Calamity-hit Kodagu pins high hopes on state budget

Business & Economy, Leaders
A house that was damaged in the flood in 2019 in Kodagu district.
A house that was damaged in the flood in 2019 in Kodagu district.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will present State Budget on March 5 and the people in Kodagu are expecting a bonanza for the district.

During the coalition government in the state, the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy had announced a few proposals to the coffee land and thereby had tried to win the hearts of the people.

The two BJP MLAs from the district have already submitted a list of basic facilities that require grant in the budget. The district requires a special package to rebuild the lives of natural calamity victims.

The district was hit by natural calamity in 2018 and also in 2019. Only 33 victims of heavy rain in 2018 have received houses. The rain victims of last year, who are still waiting for sites, are in the doldrums. The natural calamity victims are are expecting a few projects for their welfare in the budget.

In the pre-budget consultation meeting, coffee growers had impressed upon the chief minister on the need to solve their problems. They have demanded free electricity for pumpsets up to 10hp, complete waiver of loans borrowed by coffee growers, compensation for damage to coffee plantations hit by landslides and so on. The growers are expecting the fulfillment of at least a few demands in the budget.

Further, 35,000 labourers, who are working in coffee plantations, are shelterless in the district. The shelterless at Balagodu are already staging a protest demanding a roof over their head. The labourers are expecting announcement on providing either house or site in the budget.

The natural calamity that hit the district has also badly affected tourism in the region. The budget is expected to announce new projects to give a fillip to the tourism. There are possibilities of announcing Cauvery rejuvenation programme and river bank protection projects in the budget.

“New taluks of Kushalnagar and Ponnampet have not received any benefits. We have appealed to the government to announce grants for development works in the newly carved taluks,” activists of taluk associations said.

In 2018-19 budget, Siddaramaiah had announced promotion of cultivation of exotic fruits like Passion fruit, Rambutan, Durian, Dragon, Licchi, Butterfruit, Strawberry, Custard Apple and others, which has not been materialised so far.

Seeking additional grants, MLA K G Bopaiah has written a letter to the chief minister. The MLA has sought Rs 100-crore special package for the development of roads in the district.

Bopaiah has also sought Rs 1 cr for construction of outdoor stadium at Gonikoppa, Rs 1 cr for sports meets, Rs 25 crore for laying fences made out of train tracks, Rs 15 crore for the construction of Bhavans (community halls) of Kodava, Arebhashe, Okkaliga Billava, Bunts and other communities and free electricity for growers using pumpsets up to 10hp.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DHNS, Madikeri / February 25th, 2020

Kodava Samaja

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Screening of ‘Baava Battel,’ the first-ever experimental short-film in Kodava language [Produced by Manavattira Sangeeth Erappa and Directed by Manduvanda Prajwal Ganapathy], Kodava Samaja premises, Vijayanagar 1st Stage, 11 am, 12.30 pm, 2 pm, 3.30 pm, 5 pm, 6.30 pm and 8 pm [7 shows].

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Events> Events Tomorrow / February 22nd, 2020

‘Introduce Arebhashe culture among schoolchildren’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg
Women offer coconut oil to the earth as a part of 'Keddasa' ritual.
Women offer coconut oil to the earth as a part of ‘Keddasa’ ritual.

The culture and tradition of Arebhashe should be introduced among children during their schooling, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat President B A Harish said.

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Arebhashe Siri Samskrithi and Keddasa Gauji Samskrithika Jambara’ organised by Karnataka Arebhashe Samskrithi and Sahitya Academy, in association with Bhagawan Sangha-Urubailu and Swami Vivekananda Yuvaka Mandala, at Government Primary School in Koodadka near Chembu village on Sunday.

Harish said that the land was considered to be divine and the custom of offering coconut oil to land is observed as a part of Keddasa ritual. “Such customs signify the importance of nature and therefore, it should be passed on to future generations,” he added.

Karnataka Arebhashe Samskrithi and Sahitya Academy President Lakshminarayana Kajegadde expressed his concern over the poor use of Arebhashe language.

Folklore scholar Sundar Kenaje said that on the day of Keddasa, the eldest daughter of the house offers coconut oil to the earth and performs pooja. Similar customs are practiced across coastal districts, he said.

Intellects Hosur Chandrashekhar and Sheelavathi spoke on various rituals practiced as part of Arebhashe culture.

