In the wake of increasing human-elephant conflict in Hassan, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts, the state forest department has decided to acquire coffee and tea plantations to curb such conflicts and ensure a safe passage for jumbos.
The department mooted this proposal after some coffee and tea planters volunteered to give up their land as they’re unable to cope with many problems including acute labour shortage, weak prices and rising maintenance cost of their estates.
But planters are not ready to give up their plantations cheaply. “The offers have started to come, with one from Sakleshpura for about 2,300 acres that would cost approximately Rs 300 crore,” principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) Vinay Luthra said.
With a recent amendment to the Forest Development Tax (FDT), funds needed to buy these estates would not be an issue, said Luthra. The department can rake in up to Rs 600 crore per annum through FDI and utilise it for purchase of properties.
Wildife experts welcomed the idea but expressed caution, citing that the purchase of properties should be done scientifically.
“While it is a good start, the purchase of properties must be taken up after a peer review and an expert panel on elephant habitats giving its approval that such parcels of land are a good investment,” said wildlife expert Pradeep Bhargava.
Bhargava said forest minister Ramanath Rai and the department had held a consultative meeting in Mysuru in December 2015. He said the starting point should be the linking of Bandipur, Nagarahole, Brahmagiri, Satyamanagala, BRT Hills and Mudumalai.
Forest authorities have been holding talks with corporates to seek their assistance through their Corporate Social Responsibility funds to restoreg elephant corridors and other wildlife conservation projects.
Luthra, however, said the department doesn’t plan to buy all 2,300 acres in Sakleshpur. The purchase will be based on a study done by wildlife scientist Raman Sukumar. The study has identified 88 traditional elephant corridors in India.
“We’ll restore only those areas where there is a possibility of restoring the traditional corridors. Our biggest concerns are in and around the Bhadra Reserve, Hassan and Kodagu and the department will buy properties in these region on top priority,” he added.
Luthra said the primary reason for people selling their properties is the difficulty in maintaining coffee estates and tea gardens. “Most people in Kodagu, Chikkamagalur, Hassan and other parts of the coffee- and tea-growing belts are old-timers. With their children living abroad and labour becoming increasingly difficult to procure, they have come forward with offers to the forest department for selling their land. It’s a good way for us to resolve this man-animal conflict,” said the PCCF.
The forest department also took measures recently to ensure that new constructions don’t come up in the elephant corridors or affect elephant movement in the forest area. The department has also interlocked forest ranges across the Western Ghats to ensure the smooth passage of elephants.
Expertspeak
* The purchase of land must be strategic and it needs to be taken up on a project mode. Dedicated forest persons should be involved in the process and land should be procured after taking into account the valuation of the location and not any other factor.
Pradeep Bhargava | wildlife expert
* This is a start. The proposal may not solve the problems immediately, but it will help in the long term to end the human-animal conflict in the state.
Vinay Luthra | PCCF
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / Sandeep Moudgal, TNN / February 23rd, 2016
Pandi Curry, kadambuttu and Akki Roti: Image via Prarthana Bidapa
A few months ago, I was foraging for food near Wicklow village, about an hour away from Dublin. This was not some desperate attempt to find survival food but a structured walking tour to hunt for food in the woods engineered by Chef Evan Doyle, one of Europe’s champions of Wild Food, who also runs one of the only organic restaurants in Europe. Restaurants like his Strawberry Tree and the iconic Noma in Denmark have made foraging one of hottest food trends of the 2010s. In just a couple of hours I returned to his kitchen with a rich bounty that included wild mushrooms and wild garlic. Closer home there are many communities who have traditionally hunted for food and made the best of locally available resources long before foraging became cool.
