the articles in Wikipedia pages drew flak for their lack of depth and quality initially, the site showed signs of improvement only to fall back again.

Initially, it was the issue of fonts that came in the way of developing Kannada pages and interestingly very few people knew that Wikipedia could be written in a regional language.

Awareness of Kannada Wikipedia, lack of awareness about Kannada typing tools, Internet accessibility issues, and lack of self-motivated volunteers who can drive the Wiki learning activities are reasons for the slowdown, he says.

Admitting that Kannada Wikipedia is lagging behind in terms of quantity (number of articles), U.B. Pavanaja, another administrator, argued that it was however good in terms of quality.

NOTA option for ZP, TP polls

When elections to 26 zilla panchayats and 175 taluk panchayats will be held on February 13 and February 20, voters will have the option of NOTA (None of the Above) for the first time in rural local body polls.

Although the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act 2015 had made provision for NOTA in rural local body elections, the option could not be introduced in the gram panchayat elections held in May.

The model code of conduct will come into immediate effect in the areas of the State, and will be in force till Feb. 24.

The code of conduct will also be applicable to rural areas of the upgraded urban local bodies for which elections have not been held



While Rs. 1 lakh has been fixed as the expenditure limit for ZP candidates, Rs. 50,000 is the limit for TP candidates.

The ballot paper colour for ZP constituency (the paper that is inside the EVM) will be pink, and for TP constituencies it will be white, he explained.

Karnataka, Maharashtra agree on 'feasible' water projects

Karnataka and Maharashtra have agreed in principle to ink a pact to implement feasible inter-state water projects and help farmers in both the states.

A meeting of elected representatives of the two states was organised at Kanakavli in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, which acts as a border to the Mahadayai riparian states of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.

In the meet representative stressed co-operation and co-ordination from both the governments to protect farmers’ interests. They said both the governments would implement water projects that were environmentally feasible and economically viable. They would have talks in this regard and take a final decision.

Plastic ban in Karnataka

The State government is planning to enforce ban on plastic, though the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is yet to put in place a concrete plan to ensure the restriction is well-implemented.

The draft notification is before the Cabinet for approval It has been vetted by the Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology and there

has been no dilution in it. Once the government issues the order, the ban will be enforced with immediate effect The most difficult challenge is to prohibit the import or entry of plastic from other

states and cities, something impossible without vigilant checkposts and trained staff The government had issued a draft notification on October 28, 2015, to ban plastic.

People were given 30 days to give feedback and suggestions about the ban. Most of the public responses asked how the ban will be enforced in Bengaluru and across Karnataka, when various departments have been unable to restrict the entry of plastic into Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Cubbon Park and Bannerghatta Biological Park.

The draft notification proposed that no one shall use plastic carry bags, banners, buntings, flex boards, plastic flags, plastic plates, plastic cups and plastic sheets — irrespective of their thickness — to serve food at functions.

No industry or person shall manufacture, supply, store, transport, sell and distribute plastic in Karnataka.

The export of plastic carry bags and their use in nurseries, dairy industry, health sector and any other sector for non-consumption are, however, exempted.

KSPCB official conceded that enforcing the ban would be a challenge. Since the KSPCB is only a regulatory authority, it has been unable to strictly enforce the Air and Water Acts, because of which many of Bengaluru’s lakes and air are highly polluted.

Enforcing a complete ban on plastic in the entire State without government backing and co-operation from all departments will be difficult



Farm suicides in the state crosses 1000 mark

Karnataka is grappling with the problem of farmer suicides at an unprecedented scale since the last some months

It has accounted for 1,002 farmer deaths during the last ten months. Suicide by farmers, who are frustrated by the lopsided economics of agriculture and

non-realization of economically viable prices for the crops grown, has been continuing even though the government has initiated several steps to stop these suicides.

It is being claimed that never in the history of Karnataka has farmer suicides crossed a thousand mark. Sources in the department of agriculture, however say that out of the farmer suicides reported, 360 alone have been admitted so far, and compensation at the rate of Rs 5 lac per family stands disbursed in 354 such cases. 275 cases were rejected for different reasons, while the balance 367 cases are being processed

Mandya with 96 farmer suicides, tops the list, while Haveri, Belagavi, Mysuru and Tumakuru districts have been listed from No 2 to 5, accounting for 84, 76, 64, and 59 deaths respectively.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts form the tail end of the list with five suicides each.

280 of these farmers had heavy borrowings from nationalized banks, 197 had raised loans from regional Grameena banks, and 141 from cooperative societies. Mounting liabilities towards private financial firms and personal borrowings compelled 48 and 129 farmers respectively to kill themselves.

Cotton and sugarcane growers account for most of the deaths, with figures of 114 and 110 deaths respectively, followed by paddy and maize which accounted for 91 and 90 deaths in that order.

Highest farmer suicides occurred between August and October, it is learnt. The government claims that steps like distribution of pamphlets against ending lives,

and requests made over public address systems in villages appealing them against committing suicides worked to bring down the average deaths after October.

There was sharp increase in the number of suicides this year because of crop failure in both khariff and Rabi seasons.

Chairman of the Karnataka Border Protection Commission

The State government appointed S. Rajendra Babu, former Chief Justice of India, as chairman of the Karnataka Border Protection Commission.

The post was vacant following the death of V.S. Malimath, former Chief Justice of the High Courts of Karnataka and Kerala.

A few days ago, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil was appointed as in-charge Minister for the Karnataka–Maharashtra border dispute.

In December 2015, the BJP government in Maharashtra appointed Minister for Public Works Chandrakant Patil as nodal Minister for the Maharashtra–Karnataka border dispute.

Karnataka Border Protection Commission



The state government constituted Karnataka Border Protection Commission on June 22, 2015 and appointed Justice Malimath as its chairman. K N Jinadat Desai and S M Kulkarni were appointed members.

This commission replaced the earlier Special Legal Advisory Committee, which was limited to deal with only Belagavi border dispute with Maharashtra.

Justice Malimath took charge as the chairman on June 22. He insisted the government to give a wider mandate to the commission to protect all the border areas of the state and also interests of Kannadigas both in the state and outside.Hence the government asked him to furnish comprehensive terms and reference.

The Commission headed by Justice V S Malimath submitted its comprehensive terms of reference to the state government.

The terms suggested were:

1. to tender advice on effective conduct of cases pending before the Supreme Court and to advise the government on protecting the borders of Karnataka;

2. to advise the government on protecting the interests of Kannada-speaking people residing not only in border areas but also elsewhere in India and abroad;

3. to advise the government on protecting the interests of linguistic minorities; 4. and, to advise the government on taking adequate measures to protect and promote

the interests of Kannada-speaking people in Kasargod and other border states in the light of the Mahajan Commission report.

Colleges with Potential for Excellence’ (CPE) scheme

As many as 32 colleges have been shortlisted by the University Grants Commission to have a shot at earning grants under the ‘Colleges with Potential for Excellence’ (CPE) scheme from Karnataka. The State has the second-highest number of shortlisted colleges after Maharashtra.

Among the colleges that have been shortlisted are Maharani’s Arts, Commerce and Management College for Women; and Maharani’s Science College for Women, both from Bengaluru; University College – Mangaluru; Government College – Mandya; and Government Arts College – Hassan.

Colleges applying for the CPE tag, among other requirements, must be at least 10 years old, and must be accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, with a minimum ‘B’ grade.

Having been chosen by the UGC’s Standing Committee on CPE, principals of these colleges will now have to make presentations before the Expert Committee about their proposed action plan, along with their budget requirement.

Financial grants of up to Rs. 1.5 crore will be provided for each college during the 12th Plan. Financial assistance will be for upgrading and updating of departments and cannot be utilised for construction of buildings.



Drought relief for Karnataka

The Centre released the much-awaited financial assistance to tackle drought in Karnataka. It released Rs. 1,540.20 crore against the Rs. 2,278.17 crore sought by the State Government.

The farmers suffering crop loss would receive compensation by January 25. He said at a press conference here on Tuesday that the Centre had released While the farmers will be compensated for 68 per cent of the crop loss they had

suffered, the other drought relief activities including providing drinking water and fodder will also receive a further push

In addition to the amount released by the Centre, the State Government had released Rs. 300 crore. Hence, the total drought relief works in the State will amount to Rs. 1,850 crore

As many as 28 lakh hectares across 136 taluks of the State had suffered drought last year. The Cabinet sub-committee headed by Mr. Prasad, which had been constituted by the State Government, had held nine meetings across all the four divisions of the State before submitting a memorandum to the Centre.

