MLA unhappy about work on Govt Ayurveda Hospital

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan expressed his dissatisfaction over work on the newly constructed Government Ayurveda and Homeopathy Integrated Hospital, built at a cost of Rs 60 lakh, at B G S Circle in the new taluk centre, Kushalnagar.

He inaugurated the building during a programme organised by Kodagu Zilla Panchayat and the department of Ayush on Monday.

Inspecting the work on the building, Appachu Ranjan vented his ire against the contractor and said that the hospital was not constructed as per the proposed plan.

“The wheelchair ramp meant for specially-abled people and for patients, at the entrance of the hospital, is built unscientifically. The staircase, toilet and bathroom fittings are of poor quality,” the MLA noted and took ZP assistant engineer Fayaz and contractors Mahesh, Prakash and Manjunath to task.

The ramp and the staircases should be set right immediately, he added.

“There is no use of having old fashioned structures. The hospital should have modern facilities,” the MLA said and directed the engineer and contractors to incorporate the necessary changes in the building.

Zilla Panchayat member K P Chandrakala said that the building work was done in a hurry and is not according to the plan. She too pointed out that the ramp and the staircase are unscientific and urged those concerned to demolish the existing ramp and the staircase and build new ones.

The ZP member also demanded action against the engineer and the contractors.

Speaking to the reporters, Appachu Ranjan said that the new hospital building is constructed at a cost of Rs 60 lakh. But, the work is not carried out properly.

The official and the contractors have been taken to task. Directions have been issued in this regard. The hospital is built to cater to the needs of the people in the surrounding villages, he said.

Stating that the second wave of Covid-19 has crept in, he asked the people to be more cautious. Everyone should follow the norms such as wearing masks and following social distancing.

Somwarpet Taluk Panchayat president Pushpa Rajesh, vice president Abhimanyu Kumar, ZP member K R Manjula, Town Panchayat president B Jayavardhan and vice president Surayya Banu were present, among others.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Kushalnagar / April 05th, 2021

No total ban on tourism: Kodagu DC

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal on Monday clarified that no blanket ban on tourism has been imposed in Kodagu and only tourist destinations had been closed till April 20 in view of many holidays in the ensuing days which could result in larger turnout of travellers.

Resorts, hotels and homestays can function as usual taking all necessary precautions. The hospitality sector has been permitted to operate, complying with the COVID-19 appropriate practices of wearing face masks, sanitisation and social distancing. “There is no blanket ban on tourism,” she clarified.

Ms .Somal said the decision on closing down tourist sites had been taken in the interest of public health safety. “The district administration is thankful to everyone for their support and cooperation,” she added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – April 05th, 2021

Kodagu On Canvas: 3-Day Art Camp Held

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Madikeri: 

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Kodagu Kendra, in association with Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy, had organised a three-day art camp in city which concluded on Sunday. The camp provided a platform to both professional and upcoming artists to depict the beautiful city of Kodagu on canvas through watercolour painting.

Artists S. Madhusudan (Chamarajanagar), Santosh Mala (Udupi), Priyadarshini Shahapur (Bagalkot), Krishnaveni (Ballari), Boraiah (Davanagere), Vansanthkumar (Hassan), Dr. Appa Saheb Ganigera (Bengaluru), Arathi (Vijayapura) and Praveen Kumar (Mysuru) participated in the three-day art camp.

Speaking on the occasion, art camp organiser, a member of BVB Bengaluru, Bharatanatyam dancer Nagalakshmi Rao said, “Most of the artists were facing financial crisis due to the pandemic and lockdown. We didn’t want COVID blues to dampen their spirits. Hence, BVB Kodagu Kendra in association with Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy, had organised this three-day art camp. The scenic landscape of Kodagu as well as portraits of Kodavas have been wonderfully sketched in watercolours on canvas. Our intent was to provide a platform for these artists to present their narratives. This would certainly inspire more and more artists to come and visit Kodagu in the coming days.”

BVB Kodagu Kendra Gen. Secretary Balaji Kashyap stated that they were very happy to organise such a programme after a gap of many years in Kodagu. “Due to the pandemic, we had to take all necessary precautions.

During the three-day art camp, we took the artists to different parts of the city.

Special thanks to Kodagu artist Imanda Roopesh Nanaiah who was also the Convenor of this camp for helping us and successfully organising this event.”