Cultural programmes were held on the occasion.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Ashwani Kumar NKR / DHNS, Madikeri / February 16th, 2020

Maha Shivaratri observed with religious fervour across Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Devotees waiting in a queue for the ‘darshana’ of presiding deity at Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri on Friday. DH Photo
Devotees waiting in a queue for the ‘darshana’ of presiding deity at Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri on Friday. DH Photo

Maha Shivaratri was observed with religious fervour across Kodagu district on Friday. Special puja rituals were observed in Shiva temples in the district.

There was a festive spirit in temples at Somwarpet, Kushalnagar and Shanivarasanthe.

Special puja was held at Omkareshwara Temple since 6 am. Later, ‘Rudra homa’, ‘Mahamangalarati’, ‘Bilvapatra archane’ and other rituals were held.

Sea of devotees visited Omkareshwara Temple, Prajapita Brahmakumaris Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya, Veerabhadramuneeshwara, Kundoorumotte Chowdeshwari, Rajarajeshwari and other temples. Temples were decked with leaf buntings and flowers on account of Shivaratri.

Devotees offered ‘abhisheka’ of milk, water, ghee, honey, tender coconut water and flowers to Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Karnangeri. A special puja was offered to 52-feet tall Lord Shiva statue.

A shivalinga using conch were prepared at Muneeshwara Temple at Madikeri on account of Maha Shivaratri. A total of 5555 conches were used for the purpose. For the last years, the temple authorities have been preparing a shivalinga using betel leaves and arecanut. This year, a shivalinga made using conch was the centre of attraction at the temple.

‘Mahaganapathi homa’, ‘Veerabhadra utsava murthy shobhayatre’ was held at Muneeshwara Temple.

The shobhayatre passed through Ganapathi beedi, Bannimantapa, Mahadevapete, private bus stand, Junior college road before reaching the temple. After mahapuja, meals were served to the devotees. Special puja will be held at 6 pm on Saturday, said temple committee members.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 21st, 2020

The Tamara Coorg: A bounty of history and nature

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

The Tamara Coorg in Karnataka is a byword for sustainability, which boasts a magical landscape that melds an ancient forest with tales of a martial race.

The Tamara Coorg is ringed by nature in all its bounty
The Tamara Coorg is ringed by nature in all its bounty

As the veil of mist lifts over the Western Ghats of Karnataka, a panorama unfolds. Rows on rows of coffee bushes, their leaves a lush velvet green, the ruby-red orbs produced here yield the heady Arabica brew.

The Tamara Coorg is ringed by a capillary of streams, creepers of perfumed spices, pepper vines and tropical fruit trees.

Blending into this forested landscape are the unique cottage-style villas built on stilts propped up on the plantation’s terraced rows.

A byword for sustainability, the cottages are forest and land continuum. Crafted out of roughly finished logs of wood, they are an extension of the wilderness.

Calm, meditative and a bit rough around the edges, the private sundecks with a 180-degree view of the valley allow you to seamlessly connect with nature and its rhythms even as the cloud-cloaked hills form grey specks in the horizon.

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It’s a magical landscape, one that melds an ancient forest with the history of a martial race, the Kodavas.

Inside The Tamara, expect a visceral avian experience of the Western Ghats, featuring the Malabar Grey Hornbill, the Scarlet Minivet, the Grey Wagtail and their other feathered friends.

This lush haven of fauna can be punctuated with tranquil coffee drinking sessions, where the perfect cuppa is miles away from jostling cafes and their prohibitively expensive caffeine fixes.

Instead, Blossom to Brew is a customised coffee brewing session organised by the resort, where enthusiasts can sort their favourite coffee beans, make the desired blend, roast it to specifications and grind them manually.

Coorg is, however, not all plantation terrain with a soundtrack of crickets and rainfall. History buffs will get their fix at the Nalknad Palace, which was built between 1792 and 1794 AD, and is hemmed in by the tiny hamlet of Yavakapadi.

The history of Nalknad is, at its heart, a narrative of political intrigue between diverse Indian states and empires in colonial India. The palace itself was the final shelter of the last of the Haleri kings of Kodagu, Chikka Veerarajendra, who was exiled to Varanasi by the British.