Karnataka had sought relief under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) norms. Belagavi district had been allocated the highest amount of Rs. 220 crore followed by

Kalaburagi and Vijayapura districts, which had been sanctioned Rs. 202 crore and Rs. 113 crore respectively.

Rooftop solar panels can be financed now

In bid to boost power generation from solar energy by roping in more of its consumers to install rooftop solar plants, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has introduced a provision to have an interested third party fund the installation.

This will involve three parties – the rooftop owner, the developer/financer and the power utility sign a tripartite agreement between themselves.

The score card for solar generation under Bescom stands at around 3.4 MW at present, with miles to go to achieve the targets set by the State and Central governments.

This is how it works:

the rooftop owner (anyone with a valid consumer number) will first enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Bescom like it is done under the normal scheme.

The basic requirement for a solar rooftop plant that generates 1 kW is a rooftop measuring 10 sq ft.

Under the new provision, the rooftop owner will also enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the developer/project financers.

Similar to the regular scheme, Bescom will pay for the excess power pumped into the grid from the solar plant.

However, in this case, the developer or financer will have the first lien on cash flows generated and received.



Bescom will route the payment for excess solar energy exported to a consumer-defined ‘Escrow’ account, with the developer having first right over the payments received.

Facilitators will be set up who will be able to guide rooftop owners willing to set up solar plants to interested developer

The tripartite agreement will be a long-term one, which will automatically be terminated at the end of completion of 25 years of operations. But the agreement can also be terminated with the mutual consent of both the developer and rooftop owner.

Criticism

With the slow success rate of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company’s (Bescom) solar rooftop project, questions are being raised over who will be the takers for the new scheme. Those who have already installed solar plants are not optimistic about having to share the marginal profits that they make.

If you are an ordinary tax payer with a grid-connected solar rooftop plant, you hardly get back around seven to eight per cent on your investment in the long run. In fact, even with a loan, they can break even on the ROI (return on investment) in six or seven years

Talk of a possible reduction in solar power tariffs hinted by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission during the upcoming revision could also prove to be a dampener.

Those with “dead terraces” (rooftops with no scope for further construction) and those installing plants with bigger capacities such as 500 kW to 1 MW will opt for the scheme

Engineers define the employment scenario in Bangalore

With 4.5 lakh professionals, the city also has more engineers than New Delhi and Mumbai put together

The boom in engineering services, particularly the information technology (IT) services, is seeing more women take up engineering in Bengaluru, shows the recently released Census 2011 data.

With over 1.41 lakh women engineers — the highest in the country by a long margin — Bengaluru has more woman engineers than municipalities in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

A closer look at the data shows an increasing number of women joining the workforce. For instance, among engineers below the age of 35, the ratio of women goes up to 40 per cent, while, at an older age group (above 35 years), the ratio dips to just 18 per cent.

Compared to other engineering sectors, the IT sector hired more women. This seems to correlate with the experience of educationists who said that compared to traditional engineering streams like mechanical and civil, a large number of women prefer to join IT and allied subjects.

Why Bengaluru?



The scale of the IT sector is an advantage. Currently, over 1.5 lakh people, many of them engineers, are hired yearly in industries here.

It was more cosmopolitan than Kolkata and Chennai, and was cheaper than Mumbai for the younger generation.

Unlike in many cities, language is not an issue. Locals form the minority in the IT sector The continuing expansion of the city from IT and biotechnology to aerospace and

defence, will spur the arrival of engineers here. Yearly, around 4 lakh engineering students are produced from the State and

neighbouring areas. For any one setting up industries, there is manpower and skilled labour base already present

Historical trend towards engineering - The glut of engineering students in the city traces its roots to the decision by the erstwhile Mysuru Maharaja to turn Bengaluru into a science city. Science institutes and engineering colleges were set up nearly a century ago. This was the making of engineering manpower here, which eventually attracted public sector units in the 60s. When this stagnated and migration out of the city increased, the information technology revolution brought back the engineering focus

Impact

Accompanying an explosion of engineering college is the decline in non-engineering colleges.

Unlike the national capital, where IT parks came with an accompanying residential infrastructure, or Mumbai, where rising costs see many techies living outside the city, Bengaluru continues to develop largely within its folds.

Coorg to be showcased at Republic day parade

The State’s tableau this year is on the theme: Kodagu: the coffee heaven of Karnataka.

It will depict various stages in the making of coffee, starting from women plucking the beans to processing them and the processed powder being finally turned into the aromatic brew. The tableau depicts Kodava women, wearing their distinctive dress, performing their traditional dance.

French President Francois Hollande, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, will witness the various stages of coffee making in Karnataka’s tableau.

Folklorist H.L. Nage Gowda’s book Bettadinda Battalige (From the hills to the cup), on the coffee’s origin, is the basis for the tableau.

Shashidhara Adapa, who designed the tableau, said the work on it has commenced both in Bengaluru and New Delhi. Two sets of artists are working on creating sculptures and fabricating the tableau. The signature music will be by Praveen D. Rao.

It is for the sixth consecutive time that Karnataka is participating in the parade. Back in 2005, its tableau on the theme of Gomateshwara had bagged the first prize. In the subsequent years, the State showcased Mysuru Dasara, followed by Hoysala and Pattadkal architecture.



43 services by GP online - Panchatantra

To take administration to the doorsteps of the people, gram pancahyats in the State have started offering 43 services online.

Services such as getting approval for building plans, water connection, paying property tax, trade licences and obtaining birth and death certificates have now been made available online using the specially developed ‘Panchatantra’ software.

As for the issues related to power supply and other technical hitches, action was being taken to ensure efficient rendering of services.

Clubs under RTI?

The Legislature Committee formed to look into clubs is mulling on a proposal to bring elite clubs under the RTI Act.

Reason

The panel feels it was necessary to check whether the clubs were following the norms pertaining to audit and maintenance of accounts. All clubs in Karnataka have to register under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960, and submit audit reports to the government every year after holding annual general body meetings. However, the panel believes that a majority of the clubs have not registered under the Act and are functioning in contravention to the rules.

It was also important to monitor payments of taxes by clubs, considering memberships come at a heavy price.

The proposal would give transparency in monitoring violations of excise rules by clubs – something that had grabbed the headlines recently.

Pre-marital counselling cell

The Vanitha Sahaya Vani, launched a pre-marital counselling cell to help single women who are being pressured by their family to tie the knot or being forced into an arranged marriage.

Women can either call the helpline or visit the cell located at the Police Commissioner’s Office on Infantry Road

Over the last three years, the number of unmarried women, who have approached us for counselling, has doubled

A majority of the cases that the helpline has dealt with are young girls seeking help following pressure from their family to get married.

Several families are unable to comprehend that their daughters would rather focus on academics and career instead of getting married. The counsellors hope to address this generational gap between parents and their children

With an increase in divorce rate, it is imperative that people marry for the right reasons. If the reason for getting married is parental pressure, then chances are that the marriage will fail. The counsellors try to explain this to the parents.



It is important that the youngster is able to stand on his/her own feet before being asked to marry. Often, youngsters are unable to explain this to their parents and parents are unable to explain their concerns to their wards.

The newly-inaugurated cell will hold pre-marital counselling sessions on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Chairman of High Power Committee on Redressing Regional Imbalance

Venkatarao Ghorpade, assumed charge as the Chairman of High Power Committee on Redressing Regional Imbalance

He said that he was awaiting a report of a study on the impact of spending around Rs. 15,000 crore in eight years as part of implementing the Special Development Plan.

The erstwhile High Power Committee on Redressing Regional Imbalance, had decided to spend around Rs. 16,000 crore, over and above the budgetary allocation, for the purpose. Accordingly, Rs. 15,600 crore were released by the State government from 2007-08 to 2014-15 under the Special Development Plan, of which Rs. 15,000 crore had been spent through 22 departments to redress backwardness.

To know the impact of the huge spending, the work of doing an analysis has been entrusted to the Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Development and Research (CMDR), Dharwad, and the work is under way. The report is expected to be submitted shortly.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had promised that the implementation of Special Development Plan would be extended for five more years by allocating Rs. 3,000 per year, beginning from 2016-17. For this year (2015-16), Mr. Siddaramaiah has earmarked Rs. 2,300 crore

Mr. Ghorpade said that 48 backward taluks, including 12 in the Hyderabad Karnataka region, were part of the project under which 60 solar parks had been proposed to be set up.

Tenders have been invited by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL).

The committee was keen on taking up the projects, each with a capacity to generate up to 20 megawatts, under private-public partnership. The committee will try to get suitable land if investors showed any interest.