Coorg’s Pandi (Pork) Curry might be its most emblematic dish but not many outside the region know that this dish was originally crafted with wild boar. The Kodagu (Coorg) district that shares its Southern borders with Kerala is not just one of the most scenic regions in Karnataka but boasts of its unique culture, language and above all one of India’s most distinctive cuisines. For a brief while (1947-1956), this district was a separate state before it merged with the Mysore (Karnataka) state. Spread over 4,100 sq kms Coorg’s delectable cuisine evolved with its unique landscape where farms and forests merged almost seamlessly.
Until recently most local farm owners supplemented their produce with bounties from the forest like wild pig, wild fowl, venison, wild yams, bamboo and colocasia leaves. Quite a few vegetables were not cultivated and animals were not actually reared. Much of that has changed with Coorg’s changing 21st century landscape but it’s still not unusual for wild mangoes and bamboo shoots to find their way to kitchens around the region even today.
Foraging for Food
For centuries Coorg was quite inaccessible – a landlocked region, making it almost essential for the locals to make the best use of local ingredients and spices, that spawned a cuisine like no other. Yoga Acharya Shanthala T Medappa grew up in Coorg before moving to Chennai where she set up Old Mercara that specializes in home-style preserves and ice creams. Her range is season-specific and completely natural akin to her culinary roots in Coorg where flavours are natural, spices are used judiciously and the food is light. A contrast to what Indian food has become in some parts – an overkill of spices and masalas that literally drown the meat or vegetables.
Image via Prarthana Bidapa
Authentic Kodava cuisine retains the natural taste of its key ingredients – bamboo shoots for instance are allowed to sour in its own waters. Fat is also used sparingly, mostly to temper the food. According to Shanthala, seasons dictated what the Kodavas ate and when. Kitchens focused on food that produced thermal warmth during the cold and wet monsoon season. The preserved game meat was traditionally in wooden slatted frames placed horizontally over the cooking fire that didn’t just keep the meat dry but also enhanced it with a wood-smoked flavour.
Another unique ingredient that you will find in most Kodava households is Kachampuli, their own version of a Balsamic vinegar (just much more tastier!) that is extracted from the ripe fruits of the Kodambuli fruit (the ripe fruits of the garcinia gummi gutta tree). These fruits are usually placed in baskets over large vessels to allow the juice to gently drip down (over a few days) as the fruit gradually becomes pulp. The extract thickens over time, this souring agent is typically used towards the end of the cooking process in many Kodava dishes (including the Pandi curry) and accentuates the flavours of the meat.
Image via Prarthana Bidapa
The Coffee County
Coorg might be a coffee county, but it’s also known for rice – this is where the river Cauvery originates, and rice is the major staple and used for a number of preparations, whether it’s the traditional steamed puttus or their payasams. The steamd puttus come in many forms – the Kadambuttu (ball-shaped puttus), Thaliya Puttu (flat puttus steamed in plates), Paaputtu (cooked with milk and shredded coconut), Nooputtu (thread puttu, pressed into noodle-like threads with a mould similar to the idiyappam) and Koovale Puttu (made with ripe bananas or jackfruit).
Coorg might be flanked by regions rich in culture and cuisine – like the Malabar region in Kerala, Mysuru and the Dakshina Kannada region in Karnataka, but their influence on Coorg’s cuisine is quite minimal. While its possible to recreate some of the region’s signature dishes like the Bamboo Shoot Curry (with canned bamboo available at many supermarkets and gourmet shops) and the Meen (fish) Curry, it doesn’t quite taste the same without locally sourced ingredients. For that you have to dine in one of the Kodava households or be invited for a Kodava wedding in Coorg – the ultimate showcase of the region’s cuisine. Quite a few homestays in Coorg or boutique properties are a great starting point to explore Coorg cuisine too. And before you get there, try your hand at making Coorg Pandi Curry.