The two-storeyed palace, built by the exiled king’s ancestor Dodda Veerarajendra, is a fantasy of highly decorated wooden pillars, windows and doorjambs.

Steps to the main door of the palace come appointed with elephant balustrades, while the Durbar Hall offers a royal welcome by way of 18th and 19th-century paintings.

Coorg effortlessly manages to bundle the twin experiences of history and nature. With the caressing sound of raindrops on coffee bushes, the past lurks in the nooks and corners of this lush landscape.

The Madikeri Fort, right in the heart of its namesake town, is such a portal to history. Some of its elevated structures help you see the city skyline in new and interesting ways.

Built in the later part of the 17th century by Muddu Raja, the then king of Coorg, the fort, though crumbling and overrun with creepers now, boasts of a unique character.

Once believed to be made of mud during the reign of the Kodagu Rajas, it was later re-constructed using granite masonry and laterite blocks after being captured by Tipu Sultan.

Today, the fort premises are home to the Madikeri Deputy Commissioner’s Office. Below the fort ramparts Madikeri hums along, with its chaotic traffic, independent businesses and throngs of spice and chocolate shops.

Even everyday Coorg is a balm to the restless soul.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by Susmita Saha / February 16th, 2020

Road Projects On Track: MP

Business & Economy, Records, All

KushalnagarKF25feb2020

– Land acquisition for Mysuru-Kushalnagar Economic Corridor from next month
– Mysuru-Bengaluru 10-lane Highway will be completed in 24 months from now

Mysore/Mysuru:

Land acquisition for the Mysuru-Kushalnagar Economic Corridor Expressway Project from Paschimavahini in Mysuru till Kushalnagar in Kodagu along the existing Mysuru-Madikeri National Highway (NH)-275 will begin next month, said Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha.

Addressing a press conference at Pathrakarthara Bhavan in city this morning, the MP said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had approved the project long back and after necessary ground work, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has prepared the land alignment and land required for the project.

The road has a design length of 93 kilometres and bypasses have been proposed having an aggregate length of 84 kilometres at Kushalnagar, Periyapatna, and combined bypass for Hunsur, Bilikere and Mysuru. It is a four-lane corridor that directly connects Bengaluru with Madikeri, bypassing Mysuru. The 115 km-long Expressway costing Rs. 6,000 crore is a centrally-funded project and is executed by NHAI.

The Expressway will connect Madikeri with Bengaluru bypassing Suntikoppa, Kushalnagar, Periyapatna, Hunsur and even Mysuru city by touching the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway (which is getting converted into a 10-lane Highway) at Paschimavahini near Srirangapatna. The Expressway will have a road median and the alignment for the new corridor has been done. The Expressway will reduce the journey time between Madikeri and Bengaluru to five hours from existing seven hours.

The MP said that the existing four-lane road between Mysuru and Madikeri (NH-275) has reached a saturation point and there is an urgent need to build a separate road. Travelling on the existing Highway is a nightmarish experience especially during weekends and holidays when thousands of vehicles move between Mysuru and Madikeri, a hill station, he added.

“It will be a 14-metre wide road. Rs.6,000 crore has been set aside for land acquisition only and the project will use 25 percent of the existing roads, 40 percent Government land and the remaining 45 percent land will be purchased from private parties. A dedicated office for land acquisition ‘Special Land Acquisition Officer and Competent Authority (Mysuru-Madikeri Section) NH-275’ has been set up at No.984, First Floor, Geetha Road, Chamarajapuram, in city,” he added.

10-lane Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway

On the 118-km Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway that is being upgraded to a 10-lane highway including four service roads on either sides of the six-lane main carriageway, Pratap Simha said that from Bengaluru-side, 35 percent of the road works have been completed and from Mysuru-side, seven percent of the works have been completed,.

NHAI has taken up the core works at an estimated cost of Rs. 7,400 crore and once the project is realised, commuters between Bengaluru and Mysuru can travel the distance in just about 90 minutes from the present 3 hours, he added.

“The NHAI has awarded the project to Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon and the project is fully funded by the Centre including the distribution of compensation for the land acquired. The Company has taken up the highway works in two packages.

Work in packages

The first package covers the development of 56.1 kms highway stretch from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta in Maddur taluk at the cost of Rs. 3,000 crore including 900 acres of land acquisition. The second package of works includes the development of 61.2 km highway from Nidaghatta to Mysuru at the cost of Rs.3,500 crore, he added.