Based on its success, it would be replicated in other backward taluks

Sea food outlets in North Karnataka

To expand market for seafood from Mangaluru and Udupi, the State government has proposed to open hygienic retail outlet-cum-restaurants in the North Karnataka region during 2016-17

The government through the Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) has opened retail outlet-cum-canteens in district headquarters in the central and the southern districts of the State. But North Karnataka districts have not been covered. Such outlet-cum-canteens would serve hygiene seafood.

At present, the KFDC has 17 outlets in central and southern districts of the State. Once all districts are covered, people could get hygienic seafood, and fishermen in the coastal belt could increase their income..



These markets would be set up in Bidar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Dharwad, Hubballi, Bellari, Belagavi and Gadag, among others.

Dantabhagya

To help the poor with below poverty line cards, the State government has introduced Danta Bhagya scheme under which those aged over 60 can get free treatment

A new HAL factory at Tumkur

A new factory of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, was set up at Tumkur It was expected to produce 600 helicopters over the next 15 years for the armed

forces. HAL plans to manufacture its Light Utility Helicopter for reconnaissance and

surveillance; the Light Combat Helicopter for battlefield offence; and subsequently add a range of heavier and advanced rotary products.

Significance

It would be a big leap towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector. The Rs. 5,000-crore copter complex is the biggest investment in this backward region It would boost the government's ‘Make in India’ agenda. It would also provide 4,000

jobs.

Other support measures for the sector in the state

Karnataka had introduced an Aerospace Policy and conceived an Aerospace and Defence Park at Devanahalli.

The government was setting up a Special Process Facility and Aerospace Technology Centre in partnership with National Aeronautical Agency and HAL. They were also encouraging industry to tie up with Industrial Training Institutes for manpower.

Karnataka was hosting a three-day mega investor summit, ‘Invest Karnataka - 2016’, from February 3. Aerospace is one of the focus sectors in the Investors’ Meet

CSIR-CFTRI initiatives in processed food sector

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harshavardhan unveiled a sequence of research outcome initiatives at CSIR - Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru.

Integrated Sugarcane Juice Processing and bottling unit

The Minister launched the project for establishing an integrated Sugarcane Juice Processing and bottling unit in the campus.

The two tons per day plant will be ‘Drive-in Plant’ for sugarcane farmers of the nearby region.



CSIR-CFTRI has developed and patented a technology for bottling sugarcane juice with 4-months of shelf-life which has been commercialized by over 20 odd entrepreneurs. The beverage which is natural with multitude of health benefits has the potential to dominate the emerging wellness market.

The unit has taken shape under the rural development programs of CSIR and soon such a unit will be replicated in association with farmers’ cooperatives and SHGs in other sugarcane growing regions.

Carbonated fruit juice products

He also released carbonated fruit juice products based on grape, apple and pomegranate with 20% fruit juices. Earlier the Prime Minister had asked multi-nationals to mix their carbonated drinks with fruit juices to help fruit farmers of the country. Now the laboratory has come forward with a viable process which can help the country towards ‘Yellow Revolution’( revolution in fruit production).

Nutraceutical incubation centre

The ‘Nutra-Phyto Incubation Centre & Common Instrumentation Facility (NPIC-CIF), established in the campus in collaboration with Government of Karnataka would facilitate discovery and development of new products/innovative technologies by providing world-class laboratories, Pilot Plant facilities, analytical testing and safety studies for promoting entrepreneurs, SHGs and SMEs.

White-topping can free roads of potholes

Ever wondered why the one km stretch of Hosur Road between Ayyappa Temple and Madiwala has no potholes? The stretch was white-topped (concrete) in 2010 and has a life span of around 30 years.

White-topping is covering the existing bitumen layer with a concrete slab. The technology has been adopted on a section of NICE Road.

The project to white-top major radial roads never took off even though the pilot was successful.

The project is getting a fresh look following Hyderabad, Chennai and the new city of Amaravathi opting for white-topped roads.

The only roads that remained motorable and were least damaged during the recent floods in Chennai were the white-topped ones in Velachery and Alwarpet. The new city of Amaravathi has gone the full hog and opted for white-top technology for all its roads

BBMP had also proposed white-topping major radial roads, including Ballari Road, Hosur Road, Bannerghatta Road, Sarjapur Road, Old Airport Road. Though the cost of white-topping is almost double that of asphalting a road with bitumen, we need to evaluate the cost over the whole lifecycle

Experts argue that white-topped roads will eliminate the annual cycle of redoing roads and filling potholes.



Christians record the highest sex ratio in State

Christians continued to record the highest sex ratio with the figure increasing from 1,030 in the 2001 Census to 1,049 in the 2011 Census. Although the child sex ratio was also high among Christians in the State, the growth was very marginal and it rose from 961 in 2001 census to 962 in 2011.

Economist Sangeeta Kattimani compiled these data from the two Census reports and the Religion Data of the Census 2011

The lowest sex ratio of 739 was reported among Buddhists. In fact, the sex ratio among Buddhists had seen a steep fall from 907 in the 2001 Census to 739 in the 2011 Census. The child sex ratio among Buddhists decreased from 953 in 2001 to 949 in 2011.

The sex ratio of other major religious groups, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Jains, showed a marginal improvement when compared to the 2001 and 2011 census and same was the case under the child sex ratio head.

Prof. Kattimani said that the latest figures released by the Registrar General of Census provided some interesting data of literacy levels of different religious groups. While the literacy rate of Christians and Jains, who always placed education as a priority in their life, was high, the literacy level of Muslims was higher than Hindus in the State.

CADA to construct approach roads

The Command Area Development Authority (CADA) of the Cauvery basin will take up the construction of approach roads in districts such as Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Kodagu, Hassan, Ramnagar and Bangalore Rural, at a total cost of Rs.17 crore.

Issues like the construction of check dams, formation of social forestry and management of water users’ co-operative societies were discussed with the Chief Minister.

The societies set up for the purpose of sustainable use of water for irrigation purposes were not functioning properly owing to the lack of funds

Check dams would help prevent water loss and raise the water table

Command area development programme

In 1974-75, the Government of India launched the Command Area Development programme to bridge / narrow the gap between irrigation potential created and actually utilized in major and medium irrigation schemes. This scheme was supposed to develop adequate delivery of the irrigation water up to the fields.

A Command Area Development Authority was established to maximize the productivity in the irrigation command areas through an integrated approach with the following components:

1. Construction of field channels and field drains 2. Land shaping wherever necessary 3. Introduction of rotational supply of water to ensure equitable and assured distribution

to individual farm holdings.



But the CAD Programme was not particularly successful because of three constraints:

1. The water supply at the outlet was unreliable 2. The available technology was could not be adopted properly 3. Farmers particularly did not participate in the scheme.

This programme was restructured and renamed as Command Area Development and Water Management Programme (CADWMP) since April 1, 2004. The scheme was further restructured and was thrown to states to implement in 2008-09.

Currently, Command Area Development Programme has also been amalgamated with the AIBP to reduce the gap between irrigation potential that has been created and that is utilized.

Outlets planned to sell sheep products

Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation chairmansaid that there are plans to open outlets to sell meat, skin and other products of sheep in the State.

Steps had been taken to set up a federation on the lines of the Karnataka Milk Federation and a proposal had been submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

There are 1.5 crore sheep and goats in the State and more than 15 lakh families are depending on them for their livelihood.

The proposed federation will help them get direct marketing facilities and ensure competitive prices.

The government had extended facilities including ambulance, vaccine, compensation and loan facilities.

Promoting exotic vegetables among farmers

With an objective of promoting production of exotic vegetables in the North Karnataka region, the University of Horticulture Sciences, Bagalkot, has launched an initiative to introduce exotic vegetables among farmers.

The university, which is, on a pilot basis, cultivating these vegetables under controlled atmosphere (a poly-house), has been holding events to educate farmers about the economic importance of growing these vegetables.

The university has been cultivating foreign vegetables such as broccoli, parsley, English cucumber, Chinese cabbage, red cabbage and colour capsicum.

For preparing various cuisines, star hotels use these foreign vegetables. Thus, considering the demand, farmers could cultivate these vegetable

As cultivation requires higher investment and better marketing facility, it is difficult to convince farmers to take up cultivation of these vegetables in their farms. However, interested farmers can make some efforts which would eventually give them higher returns if they could find buyers

The university would help them collect required information about the cultivating methods and availability of market for these exotic vegetables



BMTC’s ITS close to the finishing line

After years of being in the cold storage Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) ambitious Intelligent Transport Solution (ITS) is in sights of the finish line.

