Category Archives: Green Initiatives / Environment

Karnangeri Betta In Madikeri To Be A Tourist Hub With Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All

ThimmakkaPark01KF03mar2020

Mysore/Mysuru:

In an effort to promote tourism and create an awareness about nature, the Forest Department is developing Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park at Karnangeri Betta in Madikeri at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh.

It may be recalled that former Forest Minister Ramanath Rai in the earlier Government had proposed to set up Tree Parks in each Assembly constituency. And now this project is inching closer to become a reality as construction of a view point, welcome arches and other amenities have already begun.

The said Tree Park is being built on 45 acres of forest area at Karnangeri Betta. Saplings of popular tree species including Tega (teak), Beete (Indian blackwood), Honne (Indian Kino), Rakta Chandan (Red sanders), Silver oak, numerous bamboo species, Hebbevu (Melia dubia), Hunase (Tamarind), Bilva (Indian bael), Ala (Banyan), Tapasi (Indian elm) and others are being planted in the tree park.

ThimmakkaPark02KF03mar2020

There will also be play area for children, butterfly park, watchtowers, seating arrangements, walking paths, separate toilets for men and women, drinking water facilities and other basic amenities for visitors of the park.

Besides, the Tree Park would also include a garden in which flowering plants will be cultivated. Four specially designed Pergolas will be an added attraction here. Also, a viewpoint being built on the top of the hills, will offer spell-binding views of nature’s spectacle around Madikeri city.

The Forest Department has already sent a proposal to the Government for sanctioning Rs. 25 lakh for this project. The visitors have to pay Rs. 10 as an entry fee to the Park, which in all likelihood will open by the end of this month.

The local residents here are a little apprehensive about this project. “Mandalapatti is a popular tourist spot in Madikeri. Environment is at the receiving end in the name of tourism here. Tourists visiting Mandalapatti are polluting this area by throwing plastic bottles and other waste all around. We are worried that Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park, being developed at Karnangeri Betta might also face similar issues. Stringent measures should be taken up to prevent tourists from polluting this serene environment,” say some of the residents.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by Prasad Sampigekatte / March 02nd, 2020

Information about Kariyappa Memorial Park in Hindi

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment

CariappaParkKF27feb2020

Cariappa Memorial Park is located in the middle of Bangalore city as a component of the Parade Grounds on M.G Road. The Cariappa Park was set up in 1996 as a memorial to Field Marshall K.M. Cariappa of Karnataka.

The park is laid out in a section of the parade grounds amid M.G. Road and Cubbon Road. The park stretches over 22 acres. It has six segments including an entry plaza and a 7 foot massive memorial of Cariappa. It is a very well maintained memorial Park in Bengaluru.

Man-Made Waterfall, Pond & the Bandstand
The park contains a big artificial waterfall. There is a pond that charms birds towards the park. Every fortnight, 6 military bands perform at the bandstand which is a grand lawn. The lush dunes surrounding the bandstand offer relaxed seating for the visitors. The patch is preserved by different segments of the Army.

Park’s Play Area
A play area has been systematically created in military-style. This is to enhance bodily strength and mental skills of kids. Sandpits, Tarzan-swing, Burma Bridge, zigzag tunnels, a spider web, and balance bars are also in this park.

Walker’s Path & Variety of Trees
A walker’s path which is 1.8 km long is tiled with cobblestones. There are home-grown and imported 3000 species of trees and plants. There are lots of bamboo trees too.

No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used for the growth or maintenance of the plants to encourage an eco-friendly approach.

Cariappa Memorial Park’s Timings
Cariappa Memorial Park can be visited by the public on Saturdays. The timings for visiting this memorial park are between 1 pm and 7 pm. On Sundays, it can be visited between 9 am and 7 pm. The rest of the days, it can be visited by the public between 5:30 pm and 8 pm.

‘Not Allowed’ Details
Snacks, drinks, and pets are strictly prohibited in the park.