Coorg Pandi Curry
(Recipe and Image Courtesy: Shanthala T Medappa – Yoga Acharya and owner Old Mercara)
Ingredients:
1/2 kg pork (preferably with bones) cut into medium-sized pieces
1/2 tsp Kachampuli or 1 1/2 Tbsp thick tamarind pulp
A few curry leaves
1-2 tsp oil
For the marinate 1-2 tsp salt
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
For the dry masala 1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp fenugreek
2 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp coriander seeds
For the wet masala 2 onions, sliced
6 ginger cloves (1-inch in size)
6 garlic
6-8 green chillies
A small bunch of coriander leaves
Method:
1. Marinate the pork with salt, turmeric and chilli powder, and leave it aside for 30 minutes.
2. Heat a little oil in a pressure cooker or a flat-bottomed vessel, and fry the curry leaves.
3. Make the ‘wet masala’ by grinding together onions, ginger, garlic, green chillies and coriander leaves. Add it to the pan and saute for a few minutes.
4. Add the pork and mix well. Continue sautéing for 5-6 minutes.
5. In a separate pan, dry roast the whole masalas – cumin seeds, fenugreek, black pepper and coriander seeds – on a medium flame until aromatic, then grind to a powder. Add it to the pork and mix well.
6. Add half cup of hot water and pressure cook the pork until done or let it slow cook on an open flame, stirring constantly.
7. Uncover the lid, add the Kachampuli and cook for 2-3 minutes, till the gravy thickens.
8. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
About the Author:
Ashwin Rajagopalan is a cross cultural training expert and lifestyle writer. When he’s not writing about food, he thinks about gadgets, trends and travel experiences. He enjoys communicating across cultures and borders in his weekday work avatar as a content and editorial consultant for a global major and one of India’s only cross cultural trainers.
Disclaimer :
The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
source: http://www.food.ndtv.com / NDTV Food / Home> Food & Drinks / by Ashwin Rajagopalan / February 23rd, 2016
It is a known fact that cricket is a popular sport in many countries including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, England, Australia and others. But, the sport slowly is steadily gaining popularity in countries such as Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Afghanistan, UAE and others. The common factor among the countries where cricket is gaining popularity is the Indian factor.
Chillavanda Darshan Chinnappa (left) with former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes.
There are many Indians who have been promoting cricket worldwide. One such person who has been popularising the sport in United Arab Emirates (UAE) is Chillavanda Darshan Chinnappa, a native of Bilugunda village in Kodagu district who has joined hands with legendary cricketers like Ramiz Raja, Aravinda De Silva and Naveed Nawaz to start Future Legends Cricket Academy (FLCA) in Dubai.
Darshan Chinnappa, who is currently residing in Bengaluru, is the son of Chillavanda Chinnappa, a retired official of Survey of India and Chillavanda Parvathi, a retired employee of Co-operation Department. He is married to Chillavanda Nirmala and the couple is blessed with a daughter Raha Darshan.
FLCA was started two months back with former Sri Lankan skipper Aravinda De Silva, former Pakistani cricketer Ramiz Raja, Imran Zafar, Shahid Rafique Sheikh and former Sri Lankan cricketer Naveed Nawaz.
The academy has been providing world class facilities to children and also conducts master classes by inviting top cricketers from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and others countries. Legendary cricketers like Kumara Sangakara and Jhonty Rodes have already conducted master classes.
Darshan believes that the academy would be recognised at an international level and gain more popularity. Details on the academy are available at futurelegendsca.com and in the facebook page.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / February 22nd, 2016
The zilla and taluk panchayat elections held in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts were peaceful on Saturday.
The polling received a lukewarm response in plateau region in Chikkamagaluru district till afternoon.
Twenty-three per cent polling was recorded at Karthikere in Kuruvangi zilla panchayat constituency at 11 am. The polling percentage similar at Kalasapura in Ambale constituency at 11.30 am.
A 95-year-old Jayamma was carried to the polling booth by her son Siddalingappa at Pillenahalli.
The labourers left for their work after exercising their franchise in Malnad. The political parties had even arranged vehicles to ferry the voters to the polling booths at a few places.
District Congres Committee President D L Vijaykumar exercised his franchise at Balegadde polling station.