For the passenger the project offers a real-time interaction with public transport. For instance, currently, a wait at the bus-stop is mired with uncertainty over when the

next bus will come or even if it comes, will there be a jostle for space. The ITS, however, envisions electronic boards that display estimated time of the arrival of the next bus; while, mobile apps will be calibrated to even show whether the oncoming bus is crowded or not.

In the first phase of the project — which is expected to be completed by January 15, and then will be tested for a month or so before being available for the passenger — conductors have been trained to use GPRS-enabled electronic ticketing system

A majority of the buses had already been fitted with GPS units.

Intelligent transport systems (ITS)

Intelligent transport systems vary in technologies applied, from basic management systems such as car navigation; traffic signal control systems; container management systems; variable message signs; automatic number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitor applications, such as security CCTV systems; and to more advanced applications that integrate live data and feedback from a number of other sources, such as parking guidance and information systems; weather information

Challenges

The project that has taken more than a decade to transition from proposal to implementation.

Training the conductors to use the devices took time as it is a new system. Finding out real-time traffic conditions for the system was difficult and we had to buy

licences from Google Cumulatively, the information will first be fed into the basic mobile app of the BMTC

which is scheduled for a revamp to make it “more useful” in a couple of weeks. Currently, the app doesn’t have real-time data, and displays bus schedules, irrespective of traffic or availability.

Fire in Bandipur tiger reserve

A large swathe of Bandipur Tiger Reserve was ravaged by a fire that raged for two days but has been stomped out by the Forest Department.The fire was seen in Kembepurahaadi in the Moleyuru range of the tiger reserve.

A departmental inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire and fix responsibility.

It is suspected that about 350 to 500 acres of forest land may have been burnt.



This is the first major fire reported from Bandipur, which has a history of fires ravaging forests, this year. The vegetation is bone-dry, water holes have dried up and there was very little moisture here

The extent of devastation is speculative and will be known only after conducting a GPS survey.

A similar survey had been conducted in 2013, when 1,500 hectares of forest were ravaged.

The Forest Department has begun steps to rope in villagers to keep an eye on those who may be causing these fires.

Most forest fires are man-made, and often, the forest becomes the focal point of a grudge against the State government

Karnataka women break into another male bastion

With the Karnataka Janapada Academy (KJA) set to launch 60 all-woman folk teams representing signature arts of the State, Women’s Day will see hundreds of women artists making waves.

On the day of launch on March 8, 60 troupes from 30 districts (two each) will present spectacular performances in Dollu Kunita, Veeragase, Kamsale, Tammate, Patakunita, Venu Kunita, Chittimela, Puja Kunita, Jaggalige Kunita, and other important folk forms.

Considering the demand performances of artistes like Durgamma of Ballari (Dollu Kunita), Savitha Chirukunaiah of Mandya (Puja Kunita), Yashoda of Tumakuru (Tammate) and Shweta of Chikkamagaluru (Veeragase) have generated at national and international events, including at the Indian Premier League, there is hope of commercial gain as well.

Though women have contributed significantly to enrich the folk culture, patriarchal society has limited their role to singing ‘Sobane’, ‘Beesukallu pada’ and devotional songs during marriages and other social gatherings. But, of late, some women artists have showed that conquering folk forms essentially dominated by men can have positive results. They have made a mark in art forms like ‘Dollu Kunita’ and ‘Veeragase’, which are widely considered a male bastion.

KJA’s plan is being executed with a government funding of Rs. 1.3 crore. Training is on in five revenue divisions. Artists selected for training are being paid a stipend of Rs. 500 per day, besides being provided boarding facilities.

Mysuru gets global attention

After bagging the cleanest city tag for the second time in a row, Mysuru has drawn global attention with France and Singapore showing interest in funding development projects in the city.

France has offered Rs. 19 crore for the solar energy project, road infrastructure, improvement of bus stands/stops, and traffic junctions.

A Singapore agency has come forward to offer financial assistance to five Indian cities, including Mysuru, which have been selected for a pilot project. Vijayawada, Guntur, Jaipur, and Bhopal are the others identified under the programme for turning them into ‘sustainable cities’.



Under the development of sustainable cities, initiatives will be launched in Mysuru with funding from Singapore.

Delay in clearing NIMZ proposal in kalburgi

Inordinate delay of the State government to clear a proposal on establishing the National Investment Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) in Chittapur taluk of Kalaburgi district and send to the Union government is causing consternation.

The previous government had given an in-principle approval to set up NIMZ in Chittapur. But after nearly two years, the proposal is yet to take off.

The only thing that was done by the State government was to sanction Rs. 45 lakh to the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IIDC) to conduct a techno-feasibility report of the proposed NIMZ. According to official sources, the IIDC submitted its report to the government long back.

All that is required now is to place the report before the Cabinet and clear it to enable the Industries Department to place the proposal before the Union government.

Karnataka garners Rs. 9,700 crore investment during the Make in India Week

The State government received investment intentions of about Rs. 9,700 crore during the Make in India Week organised by the Union government in Mumbai.

The announcement is the latest investment proposal received by the State after the success of ‘Invest Karnataka 2016’ where it attracted investments of around Rs. 1.33 lakh crore.

As part of the event, the State government had organised a seminar to showcase potential offered by various sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace and defence, agri-business and food processing, biotechnology, and IT.

Board to buy excess tobacco from growers

Tobacco growers in Mysuru and Hassan districts, the key growing areas in the State, can exult as the Tobacco Board will soon start purchasing excess Flue Cured Virginia tobacco for the 2015-16 season.

Each registered grower has to pay Rs. 2 a kg and 7.5 per cent of the proceeds of the sale to the tobacco fund for the excess FCV produced by him or her to the extent of 10 per cent of the quota authorised for the crop season. Likewise, Rs. 2 a kg and 15 per cent of the proceeds of the sale should be contributed to the fund by an unregistered grower.

All the auction superintendents have been directed to allow the sale and purchase of excess tobacco with immediate effect if growers agree to comply with the conditions.

Importantly, registered and unregistered growers have been asked to file an application-cum-undertaking with details of stocks of the excess or unauthorised production and declare that they will not resort to excess/unauthorised cultivation and operation of their unregistered/unauthorised barns in future.



The quota for sale of excess tobacco should be allowed only to growers whose stocks have been certified by the field staff concerned. The auction superintendents shall ensure sale of tobacco with 5 per cent variation as far as possible.

Sale of unauthorised tobacco as excess tobacco by grower to avoid penalties shall not be allowed. Any major variations, resulting in financial loss to the government, will be viewed seriously

RTE seats: Karnataka schools want hike in fee reimbursed by govt.

The High Court of Karnataka asked the State government to respond to a plea by the non-minority private unaided schools seeking an increase in the fee to be paid by the government to them for 25 per cent of the seats filled up under the Right to Education (RTE) Act quota.

In its plea, the association pointed out that the government, on May 8, 2012, issued a notification stating that it would reimburse a fee of Rs. 11,848 for primary education (from Class 1 onwards) per child every year, and Rs. 5,924 for pre-school sections.

The government had not increased the fee from the past four consecutive academic years even though private school managements had given representations seeking an increase, and added that it would be difficult to run the schools as the government had failed to reimburse the fee in full as per the 2012 notification.

They questioned the rationale of fixing a “meagre” fee of Rs. 11,848 for primary section when the government recently published a draft fee of Rs. 11,500 for reimbursement for admissions under the RTE quota to pre-schools in Bengaluru city limits.

Helicopter tourism launched in Udupi

Tourism in Udupi district, dotted with pristine beaches and pilgrim centres, is all set to get a major push with the launch of the helicopter tourism facility at Adi Udupi helipad The service, currently available for two weeks, could get extended if it becomes a hit. Tourists, VVIPs or businessmen wanting to visit Udupi or Kollur can hop into the chopper from Mangaluru and reach the pilgrim centres.

The facility will also be available for the tourist destinations of Murudeshwar and Gokarna from Udupi. The helicopter can carry a maximum of six passengers apart from the pilot.

The Delhi-based chartered service provider Chipsan Aviation began its heli-tourism services here after getting the nod from the District Administration, which gets a request every week or 10 days for a helicopter landing.

There are separate guidelines by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for aviation service. Presently, the administration provides police security and a fire tender at the Adi Udupi helipad.

CII introduces ‘GreenCo’ rating for companies based on environmental performances

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has initiated the ‘GreenCo’ rating for companies based on their environmental performance across nine parameters,



including energy efficiency, water conservation, use of renewable energy and waste management.