Address Details
The Parade Ground amid M.G Road & Cubbon Park

Nagarathpete

Bengaluru

Pincode: 560009

Chief Details of the General Cariappa Memorial Park, Bengaluru
The main aspects of the General Cariappa Memorial Park, Bangalore are:

Main attractions: Play area, Military Theme activities

Entry Fees: Free

The time required: 2 Hours

Facility type: Outdoor

Is it a Picnic Spot: No, it is not a picnic spot.

Photography or video recording: Allowed

Food and water facility: Yes

Restrooms present: Yes

Parking Space Provided: Yes

source: http://www.newzsquare.com / Newz Square / Home> Education / by Sandra William / February 23rd, 2020

This Coorg resort is charging guests for wasting food

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

The Ibnii Spa and Resort in Coorg, Karnataka, weigh the food wasted by customers and makes them pay for it at the time of checkout.

The guests have to pay Rs 100 for every 10 gram of food wasted by them. | Image: Unsplash | Photo Credit: Representative Image
The guests have to pay Rs 100 for every 10 gram of food wasted by them. | Image: Unsplash | Photo Credit: Representative Image

Bengaluru:

Food waste is definitely not a good taste. A luxury resort in Karnataka came up with an ingenious way to decrease the wastage of food by its guests. The Ibnii Spa Resort started charging its customers for wasting food.

The resort which is located in the hills of Coorg, Karnataka, has come down from 14 waste bins to just one since the initiative was implemented.

The composting unit of the resort used to be overworked with 14 huge garbage bins of leftover food daily. The resort decided to decrease the quantity of waste by informing guests that they could place their orders any number of times.

However, when the wastage of food did not stop, the resort came up with the unique idea of making the guests pay for the food they ordered but did not eat.

How much do the guests pay for wasting food?
The idea was simple. At the end of every meal, all the leftover food is weighed on a weighing machine in front of the guests. At the time of checkout, the guests are told how much food they wasted during their stay. They have to pay Rs 100 for every 10 gram of food wasted by them. The amount is to be dropped in a donation box which goes to a not-for-profit organisation that feeds children at an orphanage in Madikeri.

How have the guests reacted to the initiative?
The initiative which was started six months ago has made a huge impact on the conscience of the guests. “We have seen a drastic decrease in the quantity of food waste. From fourteen waste bins every day, we now only need one,” Shreya Krishnan, CSR adviser at The Ibnii, told Deccan Chronicle. The guests have appreciated the resort’s efforts to reduce food wastage.

How much food do we waste?
One-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets lost or wasted, according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations.

Not only is wasting food doing wrong to the farmers who grow the crop and to the chefs who cook the dishes but it is also unfair to those people who can’t afford two meals in a day and impacts the environment too.

source: http://www.timesnownews.com / TimesNowNews.com / Home> News> Buzz / by Saumya Agrawal / February 21st, 2020

Visitors throng Raja Seat for flower fest on weekend

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
People dancing to the tune of the traditional ‘Kodava Valaga’, during the fruit and flower show at Raja Seat. DH Photo
People dancing to the tune of the traditional ‘Kodava Valaga’, during the fruit and flower show at Raja Seat. DH Photo

Hundreds of visitors thronged the Raja Seat in Madikeri on Saturday and Sunday, for the fruit and flower show.

The four-day-long fruit and flower show organised by the district administration and the department of horticulture, began on Friday.

On Sunday, the localities and tourists who gathered in the venue, danced to the tunes of traditional ‘Kodava Valaga’ during the cultural programmes organised by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy. ‘Arebhashe Kolata’ and ‘Sobhane Pada’ enthralled the audience.

Selfie zones set up at various parts of Raja Seat, were the centre of attraction among youth during the flower fest. Photo frames were designed with flowers for the purpose.

Open street

The police department restricted the movement of vehicles from M M Circle till Kundurumotte junction, from 6 pm to 10 pm on the evenings of the fruit and flower show. Raja Seat was made completely free from vehicular movements and the stalls featuring various snacks were opened on the road, reminding the ‘Open Street Festival’ organised during the Pravasi Utsav held in Kodagu last year. Traditional Kodava snacks were also sold in the stalls.

Students were provided with a chance to watch the fruit and flower show free of cost. A lot of students witnessed the show on Saturday and Sunday. Most of them were accompanied by their teachers.