The project is being taken up under new Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) adopted by NHAI. As per this, NHAI will fund just 40 per cent of the total project cost while the remaining 60 per cent will be invested by the contractor or developer. The contractor/investor will get fixed annual revenue while the Highway Authority takes care of the toll collection.

The Company has taken up both the package works after setting base camps at every 20 kilometres. Six bypass roads will be constructed at Srirangapatna, Mandya, Maddur, Channapattana, Ramanagara and Bidadi. An estimated 36,000 vehicles ply between the two cities everyday and traffic density has increased, Simha added and expressed confidence that the project will be completed in 24 months from now. The NHAI has a deadline of 30 months.

City BJP President T.S. Srivatsa, District BJP President S.D. Mahendra and NHAI Superintending Engineer Sridhar were present at the press conference.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 20th, 2020

Arebhashe Heritage Village to come up in Sullia: DVS

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda speaks during the inaugural function of the second Arebhashe Literary Convention at Sangaiahnapura in Aluru Siddapura of Somwarpet taluk.
Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda speaks during the inaugural function of the second Arebhashe Literary Convention at Sangaiahnapura in Aluru Siddapura of Somwarpet taluk.

Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, D V Sadananda Gowda, said that Arebhashe Heritage village (Samskrithi Grama) will be built in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, in order to preserve Arebhashe language and culture, which is vulnerable to extinction.

He was speaking during the second Arebhashe Literary Convention organised by Karnataka Arebhashe Cultural and Literary Academy at Sangaiahnapura in Aluru Siddapura of Somwarpet taluk on Sunday.

Stating that a study has been conducted at the heritage village in Haveri, towards building the heritage village in Sullia, he further said that a 65-acre land has been identified in Ubaradkamitturu village in Sullia, towards the Samkriti Grama, which will be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

The work is expected to be completed in the next five years. The heritage village will feature the everyday lifestyle, customs and tradition of Arebhashe community. The history of Arebhashe Gowda Samaja will also be depicted in the heritage village, said Sadananda Gowda.

The Union minister meanwhile stated that the survival of the language and culture depends on the people of the respective communities.

Karnataka Arebhashe Cultural and Literary Academy Chairman Lakshminarayana Kajegadde hoped that Arebhashe Samudaya Bhavana in Bengaluru and Sullia would turn into hubs of activities related to Arebhashe culture, rather than being used for marriage functions.

More literary works in Arebhashe need to be published, he added.

Arebhashe literary convention former president K R Gangadhar noted that the marriages in Arebhashe community are not being conducted as per the tradition and there is an infiltration of modernity, which is not a healthy development.

MLA K G Bopaiah, MLA Appachu Ranjan, president of the convention Bhavanishankara Hoddetti, Zilla Panchayat Vice President Lokeshwari Gopal and Karnataka Arebhashe Cultural and Literary Academy Registrar Chinnaswamy were present.

An exhibition of day to day items used by the people of Arebhashe community in the older days was the centre of attraction at the venue.

Prior to the formal programme, the convention chair Bhavanishankara Hoddetti was brought in a colourful procession from the Grama Devathe temple in Sangaiahnapura to the programme venue.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Somwarpet / February 23rd, 2020

Nostalgic Memories Of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa’s Talk On Democracy 50 Years Ago !

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

source: Voice of The Reader

CariappaKF24feb2020

Sir,

I regularly read KBG’s Abracadabra column with interest. I fully concur with his views about Jairam Ramesh’s comment on Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa (SOM dated Feb.10). I don’t know whether Jairam Ramesh has ever met the Field Marshal and noticed his highly democratic and humanistic qualities.

I recall an instance that happened exactly 50 years ago where I had an occasion to spend over an hour listening to Field Marshal Cariappa. It was in 1970 and I was in Bangalore at that time teaching in APS College, fresh from completing my Post-Graduate studies in Commerce, at Manasagangothri and was into the teaching line for about 6 months.

I was selected for a 10-day training programme held by the Leslie Sawhny Programme of Training for Democracy which was held at Bangalore. We were about 15 or so members in the programme, including K. Jairaj (retired Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka), a good friend of mine and a student of B.A (Hons.) in Central College at that time. That day we had M.R. Masani and Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa to speak to us, who both spent nearly half-a-day with us speaking on various aspects of Democracy, Discipline and the need for our commitment to nation-building.