Experts say it is a more advanced certification. Going green makes strong business sense. It is encouraging to note how Indian industry is gearing up to address ecological issues and concerns and in turn offering vibrant and robust solutions to the global community

Adding increased impetus to this paradigm shift is the ‘Make in India’ campaign of the Union government, which intrinsically focuses on encouraging ‘green’ growth models and innovations

National Green Tribunal clears decks for Hubballi-Ankola rail line

Decks have been cleared for the controversial Hubballi-Ankola railway line, cutting across the eco-sensitive Western Ghats in Karnataka, with the National Green Tribunal giving its nod to Railways to approach the State government.

The project was conceived in 1998 primarily to transport iron ore from the Ballari-Hospet mines

Background

The controversy in the present case relates to conversion of forest land to a non-forest activity (construction of broad gauge railway line) for which total land of 965 hectares falling in Dharwad, Yellapur and Karwar forest divisions in Karnataka was required.

Under the provision of Section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 the State government has to issue an order permitting such conversion with prior approval of the Central government that is MoEF.

In 2006, two Karnataka-based NGOs — Parisara Sanmrakshana Kendra and Wilderness Club — filed a petition in Supreme Court against the diversion of forest land for this project.

Later, the apex court halted the construction. The apex court on October 5 last year transferred bunch of cases involving forest clearances and the CEC’s views on it to the green panel while asking it to decide them expeditiously.

The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) last year had disapproved the 168-km rail link project and said that it would have “huge and irreparable” ecological impact on the forests, wildlife and biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

The order

The green panel said that to apply for conversion of forest land to a non-forest activity was a right available to the project proponent and the State government which has to be dealt with in accordance with law

The tribunal further said that if such an application is moved the State government shall deal with it expeditiously and they would seek prior approval of the Environment Ministry in accordance with law.



Menace of solid waste in the city

Nearly five years after segregation at source was made compulsory by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), more than half the city’s garbage remains un-segregated.

Only around 40 per cent of waste in the city is being segregated. The most important element for successful implementation of waste segregation is the cooperation of the citizens and the councillor, and the BBMP’s willingness to act and penalise

Commercial areas in and around the centre of the city such as Kalasipalya, Chickpet and K.R. Market continue to grapple with segregation issues, with houses atop shops posing the most problems.

From March onwards, pourakarmikas have been instructed to not collect any mixed waste. There will be fining for non segregation too.

After the closure of garbage landfills in Mandur and Mavallipura, the new processing plants are only designed for segregated garbage. Composting is also only reserved for wet waste. This leaves the BBMP with no choice but to reject mixed waste.

Bandipur and Nagarahole house half of state's tigers

Just over half of Karnataka’s tigers roam amid the woods and shrubs of Bandipur and Nagarahole.

The tiger census report, released early last year, showed the State topping the charts with the presence of 406 tigers. However, the yet-to-be-released reserve-wise list shows that 1,517 sq km of forest patches of Bandipur — which now houses the second largest population of tigers in the world — and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve have 221 tigers in their confines.

In all, the enumeration of tigers in reserves where Project Tiger has been implemented shows that more than three-fourth of the State’s big cat population resides in the nearly 3,500 sq km area encompassed by the five reserves.

There is a need to focus on tiger corridors to ensure that the forests do not reach a saturation point.

Nagarahole and Bandipur are doing very well in terms of protection of tigers. But if saturation is reached, tigers will need corridors to move to other areas. The Nilgiri biosphere can absorb some of these tigers, but the key is to establish corridors northwards towards Bhadra and M.M. Hills.

The need is already seen in the Nagarahole tiger reserve, where tiger sightings in coffee plantations near Madikeri have increased..

On the flipside, the presence of a relatively-verdant corridor between the BRT Reserve and M.M. Hills has seen migration between the reserves. Officials estimate that many of the 14 tigers in the M.M. Hills and Cauvery originated from Biligiri Ranganatha Temple.

The more impressive increase has been seen at the BRT Reserve at Chamarajanagar, which now houses 68 tigers.

Activists have pointed out that the encouraging tiger populations in BRT and other areas will need declaration of more tiger reserves to sustain the populations — primarily M.M. Hills, Cauvery Wildlife sanctuaries and Kudremukh.



NIMHANS to unveil Urban Mental Health Plan

With heightened concern over the impact of excessive use of technology — especially social media addiction — on mental health in our cities, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) is planning to come up with an Urban Mental Health Plan.

The current district mental health plan largely catered to issues of people in rural areas.

Unlike in rural areas, the nature of life and addictions are different in urban areas. Apart from technology addiction, urban population has to deal with traffic jams, pollution, competition, and consumerism. The impact of these stress factors on the mental health of people need to be looked at

Also, unlike in rural areas, the family support system is poor in urban areas. A different plan is needed to ensure that people who need care are not left alone

The final report of the National Mental Health Survey, which is under way, would give a clear picture on the varying stress factors in urban and rural settings. The report would help NIMHANS in preparing an exclusive plan of action for mental health issues of people in urban areas.

Prepaid meters for temporary connections by BESCOM

Bescom has given out more than 53,000 temporary connections, including for new constructions, exhibitions, cinema tent houses and hoardings. Close to 3,000 connections are serviced every month.

Consumers taking temporary connections from the power utility have been drawing power over the sanctioned load, causing losses to Bescom. While Bescom has not been able to quantify the losses, officials admit to a strain on the power supply mechanism.

In the case of regular meters for temporary connections, this goes unrecorded, leading to monetary losses for Bescom. Sometimes, even the owner/builder won’t know what the required load is

The solution

One of the solutions to this problem is installation of prepaid meters, which Bescom has successfully piloted in East Bengaluru, including areas like Indiranagar, Marathahalli and Whitefield. These meters record the over-shooting of sanctioned load.

While the utility has been mulling extending these to ‘high-growth’ areas in South and North Bengaluru (including areas like Yelahanka which see a lot of construction activity), the high cost of prepaid meters is turning out to be a hindrance.

In a bid to tackle this issue, Bescom has filed a petition with the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) seeking permission to get consumers to bear part of the cost. With a difference of Rs. 9,000 between a prepaid meter and a regular one, Bescom wants consumers to pay a monthly rental on prepaid meters.

A regular meter would cost Rs. 930 for single phase and Rs. 1,900 for three phase. But the investment for prepaid meters is higher. A single-phase meter costs Rs. 10,000,



while a three-phase meter costs Rs. 12,000. For the pilot, Bescom purchased the meters. In the case of regular meters, consumers buy them on their own after getting permission from Bescom

Mega solar credit camp on Feb. 17

The Dakshina Kannada district administration in association with NABARD, banks and Mescom, has organised a mega solar credit camp to finance solar roof-tops, starting with Mangaluru taluk in the city on February 17.

The target is to finance at least 5,000 installations and every bank branch is given the target of Rs. 1 crore. The camp is aimed at encouraging individuals in the taluk to opt for solar roof top panels to conserve conventional energy as the district has very high potential to produce solar power.

The cost of solar power production has reduced drastically over the years due to improved technology, and it costs about Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 6 crore to produce 1 MW of power against Rs. 15 crore a couple years ago. Similarly, the cost of producing one KW rooftop power ranges from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1 lakh.

Target to finance at least 5,000 installations in Mangaluru urban area Mescom buys power at Rs. 9.56 a unit without subsidy and Rs. 7.20 a unit with

subsidy Quantum of subsidy hiked from 15 per cent to 30 per cent of the project cost

Startups to get a slot in nanotech meet

Bangalore India Nano-2016, Karnataka’s annual nanotechnology showpiece, will be held from March 3 to 5.

The eighth edition of the event, which was started in 2007, will have a new feature called Nano Sparks to showcase path-breaking ideas of startups and young researchers.

Forty-five exhibitors and 500 industry and academia delegates from nine countries are expected to participate

Nano India will discuss the latest trends in nanotechnology and their uses in healthcare, clean water, energy and manufacturing.

The Karnataka On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016.

The new rules for taxi aggregators issued by the government will mean that they will have to toe the line on passenger safety.

But, for the moment, they have been given some leeway in pricing.

However, this is likely to change at the end of the 30-day window for people to voice their objections to The Karnataka On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016.

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What are the rules?

1. Police verification mandatory 2. Aggregators will have to ensure that all their taxis display a board showing the permit

and details of the driver, such as photo, name, licence and badge number along with an ID card issued by the police.