Report from Kodagu
Elections were held in 29 zilla panchayat and 50 taluk panchayat constituencies in Kodagu district.
A total of 117 candidates are contesting in the zilla panchayat election and 169 candidates are in the fray in taluk panchayat election.
Technical glitch was experienced was an elctronic voting machine at Athooru polling station at Somwarpet taluk. There was brisk polling since morning in the district.
Women and men were seen standing in long queues to exercise their franchise at Kedakal, Suntikoppa, Guddehosur, Nanjarayapatna, Kambibane, Chettalli, Nelyahudikeri, Siddapura, Ammathi, Moornadu, Mekeri and other areas.
Ninety-six-year-old Ponnamme arrived to exercise her franchise at Kedakal polling station.
Krithika, who excercised her franchise for the first time at Suntikoppa, said, “I am feeling happy that I have excercised my franchise for the first time. Voting is a sacred right.” Jayalakshmi, a first-time voter, expressed similar views at Guddehosur.
People were seen discussing about the election in groups outside 100 metre radius of a few polling booths in the district.
Deputy Commissioner Meer Anees Ahmmed visited Kadagadalu, Abhyathmangala, Chettalli, Nelyahudikeri, SIddapura, Makkandoor, Madapura, Athooru, Guddehosoor and other polling booths. The counting of votes will be held at 8 am on February 23.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Chikkamagaluru – Kodagu / DHNS – February 21st, 2016
“Look at me… don’t you notice any change,” said Jwala Gutta, displaying her toned down body.
“This is what our doubles coach has done. I am much fitter now. He brought a number of changes to our game, more particularly to my fitness,” said Jwala, who lost at least 11 kgs in the last five months. Earlier, it was difficult to push Jwala in many aspects. But new doubles coach Kim Tan has found a way on how to deal with talented senior players.
Ever since he took over five months back, Kim is working hard with the doubles teams. After acrimonious exchanges with national coach P Gopichand, which made headlines, Jwala and her partner Ashwini Ponnappa came back to train at the Gopichand Academy and started working with Kim. Kim took time to understand the doubles scenario in India and succeeded in creating a working atmosphere.
“My contract with Badminton Association of India is up to 2020. I have to make some good contributions before that. When I came here I was happy with the things around. I realised that I had to deal with two aspects, the senior doubles team like Jwala-Ashwini, who have achieved success, and a few junior doubles pairs. So I have a plan for them,” Kim said.
Kim is also planning to use Ashwini in mixed doubles. Known for effective smashes which are packed with a lot of power, Ashwini hardly played in mixed doubles events. “Manu Attri and Ashwini will be playing the mixed doubles event. We have finalised on that. They will make an exciting pair,” said Kim, adding that he has plans for others as well.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Sports> Badminton / M Ratnakumar / TNN / February 18th, 2016
Having featured in seven Sandalwood films, most notably Pancharangi,Krishnan Marriage Story and Anna Bond, Nidhi Subbaiah knew that her destiny was not to crawl about in a fenced comfort zone, but to soar through clouds of limitless ambition, even if it meant enduring the storms.
Nidhi Subbaiah
Having opted to make her debut in Bollywood with a cameo in the blockbuster Oh My God! and progressing to the grab the lead role in the tanked Ajab Gazab Love, Nidhi has battled odds. She now awaits two back-to-back B-town releases this month — Direct Ishq, releasing next Friday, and Love Shagun, which releases on February 26. Speaking to City Express about her journey in Bollywood, the actress who has made Mumbai her home since 2012 says she is four films old now with another film releasing in May. “I didn’t have a godfather in Sandalwood but still made a mark and it is the same belief that I carry in B-town too. Of course, it is tough, but talent does not go unrecognised. After seeing so many people who are still trying to make it to B-town, I feel lucky to have made it,” she says and adds, that she is gifting herself two films for her birthday on February 16.