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 06th, 2021

Harshika Poonacha is seen in a Radha avatar in her Bhojpuri debut film poster

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Harshika Poonacha is seen in a Radha avatar in her Bhojpuri debut film poster | Kannada Movie News - Times of India

Actress Harshika Poonacha, after doing films in various South Indian languages including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam, is all set to head northwards and is gearing up for the release of her first Bhojpuri film. The actress shared with us the first look of her film Hum Hain Raahi Pyaar Ke through a poster. The poster sees Harshika posing alongside Bhojpuri cinema’s much loved Power Star Pawan Singh. The actress shot for this film in London around November last year. The actress already has bagged more films in Bhojpuri too and has earned herself the title Smiling Queen in the film industry.

Earlier, in an interview with Bangalore Times , when she was shooting for the film in London, had said, “”Yes, I am shooting for my maiden Bhojpuri film here in London. I will be acting alongside Pawan Singh, while the film will be directed by Premanshu Singh, who has helmed some of the biggest hits in recent years.”

Harshika’s work seems to have impressed makers in Bhojpuri industry, who have already signed her on for two more films. The actress says that her debut is slated to hit the screens this summer and she will begin shooting for her next two films in Bhojpuri after the release of her debut film. The actress also has signed on two romantic dramas in Kannada cinema and she is slated to begin work on these shortly too. It looks like 2021 will be a busy year for the actress.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / by TNN / April 08th, 2021

Cricketer Robin Uthappa conferred with IIM Kozhikode National Excellence Award

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports

Kozhikode, Apr 8 (PTI): Cricketer Robin Uthappa was on Thursday presented with the National Excellence award instituted by IIM-Kozhikode for his contribution in the field of cricket.

This is the 3rd edition of the award, presented annually to eminent personalities for their contribution to the world of sports, and to commemorate IIMK”s iconic Calicut Half Marathon which is now into its 12th year.

The event, which is going completely virtual for the first time is scheduled to be held from April 9-11, according to a IIM-K release.

Presenting the award, IIM-K Director Prof. Debashis Chatterjee recounted Uthappa”s contribution to the game of cricket and how he ably carried his team forward by demonstrating resilience, focus and determination – a quality that resonates with the legend of Arjuna.

Traits like Focus, Flexibility and Freedom were the idea behind constituting this national award, he said and recalled the iconic moment when Uthappa tipped his cap and saluted the crowd after hitting the stumps in In India”s famous bowl-out win over arch-rivals Pakistan in 2007 T20 World Cup, as one of the most memorable events in the game of cricket, an IIM-K release said.

Paralympian and Arjuna Awardee Dr Deepa Malik and Babita Kumari Phogat, renowned wrestler are the previous winners of the award, instituted two years ago.

Uthappa expressed gratitude about his debut and relived the days when he shared the stage with cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag among other Indian cricket legends.

Sharing with the IIM-K community the importance of not giving up, especially when the chips are down, he said one should always have self-belief in taking challenges head-on one step at a time, in order to achieve their goals.

Calicut Half Marathon is the largest student-driven marathon organised every year for the past 11 years.

The marathon aims in contributing towards different social issues that can bring a phenomenal change when assimilated together.

It is this belief that the students of IIM Kozhikode wish to encourage and promote through the marathon.

IIM-Kozhikode Calicut Half Marathon in its 12th edition is bringing the theme ”Better Together United Despite Distances,” the release added.

source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> The News Scroll / PTI / April 08th, 2021

ITF men’s tennis tournament: Niki Poonacha caps dream run with trophy

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Niki Poonacha, who had won the National championship in 2019, beat fourth seed Oliver Crawford of the US 6-3, 7-6 (5) at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Sunday.

Champion Niki Poonacha in the ITF men's tennis tournament in Delhi on Sunday.
Champion Niki Poonacha in the ITF men’s tennis tournament in Delhi on Sunday.

Where there’s a will there is a way. Former national champion Niki Poonacha had a fairy tale finish to his dream run in the $15,000 ITF men’s tennis tournament as he beat fourth seed Oliver Crawford of the US 6-3, 7-6(5) at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Sunday.

“I am very happy with this trophy. I had no expectations coming into the tournament. I had retired in the last tournament in Pune with a wrist injury. My hope was to stay pain free,” said the 25-year-old Niki, after his second victory in the professional tour.

Niki had won his first title as a qualifier in Indonesia in 2018. He won the National championship in 2019. During the pandemic, he had tried to stay fit, training at the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy in Bengaluru.

“I haven’t had good results in the last six weeks. Once I started winning here, I kept my focus to one match at a time, playing without any expectations,” said Niki.

He was treated by physio Anand Dubey right through the tournament. Even though the pain had gone away, there was heavy taping on his forearm as a precautionary measure.