3. Each cab must have a panic button, which can be used by the passenger without any interference by the driver.

4. In a bid to regulate the men at the wheel, the rules state that no driver can have a drunk driving violation or any other cognisable offence under the Criminal Procedure Code for a period of seven years before joining the aggregator.

5. Drivers will need a minimum experience of two years. In addition, they will have to prove that they have been staying in the State for a minimum of five years and can speak Kannada and another language, preferably English.

6. Aggregators will have to maintain exhaustive records for a period of one year of trips operated. This will include customer details and complaints, which will have to be made accessible to authorities, if necessary

7. A grievance redressal officer will have to be appointed for dealing with customer complaints.

8. Under the current rates fixed by the government, surge pricing, which pushes the rates to more than Rs. 19.5/km will not be possible. Under the new rules, the fare cannot cross the fare fixed by the government.

9. Driver details will have to be displayed in the taxi after approval by police authorities. 10. Aggregators will have to immediately suspend the access of a driver to the platform on

receipt of a complaint that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The suspension cannot be lifted till an enquiry into the matter is completed by the aggregator.

11. Cabs will be fitted with a yellow-colour display board with the word ‘Taxi’ visible both from the front and the rear

12. Vehicles have to be less than 6 years old at the time a driver signs up with an aggregator

13. Fare shall be charged only from the point of boarding to the point of exit. 14. No passenger shall be charged for dead mileage 15. Permit holder can operate with multiple aggregators simultaneously 16. Aggregator to send photo of driver along with vehicle registration number and other

details to customer’s mobile before boarding 17. Aggregator must publish policy on taxi fare, registration of taxis and drivers on its

platform or app

No surge pricing?

While government officials had previously stated their opposition to the ‘surge pricing’ model adopted by aggregators, the rules simply state that the fare collected shall be as per the digital meter and cannot be more than the fares fixed by the government. Currently, the city taxi rules permit cab operators to charge up to Rs. 19.5 per km for an air-conditioned taxi. This means that for some aggregators, who charge up to Rs 9.75 per km, surge pricing is possible.



Karnataka MobileOne bags award

Karnataka MobileOne, the flagship application launched by the State government in 2014, bagged the Gold award at the World Governance Summit in Dubai

Secretary, Department of e-Governance, Srivatsa Krishna, received the award on behalf of the State from Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdam bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

MobileOne was adjudged the best m-government service in the world at the fourth edition of the summit attended by 125 countries

The other shortlisted nominees were 'UK.Gov' and 'Kazakhstan.gov.'

MobileOne was selected through online voting and the jury comprised experts from the United Nations, World Economic Forum and World Bank.

About Karnataka MobileOne platform

It is a multi-modal e-governance platform through which citizens can access as many as 4,500 services on a mobile phone

This is the first such initiative in the country and among one of the world’s largest mobile governance platforms.

Called the Karnataka MobileOne platform, the facility can be used to pay utility bills, property tax, book railway and bus tickets or file income tax returns.

Significantly, it has been designed to also cater to low-end phones as well. MobileOne also plans to integrate digital media and advertising in the future in order

to enable a self-sustaining model through advertising revenue, user fees and subscription models.

The MobileOne platform was developed in a public-private partnership mode with mobile value-added services provider IMI Mobile

As many as 500 government-to-citizen services and over 4,000 business-to-consumer services have been integrated into the MobileOne platform.

Besides, it will also employ geo-tagging for a government-citizen engagement initiative through which users can notify authorities of non-functioning public services through photographs.

‘Minority’ schools will be asked to furnish certificate

With many private schools claiming to have ‘self-styled’ minority status to wriggle out of providing seats under the RTE quota, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has for the first time asked managements to produce the relevant certificate



Since 2012 when the RTE Act was implemented in the State, many leading schools in the city were refusing admissions under the quota by claiming to have minority status, depriving many students of seats even after the selection process.

Schools having minority status are exempted from providing 25 per cent reservation in private unaided schools.

While around 1,900 schools have minority status, several others too had illegally claimed to have minority status, but produced a fake certificate, attracting the ire of Department of Public Instruction, which issued notices to over a dozen schools.

However, the Department of Primary and Secondary Education on Monday issued an order asking schools to submit their certificates, which would be verified by the Director (Urdu and other minority language).

As expected, the department revised the age criteria for admissions under RTE. The entry level for children at LKG will be between 3 years 10 months and 4 years 10

months, and between 5 years 10 months and 6 years 10 months for entry into class one, as of June 1.Also, unlike last year when the department allowed parents to apply for an RTE seat in adjoining wards, this year they will be allowed to apply only in their wards.

In rural areas, parents should apply for seats in schools within a one kilometre radius of their residence.

Ancient water supply system in Karnataka being mapped

The innovative concept of underground water supply built centuries ago in Vijayapura city during the Adil Shahi regime is now being mapped with a view to restoring this ancient system.

The dynasty that ruled between 1490 and 1686 constructed the complex and extensive subterranean tunnels to supply water to this ancient city.

The tunnels, which pass through most part of the old city of Vijayapura, are now being mapped by the Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN), an agency hired by the district administration.

With onset of summer, annual elephant migration begins

The annual migration of elephants from the Bandipur-Nagarahole landscape to the Kabini backwaters has commenced with the onset of summer and the forest fire season.

Parts of Bandipur and Nagarahole, which are replete with elephants, are bereft of these gentler giants, as they have started their movement to the Kabini reservoir in search of water and fodder.

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This is an annual phenomena and India’s equivalent to the great migration of animals at Serengeti and Masai Mara in Africa.

The elephants are in transit and a large number of the jumbos can be sighted at N. Begur, Kalkere, Moolehole ranges and other places which are on the forest route to Kabini backwaters, he added.

With backwaters being a source of perennial water, elephant herds from Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai and Wayanad are known to congregate there during summer, when water holes and fodder dry up in the national parks.

Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks harbour around 2,500 to 3000 elephants between them.

‘Sakala awareness in State low even after four years’

A status paper on Sakala, the Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act, 2011 brought out by the Karnataka Sakala Watch, a group of citizens’ organisations monitoring the implementation of the programme, says that citizens’ hope of availing government services within a time frame remains a dream. Even after four years, more than 60 per cent of the citizens, particularly in rural areas, are not even aware of Sakala.

The report mentions that although the government has estimated that over 3,000 services could be brought under Sakala, only 725 were offered by the end of 2015. Only 135 services were being offered online, the report adds.

The pendency of overdue applications had risen to nearly 15,300 by the end of 2015. Not a single disciplinary action has been initiated under the Act so far. The report also states that citizens are entitled to demand compensation for defaulted

service delivery. However, there was a steep fall in the number of cases in which compensatory costs were awarded — from over 250 in 2013 and 2014, to a mere 55 in 2015. Only Rs. 68,000 has been paid as compensation in four years, against the corpus fund of Rs. 5 crore.

Lemon grass oil for pregnant women to fight Zika virus

The State Health and Family Welfare department is making preparations to distribute lemon grass oil to poor pregnant women, to help prevent them from getting bitten by mosquitoes

Lemon grass oil, a natural extract, acts as a mosquito/insect repellent. The department aims to provide the repellent to the beneficiaries in the next 10 to 15 days.

This is one of the few measures the department has initiated after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an ‘emergency’ over the explosive pandemic of Zika virus, which has put over 22 countries in the Americas on red alert.

Also, the Centre too has issued guidelines to all the State governments to control the spread of the virus, which is especially dangerous to pregnant women.

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Mosquito repellent will be part of Madilu kit

‘Madilu’ kit

The department has held talks with the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KS&DL) to distribute lemon grass oil, along with the 19 other products in the ‘Madilu’ kit, a scheme which was launched by the government in 2008 to provide postnatal care for poor pregnant mothers, and the child.

The BPL card holders would be eligible for the oil.

Pregnant women infected by the virus in the first trimester carry the risk of giving birth to children with a severe birth defect called microcephaly, who are born with abnormally small heads, underdeveloped brains and reduced life expectancy.

Though there are several repellents available in form of oils or ointments in the market, the department has approached KS&DL to avoid any procedural delays

Fruit of 2 days' work: Rs 3L cr worth of biz proposals

The two-day Invest Karnataka -2016 Summit attracted investment proposals totalling Rs 3.08 lakh crore with a potential to create 6.7 lakh jobs.

Invest Karnataka-2016: Proposed projects can create 6.7 lakh jobs in Karnataka

Speaking at the valedictory of the summit attended by top industrial captains of the country and around 4,000 delegates, Industries Minister R V Deshpande said 56 per cent of the investment (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) has already been cleared by State high power clearance committee and single window agencies of various departments during the last one year.