The people also visited the stalls set by the departments of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and various other departments.

‘Mamateya Marukatte’

Various items such as children’s toys, unused clothes, stationery items, and electronic items in the working condition, were featured at ‘Mamateya Marukatte’ stall set up by Green City Forum and Madikeri City Municipal Council. The items were collected at Kaveri Kalakshetra.

The amount collected from the sale of these items were provided to the civic workers and stree shakti groups. Most of the items have been sold, said Satya, a member of Green City Forum.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 10th, 2020

Floral paradise recreated at Raja Seat; enthrals crowds

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Records, All

The annual fruit and flower show which began at Raja Seat in Madikeri on Friday has been attracting tourists and nature lovers in large numbers.

The traditional 'Ainmane' house made out of flowers, is the main attraction in the fruit and flower show in Raja Seat, Madikeri.
The traditional ‘Ainmane’ house made out of flowers, is the main attraction in the fruit and flower show in Raja Seat, Madikeri.

Artifacts featuring Virat Kohli, Wing Commander Abhinandan, Kuvempu, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Narendra Modi, B S Yediyurappa, A P J Abdul Kalam, Mahatma Gandhi, Siddaganga seer, Dr B R Ambedkar, Field Marshal K M Cariappa, General Thimmaiah and Pejavara seer— all carved out of watermelons, mesmerise visitors, at the entrance of Raja Seat.

6,000 flower pots

A total of 6,000 flower pots have been arranged in the park. Flowers exhibiting a wide spectrum of colours and species, arranged in artistic patterns, have been providing a visual treat.

Raja Seat, which had lost its sheen owing to lack of flower-bearing plants, is now wearing a refreshed look.

The main attraction, however, is the traditional ‘Ainmane’ (house), designed with lakhs of flowers. A lot of visitors were seen taking selfies in front of the Ainmane.

Rocket

The heart made out of roses, rocket launching station of ISRO, coffee pot and the cup, Mickey Mouse, Swami Vivekananda and other artefacts made out of flowers are making the people spellbound.

Cultural programmes will be held in the evenings, as a part of the fruit and the flower show. Food festival is being held in Gandhi Maidan. People have been relishing their taste buds with sugarcane juice from Mandya and other delicacies. Stalls have been put up by the Horticulture Department and private nurseries, featuring the sale of various flower-bearing plants.

MLA’s praise

Speaking after inaugurating the fruit and flower show, Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan called upon the people to come to Raja Seat in large numbers to see the show.

The show is being organised by the Department of Horticulture at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. Cultural programmes are being organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture and Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy said it has been a tradition to organise fruit and flower show in the month of January or February every year. The show will be on till Monday.MLC Veena Acchaiah, MLC Sunil Subramani, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat President B A Harish, Vice President Lokeshwari Gopal, Hopcoms President Biddatanda Ramesh Changappa and Horticulture department Deputy Director Chandrashekhar were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 07th, 2020

Flower show to be ‘plastic-free’

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy inspect
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy inspect

The event at Raja Seat in Madikeri will be held from February 7 to 10

This year’s flower show in the sprawling garden of Raja Seat in Madikeri from February 7 to 10 will be plastic-free. The organisers have banned visitors from carrying plastic inside the show, which is expected to attract a lot of locals and tourists.

The organisers have urged the visitors not to carry plastic carry bags and bottles.

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy on Wednesday inspected the arrangements for the show and later held a meeting with officials of the Departments of Horticulture and Tourism.

The Departments of Kannada and Culture, Kodava Sahitya Academy and other academies and cultural institutions will be presenting cultural shows on each day.

While the show is free for schoolchildren if they come wearing their uniform or with a letter issued by the heads of their schools, the entry fee for others would be ₹10, said Deputy Director of Horticulture Chandrashekar.

He requested the Police department to make arrangements for the parking of visitors’ vehicles and barricades at the venue.

Police Inspector K.B. Belliappa said temporary parking can be arranged at the old private bus-stand in view of the show from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and private buses can operate from the APMC premises until the flower show gets over.

Ms Joy told the officials to ensure convenience to the public and communicate information well in advance in case of changes in the arrangements.