Even though Niki served big and stroked with purpose, there was no doubt that Crawford who had won the title last week in Pune, was woefully off colour, quite uncharacteristically, on the important points.

For three weeks in Egypt, followed by the three events in the country in Lucknow, Indore and Pune, Niki had failed to win a match.

Once he settled into his groove with the wins over Nishant Dabas, Filip Bergevi of Sweden and Lorenzo Bocchi of Italy, luck smiled, as his semifinal opponent Dalibor Svrcina of the Czech Republic gave a walkover on medical grounds.

In the final, the twist to the tale came in the ninth game of the second set, when facing three set points at 3-5, 0-40, Niki managed to hold serve with one of his six aces in the match. In the tie-break, Crawford led 4-2 and the only point the American won of the next six, was through a double fault by Niki.

Niki converted all the three break points he forced and saved four of five break points that he faced in the match.

After Zane Khan of the US had won the first two tournaments in the current circuit, and Crawford beat Zane in the final in Indore, it was a welcome sight for the home fans to have an Indian champion in singles.

“I will train for three weeks in the academy and then plan my next series of tournaments’’, said Niki.

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / SportStar / Home> Tennis / New Delhi – April 04th, 2021

Pepper comes to coffee growers’ rescue

Agriculture, Business & Economy

Higher prices of the spice help offset lower returns from the bean

For coffee growers battling a drop in bean prices following weak global demand, the pepper that they grow as an inter-crop is coming to their rescue.

Of late, pepper prices have gained by at least 10 per cent on firm demand even as the harvest is in progress in the key producing regions of the Western Ghats.

According to the Spices Board, garbled pepper was quoted at ₹388 a kg on Tuesday against ₹380 on March 20 and ₹345.17 a month before that.

Globally, Indian pepper is quoted at a premium of $5,275 a tonne compared with the spice from other origins such as Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia. Prices of other origins are ruling at $4,000 and below a tonne.

KK Vishwanath, Co-ordinator of the Consortium of Pepper Growers Organisation in Kodagu, said the Centre’s move to strictly implement the import norms is aiding the rise in domestic prices.

The Centre has taken several measures such as fixing a minimum import price of ₹500 a kg, including cost, insurance and freight.

While the pepper prices are higher by 10-12 per cent, coffee prices are trending lower to the same extent. The higher prices is helping those coffee growers, who also grow the spices crop meet their cash flow requirement, Vishwanath said.

Pepper is largely cultivated as an inter-crop with coffee and arecanut in parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the main producers of the spices crop.

Demand for pepper continues to be firm in the short term, as end users such as masala manufacturers and ready-to-eat food producing firms have started procurement, said Kishor Shamji, general convenor, Indian Pepper Spice Traders Growers and Planters Consortium, Kerala chapter.

The commencement of wedding season in North India has also led to a demand revival. However, the local demand in Maharashtra has slowed down in the last fortnight following the re-imposition of Covid restrictions, Shamji said.

In Karnataka, the harvest is still going on though some regions in Kodagu and Chikkamagalur have faced the impact of erratic weather.

“The crop still being picked, will need to wait a bit before we get clearer assessment on the crop size. Lot of vines damaged last 3-4 years due to wilt and weather conditions,” said Jeffrey Rebello, Chairman of UPASI Coffee Committee. Pepper growers are also facing a major challenge in harvesting the crop due to acute shortage of skilled labour, said S Appadurai, Chairman, Karnataka Planters’ Association. Pepper crop is reported to be good in parts on North Kodagu, Hassan and Sakleshpur, he said.

Lower crop size

The plantation sector depends on migrant labour for the harvest. With States such as Tamil Nadu and Assam going for elections, the labourers have gone back to their native places to cast their votes, planters said.

On the crop size, Shamji said the Idukki farmers’ reports of a lower 2021 crop size has turned out to be prophetic as the sector is estimating a crop of 50,000-55,000 tonnes compared to 60,000-65,000 tonnes last year. Delayed rains in December coupled with strong winds in the growing regions in 2020 resulted in washing off and scattering of berries from pepper wines.

The delayed harvest — which started in December-January in Kerala’s Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta districts — was over. Normally, the harvest in these regions is carried out in November-December. The crop in Wayanad is also reported smaller, but the harvest is still on. In Karnataka, it started from mid-March.