At the same time, the meet witnessed the State government and entrepreneurs signing 121 new memoranda of understanding (MoU) and expressions of interest (EoI) entailing investment to the tune of Rs 1.33 lakh crore.

The top investor in this edition of the investment summit turned out to be Adani Green Energy Limited, which pledged to invest Rs 18,000 crore for expanding its power station and and set up a solar project for renewable energy.

Second in the list is JSW Steel which has agreed to invest Rs 12,396 crore for expanding its steel plant in the State.

The Energy sector topped the list with an investment flow of Rs 26,456 crore followed by chemicals (Rs 23,961 crore) and iron and steel (Rs 20,459 crore). Interestingly, the information technology and biotechnology sector drew investment to the tune of only Rs 3,166 crore.

Deshpande said the government would soon set up an agency comprising representatives from the industry and government officials to exclusively monitor and follow-up investments in the State.

At the same time, a top-ranking official will be appointed to follow-up the new MoUs and EoIs and ensure that the projects are placed before various clearance committees by May 15 this year.



the investments had come across all focus sectors including manufacturing, pharma, bio-technology, urban infrastructure, tourism among others. The investments have not been confined to Bengaluru but spread across tier-two and three cities including Ramanagaram, Ballari, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada among others.

Invest Karnataka-2016 helped in establishing “new bridges, forge new partnerships” between the government and the industries.

First-ever session on women entrepreneurship

With exclusive industrial parks, higher subsidies and even a guidance cell specifically for women, the Karnataka government has gone all out to woo women entrepreneurs to invest in the State.

At the first-ever session on women entrepreneurship, during the ‘Invest Karnataka 2016’ meet

The State government launched the ‘Women Entrepreneur’s Guidance Cell’ as well as announced that a 100-acre women-specific tech park at Harohalli would be inaugurated on March 8 — International Women’s Day.

Ratna Prabha, Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce and Industries, unveiling a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the “sister city” of San Francisco, U.S. to facilitate exchange of experiences of women entrepreneurs in the two IT-intensive cities as well as a more than 50 per cent subsidy for women seeking entrepreneurship certificates in the U.S.

According to the Industries Department, less than 10 per cent of businesspersons are women — a figure the government hopes will increase with the exclusive tech zones.

Before, in government schemes, women used to be clubbed with backward classes and the physically challenged.

While much has changed in the business world for women, finance continues to be a challenge

Though welcoming the two women-specific tech parks — which are a part of a larger industrial complex — Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw cautioned against the exclusive park planned in Mysuru which would disconnect these enterprises completely from those run by men.

Skill building programmes

Representatives of Walmart, which is setting up 10 cash-and-carry stores in the State, as well as the furniture giant IKEA committed to skill-building programmes with emphasis for women here.

Number of women-run enterprises in Karnataka: 1.03 lakh This is 9.7 per cent of the total industries and enterprises in the State Karnataka stands third in the country in terms of women-run enterprises Results of ‘women initiatives’ in five-year industrial policy Since 2014, aim was to establish 21,000 women enterprises In two years, 17,080 enterprises have been set up In the next three years, aim is to have 47,800 more enterprises



Women-specific technology park at Harohalli, near Kanakapura, to be opened on March 8. Another planned at Hubballi

Fear of forest fires as heat escalates

Nagarahole National Park reported its first fire of the current season, with a major incident reported at Veeranahosahalli range.

This suggests the onset of summer, a season of forest fires. Both Nagarahole and Bandipur — as also other national parks — have a history of such fires wreaking widespread devastation.

Nagarahole witnessed massive fires in 2014, 2012 and 2009, as also Bandipur, which witnessed major conflagration. Though controlled burning is carried out to remove weeds and clear the jungles of deadwood to pave way for new growth after the first flush of rain, wildfires tend to destroy the ecosystem.

A ground fire will destroy the reptilian creatures, which will perish in the heat, while the quality of top soil will degrade over a period of years

Repeated fires will result in the proliferation of non-palatable grass and weeds, which cannot be consumed by herbivores. A consequence of this is that the herbivore population will abandon the degraded habitat and move in search of greener pastures. Once the herbivore population depletes, it has a direct impact on the carnivore population too, and will have a negative bearing on their population.

Bandipur too has a history of severe fires and the threat has been exasperated by the proliferation of weeds like lantana, Eupatorium, Ageratum conyzoides, Parthenium etc. of which lantana has been identified as the most problematic as it not only proliferates fast, but is resistant to cutting and burning.

It has covered more than 50 per cent of the national park area. Omkara, Beguru, Himmavad Gopalswamy Betta, Hediyala are among the areas prone to fires.

Major mineral mines to be rated for eco-friendly measures

The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) is set to bring in a system of star rating for all major mineral mines in the country as a gauge of the eco-friendly measures adopted by them.

Mines with low rating would face the music as they have to either improve the rating through effective environment-friendly measures within a stipulated time, or close down operations

The rating process would begin with self-certification under which the miners themselves would fill up the details with the help of a mobile app to be launched for rating purposes. IBM officials will then visit the mining area to crosscheck the data.

As the rating system would throw light on the status of eco-friendly measures taken up by each of the mines, those with low rating — such as one or two stars — would be told to either improve the rating by turning eco-friendly within a stipulated time or close down operations

Meanwhile, Donimalai Iron Ore Mine in Ballari became the first mine in south India and second in the country to abide by the SDF, for constructing check dams to prevent soil



erosion, setting up of effluent treatment plants, and turning the mined area into a green carpet.

KARNATAKA AT A GLANCE

Sl. No. Item Units 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2009-10 2011

xvi

1 Geographical Area '000 Sq.Km. 192 192 192 192 192 192 192

2 Revenue Divisions No. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

3 Districts -do- 19 19 19 20 27 30 30

4 Taluks -do- 175 175 175 175 175 176 176

5 Inhabited Villages -do- 26377 26826 27028 27066 27481 27481 27397

6 Uninhabited Villages -do- 2972 2707 2362 2127 1925 1925 1943

7 Towns -do- 231 245 281 306 270 270 347

8 Total (in 000s) 19401 23587 29299 37136 44977 52851 61095

9 Males -do- 9866 12041 14972 18923 22952 26899 30967

10 Females -do- 9535 11546 14327 18213 22025 25952 30128

11 Rural -do- 14945 18320 22177 26406 31069 34889 37469

12 Urban -do- 4456 5267 7122 10730 13908 17962 23626

13 Scheduled Castes -do- 2583 3117 3850 5595 7369 8564 10475

14 Scheduled Tribes -do- 80 192 231 1825 1916 3464 4249

15 Density of Population Per Sq.Km. 262a 123 153 194 235 276 319

16 Literacy Rate Percentage 19.26b 29.80b 36.83b 46.21c 56.04c 66.60c 75.40c

17 Sex Ratio Females per 1000 males 966 959 957 963 960 965 973

18 Urban Population Percentage 22.96 22.33 24.3 28.89 30.92 33.99 38.7

19 State Income Rs.Crore 751 2016 5587 20551 96348 614607 702131

20 Primary Sector -do- 432 1063 2573 7626 31473 110107 128518

21 Secondary Sector -do- 122 418 1160 4734 18684 146545 158679

22 Tertiary Sector -do- 197 535 1854 8191 46191 357955 414934

23 Percapita Income Rupees 321 696 1520 4598 18344 89545 101594

Agriculture 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2011-12 2012-13

24 Net Area Sown '000 Ha. 10228 10248 9899 10381 10410 9941 9793

25 Gross Cropped Area -do- 10588 10887 10660 11759 12284 12059 11748

26 Gross Irrigated Area -do- NA 1355 1676 2598 3271 4136 4007

27 Gross Irrigated Area to Gross Cropped Area Percentage NA 12.45 15.72 22.09 26.63 34.30 34.11

28 Paddy '000 Ha. 1028 1170 1114 1173 1483 1279 1330

29 Wheat -do- 324 343 322 198 266 225 214

30 Jowar -do- 2969 2224 1991 2155 1782 1264 1176

31 Bajra -do- 500 562 564 425 462 275 286

32 All Cereals -do- 6274 5971 5573 5415 5757 5032 5043

33 All Pulses -do- 1306 1444 1531 1621 2047 2268 2461

34 Total Foodgrains -do- 7579 7416 7104 7036 7804 7300 7504

35 Sugarcane Harvested Area -do- NA NA NA NA NA 425 420

36 Cotton -do- 984 1142 1012 596 552 495 654

37 Groundnut -do- 915 1027 790 1212 1063 589 725

Administrative Setup

Population as per Census 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011