Tourism officials urged the Deputy Commissioner to allow food stalls at the venue for the convenience of visitors.

The appeal was considered and those willing to set up food stalls will be getting space at the venue for free, a release said. Interested persons can call Tourism Department Assistant Director on 94480 04466 or 08272-228580 for information on establishing stalls and other details.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – February 05th, 2020

Flower Show At Raja’s Seat From Feb. 7

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

Kodava lifestyle, traditions to bloom

FlowershowKF31jan2020

Madikeri:

The Kodagu District Administration and the Department of Horticulture will conduct a Flower Show at Raja’s Seat in Madikeri from Feb. 7 to 10 in order to attract tourists, an official statement said. A special feature of the Flower Show will be the depiction of the lifestyle and traditions of Kodavas through floral replicas of “Kodagu Ainmane” or ancestral home.

According to the statement, this is to promote and create awareness of the lifestyle, culture and traditions of Kodavas to the present generation. Nearly 25 species of flowers and about 10,000 plants will be part of the show with floral decorations depicting the cultural facets of Kodagu.

Horticulture Department officials said the topiaries (practice of training perennial plants by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes, whether geometric or fanciful) will be brought for the festival.

In a bid to attract the children, floral statues depicting well-known personalities, will be created and serve as a selfie point for the visitors.

There will be cultural programmes in the evening on all the days of the Flower Show besides floral rangoli competition for women. Stalls will be put up for sale of handicraft items, the statement added.

As part of the Flower Show, thousands of flower pots are being arranged at Raja’s Seat. Flower pots and a large variety of flowers including African marigold, Celosia, Lady Lace, Gladiolus, Gerbera, Anthurium, Bird of Paradise, Carnations, Lilium, Tuberose, Orchids, Stasis, Chrysanthemum, and Limonium will attract visitors. Exclusive selfie spots will be created for tourists to click selfies and share on social media. Works are underway at Raja’s Seat.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 31st, 2020

NIE to host session on hill slope hydrology

Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

The National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysuru will be organising a three-day workshop on ‘Hillslope Hydrology and Field Research’ here from January 9 to 11.

The workshop is organised by the Department of Civil Engineering and sponsored under the grants of the World Bank-aided third phase of Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP).

The event proposes to popularise and promote field hydrological research and comprises a day’s lectures and two days of fieldwork in Kumaradhara field hydrological laboratory developed by NIE in Kodagu.

The Water Resources Centre of NIE has pioneered research in hydrology and has been carrying out field investigations in the experimental watersheds it has developed in the districts of Kodagu and Hassan for over two decades in the Western Ghat region of Karnataka, according to a press release.

“Relative to the other fields of science, hydrology is a new field of learning and is unexplored. Knowledge about many hydrological processes in wet and hill slope areas was little and a lot remains to be learnt on the field. The workshop provides enthusiasts with a platform to learn and research,” the release added.

The teaching faculty of Civil Engineering, PG students of Water Resources and research scholars in the field and professionals working in the water sector can participate in the workshop.

For registration, call the workshop coordinators R.Y. Putty (98802 55920), Y. Javeed (99860 62198) or Chandramouli (94487 73056).

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – January 07th, 2020

A Father Figure Of Forest’s Flora And Fauna

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Records, All

KodavaForesterKF22dec2019

Title : An Autobiography of a Kodava Forester
Author : Dr. Kodira Achappa Kushalapa, IFS (Retd.)
Pages : 228
Price : Rs. 200
Year : 2019
Publisher : Dr. K.A. Kushalapa, Mysuru.

In the film of 90 minutes duration, titled “Beautiful people: Some call them animals,” a comic allegory produced in 1974, focussing on various animals that live in arid desert environment of Africa by Jamie Uys, humorously draws parallels between animal and human behaviour. Dr. K.A. Kushalapa can vouch for the message in the film that the denizens of the forest are indeed beautiful people in a wide sense of the term, having shouldered the arduous duties of conserving India’s forests, steadily shrinking as a percentage of the total geographical area of the country. His empathy for the denizens and concern for enduring the flora have not witnessed even an iota of diminishing to this day despite retiring from an illustrious service for long years as a professional forester. Circle for Mysuru’s intelligentsia and senior citizens who have known him can testify to the vast knowledge of the author about A to Z of forest and its importance of vital role in sustaining the balance between human beings and other species on earth.