But the Kerala pepper market missed the Sabarimala pilgrim season last year due to Covid restrictions. Normally, pepper sale during the season is between 3,000 and 5,000 tonnes, he said

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> AgriBusiness / by V Sajeev Kumar / Bengaluru-Kochi / March 30th, 2021

Kodava Samaja Remembers General K.S. Thimayya

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Marking the 115th birth anniversary of General K.S. Thimayya, Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, had organised a simple function at its premises in Vijayanagar 1st Stage here this morning.

Office-bearers of the Samaja offered floral tributes to the portrait of Gen. Thimayya. Samaja President Kekada M. Belliappa, Vice-President Mechanda M. Ponnappa, Secretary Malachira M. Ponnappa, Treasurer Mukkatira B. Jeevan, Joint Secretary Padiyanda Vimala Poonacha and former Presidents of the Samaja were among those present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / March 31st, 2021

Kodagu girl wins the UN H2021 Water Summit storytelling competition

Amazing Feats, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, World Opinion

During the lockdown situation, when the world took the virtual path, Yashmi was introduced to the UN Ocean Decade Summit and she took part in the virtual programs conducted by the initiative.

Manavattira Yashmi Dechamma

Madikeri :

“The earth is already in a bad state and it will be inherited by us tomorrow. We want to breathe the same pristine air that our grandparents breathed,” shared Manavattira Yashmi Dechamma, a ninth-grade student who has been selected for the UN Ocean Decade Summit to be hosted in Hawaii soon.

Yashmi earned this opportunity after her video documentary on the theme ‘Water is sacred’ won the H2021 Water Summit storytelling contest in the 13-17 age group category.

A native of Nelaji village in Kodagu, Yashmi is currently pursuing her studies in Acharya Vidya Kula in Mysuru.

During the lockdown situation, when the world took the virtual path, Yashmi was introduced to the UN Ocean Decade Summit and she took part in the virtual programs conducted by the initiative.

“While I was aware of climate change, I learnt from speakers all across the globe about what climate change did to the earth. I knew that the earth was in danger. But I obtained clarity on the growing problem after attending the virtual summit,” shared Yashmi.

She was then introduced to the H2021 Water Summit where she attended virtual sessions for four consecutive weekends and it is here she learnt about the storytelling competition.

“Each session was based on a particular theme. The theme ‘Water is sacred’ was close to me as I am from the Kodava community and we worship River Cauvery,” she shared. Yashmi visited Kodagu and shot some beautiful captures of River Cauvery.

With a Kodava song playing in the background of the video, she has highlighted the sorry state of the river today – which has become a victim of pollution.

The video then moves to highlighting the efforts from the youngsters in reviving the river and the documentary ends with a strong message ‘Let us heal her (River Cauvery) and not fix her’.

“I have heard my mother explain the beauty of Kodagu that existed during her childhood times. The district witnessed heavy rainfall then too. However, it is only now that the incessant rainfall is causing destruction and damage. The summits I attended helped amplify my voice and I shot the video with the support from my cousin Bhuvana Nanaiah and her father Nanaiah,” explained Yashmi.  

Daughter of Manavattira Kushalappa and Nalini, Yashmi looks forward to strengthening the Youth Advisory Council in the country and has written to the concerned about her vision for a better future.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prajna GR / Express News Service / March 31st, 2021

Coffee waste can boost forest recovery: Study

Coffee News, World Opinion

New York :

 Coffee pulp, a waste product of coffee production, could be used to speed up tropical forest recovery on post agricultural land, suggests a new study.

In the study published in the journal ‘Ecological Solutions and Evidence’, the team spread 30 dump truck loads of coffee pulp on a 35-40m area of degraded land and marked out a similar sized area without coffee pulp as a control.

“The results were dramatic”, said lead researcher Rebecca Cole from the University of Hawai’i in the US.

“The area treated with a thick layer of coffee pulp turned into a small forest in only two years while the control plot remained dominated by non-native pasture grasses,” Cole added.

After only two years, the coffee pulp treated area had 80 per cent canopy cover compared to 20 per cent in the control area. The canopy in the coffee pulp area was also four times taller than that of the control area.

The addition of the half metre thick layer of coffee pulp eliminated the invasive pasture grasses which dominated the land.

These grasses are often a barrier to forest succession and their removal allowed native and pioneer tree species, that arrived as seeds through wind and animal dispersal, to recolonise the area quickly.

The researchers also found that after two years, nutrients, including carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous, were significantly elevated in the coffee pulp treated area compared to the control.

For the study, the researchers analysed soil samples for nutrients immediately prior to the application of the coffee pulp and again two years later.

They also recorded the species present, the size of woody stems, percentage of forest ground cover and used drones to record canopy cover.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Health / by IANS / March 29th, 2021