After his talk, Cariappa had a free-wheeling chat with us and shook hands with each of us. We had such a good time talking to him so freely on issues of nation-building.

Thank you very much KBG, your piece in the Abracadabra column helped me to recall those wonderful moments that happened half-a-century ago.

– V. Krishna Moorthy, Srirampura, 11.2.2020

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of Reader / February 16th, 2020

ZP resolves to review sport school students’ selection list

Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Sports
Zilla Panchayat President B A Harish, Vice President Lokeshwari Gopal and CEO K Lakshmipriya take part in the general body meeting of Kodagu Zilla Panchayat in Madikeri on Wednesday. DH photo
Zilla Panchayat President B A Harish, Vice President Lokeshwari Gopal and CEO K Lakshmipriya take part in the general body meeting of Kodagu Zilla Panchayat in Madikeri on Wednesday. DH photo

Zilla Panchayat members on Wednesday alleged that the selection of students for the sports school at Ponnampet in Virajpet taluk has not been done in a transparent manner.

Following pandemonium in the general body meeting of the Zilla Panchayat on the issue, Zilla Panchayat president B A Harish intervened and said the selection process can be withheld if found it is not fair. However, it was resolved to review the selection list.

Earlier, JD(S) member C P Puttaraju demanded a probe into the selection process. Responding to his demand, Health and Education Standing Committee chairman N T Kiran Cariappa said that 165 students took part in the selection. Among them, 15 boys and four girls have been selected. The selection was done by experienced coaches. The students selected during the last year have won several medals, he said.

Pointing out that there were students from Somwarpet as well, he said, “The selection cannot be limited to a specific taluk. It depends on the calibre of the students”.

As soon as the meeting began, member Bananda Pratyu said that the farmers are in distress. The market rates of coffee and pepper have fallen. Therefore, the Zilla Panchayat should pass a resolution to propose to the government to completely waive the loans availed by farmers, Pratyu said.

When the Zilla Panchayat president insisted on sticking to the agenda of the meeting, Pratyu and K P Chandrakala protested in front of his seat. The impromptu protest led to an exchange of words between Congress and BJP members.

Pratyu alleged that the farmers do not get even one hour of power supply at Balele, Kutta, Ponnampet and surrounding regions.

Member Shivu Madappa urged the Zilla Panchayat to repair the faulty power line to provide free electricity up to 10 hp, to the farmers, as assured by the government.

CESC executive engineer Somashekhar said that the problem is due to overloading. The issue will be rectified soon. To the reply by the official, the members warned of staging a protest in front of the CESC office if the electric line is not repaired within three days.

The Zilla Panchayat president directed the official to repair the electric line soon.

To an issue raised by member Suneetha, DDPI P Machado said that special classes are being conducted for SSLC students. The students staying in the school at night are provided food. “Preparatory examinations are being conducted to ensure best results in the final examination”, he added.

Zilla Panchayat Vice President Lokeshwari Gopal and CEO K Lakshmi Priya were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 19th, 2020

21 crore boost for Kodagu tourism post calamity

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
A kalyani and a stall (right) at a site in Madikeri where the Tourism Department is developing a facility that depicts a typical village.
A kalyani and a stall (right) at a site in Madikeri where the Tourism Department is developing a facility that depicts a typical village.

In an effort to boost tourism post floods and landslips in Kodagu, the government has sanctioned a sum of ₹21 crore for various tourism development works across the region, which is limping back to normalcy.

Many tourist sites and roads connecting them had been damaged. The department had proposed new attractions and rebuilding activities.

“Some works are in various stages and proposals for a few are awaiting approval. Kodagu got an allocation of ₹21 crore for the works,” said Tourism Assistant Director Raghavendra.

A project had been launched along the concept of developing a typical Kodagu village near Raja Seat in Madikeri that signifies thelocal culture and traditions besides making available the crafts, spices and other commodities popular from here. This village will have about 10 rooms for tourists’ stay. This project had been taken up at a cost of ₹98.5 lakh.

Development works near Sri Omkareshwar temple, development of parking at Dubare elephant camp and development of a road connecting Nalaknad Palace at Kakkabe near Napoklu are among the projects approved, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – February 17th, 2020