The narrative divided into 16 chapters, each with a caption indicative of specific aspects of the author’s early life and landmark events relating to his professional career culminating in his elevation to the highest post in the Department of Forest in the State Government.

Writing about Dr. Kushal-apa, in his foreword, Man-depanda K. Appayya, former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Karnataka, has expressed his admiration of the author’s noble qualities of head and heart, that earned him respect, recognition and rewards by his achievements both academic and professional.

The events of the author’s childhood and in later stages presented in all humility and graphic details trigger in the minds of readers what a person can achieve by being stoic and steadfast along with the support of family members, as revealed by the author himself in his preface. The trials and tribulations that he has encountered at different periods of life but overcome with courage and hope sound poignant. His life’s saga belies the myth of Kodavas as a community of only planters and warriors, by emerging as a star among them in the world of academics also. The 128 published papers listed in the book’s Chapter 14, 10 abstracts of technical papers and 10 titles of social articles listed in Chapter 15 give the readers an insight into Dr. Kushalapa’s deep interest in enlightening the lay people dispelling their utter lack of knowledge about forests.

Dr. Kushalapa has thought-fully included 69 photographs, many in colour, with images of his family members as well as people who were his colleagues, showing him as an impeccable handsome person. If his dream of generating in Kodava youth the desire to spread out into various areas of challenge by pursuing professions outside the ambit of restricted areas for which Kodavas are known, is fulfilled, the author’s autobiography gets full worth of the work of writing and publishing. The proceeds of the sale of the publication is meant to be utilised for philanthropic cause. —BRS

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / December 22nd, 2019

Running closer to nature

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All, Sports

This year, the marathon was completely eco-friendly and trash-free, with water being served in coconut shells, food in banana leaves and plates made out of areca leaves.

Nikki Ponnappa (left) along with Milind Soman (in grey) and members of The Coorg Wellness Foundation
Nikki Ponnappa (left) along with Milind Soman (in grey) and members of The Coorg Wellness Foundation

Bengaluru :

Bengaluru-based golfer Cheppudira Nikki Ponnappa can never decide what she is passionate about more – her love for sports or working towards saving the ecology of her hometown, Kodagu. The international-level golfer recently arranged the fifth edition of Barefoot Marathon, which happened on Sunday in Kodagu. The marathon was an initiative by her organisation, The Coorg Wellness Foundation, in association with avid marathon runner and her friend, Milind Soman.

This year, the marathon was completely eco-friendly and trash-free, with water being served in coconut shells, food in banana leaves and plates made out of areca leaves. The warm-up exercise before most marathons is usually Zumba, but keeping up with local traditions, Valaga music, which is traditional Kodava music, pumped up the participants. The highest prize being `42,000 for 42 km, the marathon had some interesting rules for the prizes that were distributed.

The cash prize went to runners from the neighbourhood area, while the non-local runners got to bring home produce by local farmers, which included rice, coffee, spices etc. All the funds collected from this event will go towards betterment of the families who lost everything in the landslide that hit Coorg in 2018.

More than 400 people participated in this marathon. Ponnappa says the main objective of the run was to bring people closer to nature. “When you run barefoot and feel the soil, it makes you feel closer to Mother Nature. Barefoot is a symbolic way to do something auspicious, plus it has lot of scientific benefits too. We have many nerve points in our feet and these runs work wonders for them.

It was great to see so many people travelling to Coorg, especially from Bengaluru, to participate in this marathon,” says Ponnappa, who was first introduced to golf at the age of 14-15 by her father, who was then serving in the Indian Army. She is also a certified coach and a social activist. Ponnappa’s organisation, the Coorg Wellness Foundation, which was set up in 2014, works towards the development of the people of Kodagu and its eco-system. Along with free education and boarding, they also provide training to join the Army.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Monika Monalisa / Express News Service / December 10th, 2019