State Income - at Current Prices 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2013-14 2014-15

Area under Principal Crops 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2012-13 2013-14

xvii

Production of Principal Crops 1960-61 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2012-13 2013-14

Agricultural Census 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2005-06 2010-11 2010-11

Factories 1971 1981 1991 2001 2009 2013 2014 *

Industrial 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2012-13 2013-14

Electricity 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2010-11 2012-13 (P) 2013-14 (P)

Banking 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2010-11 2011-12# 2012-13 #

38 Rice '000 tonnes 1328 2000 2258 2428 3847 3364 3758

39 Wheat -do- 77 130 174 123 250 179 230

40 Jowar -do- 1154 1565 1506 1282 1547 1315 1300

41 Bajra -do- 129 211 192 203 342 285 309

42 All Cereals -do- 3578 5235 5714 5705 10004 9602 11040

43 All Pulses -do- 352 511 488 539 956 1362 1465

44 Total Foodgrains -do- 3930 5746 6202 6244 10960 10964 12505

45 Sugarcane -do- 5184 8106 12127 20750 42924 35732 35910

46 Cottond -do- 382 570 597 640 855 1038 1437

47 Groundnut -do- 448 780 475 816 1081 395 708

48 No. of Operational Holdings '000s 3551 4309 5776 7029 7581 7832 7832

49 Area of Operational Holdings -do- 11368 11746 12321 12307 12385 12162 12162

50 Average size of Operational Holdings Ha. 3.2 2.73 2.13 1.74 1.63 1.55 1.55

Live Stock Census 1972 1977 1983 1990 1997 2003 2007

51 Total Livestock '000s 21965 21800 24680 24968 30688 28359 30859

52 Total Poultry -do- 10163 9696 12096 15694 21399 24451 42068

Forest 1962-63 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2009-10 2010-11

53 Forest Area '000 Ha. 3522 3621 3838 3872 3828 4335 4335

54 Working Factories No. 3668 4985 7768 9440 11983 13061 8762

55 Employees -do- 252074 434202 777900 903895 1079681 1335248 880047

56 Employees per lakh population -do- 860 1169 1730 1710 1785 2186 1440

Project investments - Rs.3 to Rs.50 crore

57 Projects Approved No. 871 727 310 359 439 675 209

58 Investments Rs. Crore 11511 10267 5182 7750 6880 9351 354821

59 Employments No. 612620 349015 135623 115932 110505 141821 43759

Project investments - above Rs.50 crore

60 Projects Approved No. 66 108 50 110 186 100 28

61 Investments Rs. Crore 92056 160523 105266 288549 187186 133110 24566

62 Employments No. 781966 1996504 410842 284934 580161 1158001 83803

63 Total Generation Mu 4833 6389 12431 21985 47112 57476 59024

64 Total Consumption -do- 3187 5189 12182 17860 37202 54563 56737

65 Industrial Consumption -do- 2488 3864 5429 4882 8425 9900 10268

66 Agricultural Consumption -do- 179 384 4486 7350 12802 17285 17897

67 Domestic Consumption -do- 217 696 1803 3909 7893 9301 9843

68 Scheduled Commercial Banks No. 1190 2823 4245 4758 6291 6810 7361

69 Deposits Rs. Crore 369 2042 9665 55592 349009 4117243 4646394

70 Advances -do- 275 1524 7985 32984 253121 2912356 3315402

xviii

Education 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2010-11 2012-13 2013-14

Transport 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2010-11 2012-13 2013-14

Co-operation 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2009-10 2010-11 2012-13 2013-14

Local bodies 1990-91 2000-01 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2013-14

71 Primary Schools No. 32630 35143 40208 50340 59428 60036 60485

72 Enrolment '000s 4064 4974 6922 8581 7425 7428 7360

73 High Schools No. 2002 2381 5020 8928 13447 14194 14469

74 Enrolment '000s 483 713 1334 1955 2604 2634 2646

Health 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000-01 2010-11 2012-13 2013-14

75 Hospitals No. 195 233 293 297 382 389 399

76 Dispensaries -do- 791 1730 208e 847 659 659 661

77 Beds per lakh population -do- 89 94 104 105 112 99 78

Demographic Status 1970-71 1980-81 1990-91 2000 2009 2010 2011

78 Birth Rate '000s 31.7 28.3 26.9 22.2 19.5 19.2 18.8

79 Death Rate '000s 12.1 9.1 9.0 7.6 7.2 7.1 7.1

80 Infant Mortality Rate Per 1000 Live Births 69 69 77 58 41 38 35

81 Railway Route Length Kms. 2806 2875 3093 3172 3172 3172 3172

82 Total Road Length -do- 70383 109551 130924 154204 222431 230669 230690

83 Motor Vehicles '000s 123 400 1433 3691 9930 12063 13335

84 Primary Agricultural Credit

Co-Operative Societies No. 4871 4350 4388 4866 4914 5099 5238

85 Membership '000s 3692 4469 5245 9613 8992 8316 6085

86 Total No. of Co-operative Socities No. 23159 25083 29930 34927 35502 37469 38430

87 Total Membership '000s 8289 11800 16167 19904 21534 21811 21552

88 Zilla Parishat/Panchayat No. 20 27 27 29 29 30 30

89 Gram Panchayats -do- 2532f 5692 5628 5628 5628 5627 5631

90 Taluk Panchyats -do- 175 175 176 176 176 176 176

91 Municipalities and Corporations -do- 177 209 219 219 219 219 219

Source:

1. Statistical Abstract of Karnataka 1960-61, 1967-68, 1970-71, 1973-74, 1983-84, 1993-94, 2000-05, 2005-11. & 2011-12,

2. Karnataka at a Glance: 1961-62, 1970-71, 1980-81, 1990-91, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 & 2011-12, 2012-13,2013-14.

Note:* April-September.

a. Per Sq.Mile

b. Population aged 5 years and above

c. Population aged 7 years and above

d. Bales of 170 Kgs. In lint form

e. Excluding Allopathy dispensaries.

f. Mandal Panchayats.

P : Provisional NA: Not Available

# : Rs.in Millions

KARNATAKA COMPARED WITH INDIA

Sl. No. Item Unit Karnataka India

xix

Population as per 2011 Census:

1 Total '000s 61095 1210570

2 Males -do- 30967 623122

3 Females -do- 30128 587448

4 Rural Population -do- 37469 833463

5 % of Rural Population 61.3 68.8

6 Urban Population '000s 23626 377106

7 % of Urban Population 38.7 31.2

8 Sex Ratio 973 943

9 2001-2011 Decadal Growth of Population Percent 15.6 17.7

10 Literacy Rate Percent 75.40 73.00

11 Population of SC/ST (2011 population Census) '000s 14724 305659

12 Total Workers (2011 Census) -do- 27873 481743

13 Geographical Area (2011Census) Lakh Sq.Kms. 1.92 32.87

14 Net Area sown (2010-11) '000 ha. 10523 141579

15 Gross Cropped Area (2010-11) -do- 13062 198969

16 Gross Irrigated (2010-11) -do- 4279 89360

17 % of Gross Irrigated Area to Gross Cropped Area (2010-11) 32.76 44.91

Area under Principal Crops (2011-12) :

18 Paddy '000 ha. 1416 44006

19 Maize -do- 1349 8782

20 Jowar -do- 1142 6245

21 Wheat -do- 225 29865

22 Bajra -do- 286 8777

23 All Food Grains -do- 7425 124755

24 Total Pulses -do- 2303 24462

25 Sugarcane -do- 430 5038

26 Cotton -do- 554 12178

27 Groundnut -do- 677 5264

28 Total Livestock - 2007 '000s 30859 529698

29 Forest Area (2010-11) '000 ha. 3072 70006

30 Total Electricity Generation (2011-12) G.W.H 45448 922451

31 Total Electricity Consumption (2011-12) K.W.H 47455.8 672933.3

32 Electricity Consumption in Industries (2011-12) G.W.H 14067.72 240029.99

33 % of Industrial Consumption to Total Consumption 29.64 35.67

34 Banking Offices (March 2013) No. 7361 104647

State/Nation Income at Current Prices (2013-14) (F.R.E.), 2004-05 Series

35 Gross Income Rs.Crore 614607 10472807

36 Net Income -do- 546001 9299345

37 Gross per capita Income Rs. 100797 84938

38 Net Per capita Income -do- 89545 75420

P: Provisional FRE: First Reviced Estimates.

Females per 1000 Males

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