According to her, it is her belief of utilising one’s potential to the maximum that has taken her so far. “Bollywood is big and if you have been accepted as a fish, why limit yourself to a pond when there is an ocean. Everyone wants to be part of Bollywood, and if they say otherwise, they are lying. I have seen a lot of Kannada actresses coming to Mumbai and trying their best to make it. I am glad to know the cremede la creme of Bollywood, who also recognise me,” Nidhi says.
Talking about her role in Direct Ishq and Love Shagun, she says, “I play a character named Dolly Pande in Direct Ishq, where I am paired opposite Rajniesh Duggall, who is born and brought up in Banaras. It was fun for me, a South Indian, playing this UP girl. I had to attend workshops before I got into the character and perfected the slang. I also play a rockstar, which is another shade of mine in the film.”In Love Shaguan, she plays a party going girl running a boutique in Goa, who knows the importance of moral principles. “Thankfully, I play the solo lead in both films, which demands a lot of effort towards acting. And, at times, the directors were surprised I could pull off a role on my own. I am open to challenges and don’t hesitate to experiment,” she says.
As of now, Nidhi is open for films in Sandalwood and and Bollywood. “Right now, I am doing a Kannada film, Nanna Ninna Prema Kathe, and it is a brilliant story. I like to be at a place, where directors feel that I can perform and fit into a role, irrespective of whether it is Hindi or Kannada,” she says.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by A Sharadhaa / February 13th, 2016
Shanvi Srivastava returns to the big screen with the Sumanth Shailendra-starrer Bhale Jodi.
Adding to the glam quotient are actresses Hariprriya and Harshika Poonacha.
While Hariprriya plays the second female lead, as she has a couple of scenes as well as a song, Harshika appears in a guest role. Watch the chemistry unfold on screen shortly.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / TNN / February 09th, 2016
FINISHING ON TOP:Cauvery College edged out St. Anne’s College 1-0 in the final of the State-level inter-collegiate hockey tournament on Wednesday.
K.B. Nanaiah’s 59th-minute goal helped Cauvery College (Virajpet) pip St. Anne’s College (Virajpet) 1-0 in the final of the State-level inter-collegiate hockey tournament, conducted by Kautilya FGC, on Wednesday.
St. Philomena’s (Mysuru) took the third spot with a 1-0 win over St. Joseph’s College (Bengaluru), thanks to Yeshwin’s goal in the 49th minute.
The results: Final: Cauvery College (Virajpet) 1 (K.B. Nanaiah 59) bt St. Anne’s (Virajpet) 0; Semifinals: Cauvery bt St. Philomena’s 3-2, via sudden-death; St. Anne’s bt St. Joseph’s (Bengaluru) 2-1.
Special prizes: Best goalkeeper: K.A. Darshan (NIE, Mysore); Best defender: C.A. Boppanna (Cauvery); Best forward: David Karekatta (St. Philomena’s); Player-of-the-tournament: Sudesh (St. Anne’s).
KISHAN GUIDES NATIONAL TO VICTORY
Kishan S. Bedare’s 71 (11×4) took National CC to a two-wicket win over Vidyaranya in the quarterfinal tie of the KSCA Mysore Zone’s Sri. M. Gopalaswamy Memorial cricket tournament on Wednesday.
The scores: Vidyaranya 175 in 46.3 overs (Munish Chengappa 35 n.o., G.L. Yashas 30) lost to National 178 for eight in 45.3 overs (Kishan S. Bedare 71, Deepak S. Gowda 27, N. Zahed four for 24).
MUCSC 113 in 22.5 overs (Bharath Bhushan four for 28, Punith three for 16) lost to Young Cricketers 116 for nine in 27.3 overs (Swaroop 44, N. Bharath five for 30).
BRACE BY ASIF
Md. Asif’s brace (48 & 69) and an own-goal by defender Karthik of Friends Union enabled Lucky Star (Bannur) score a 3-1 win over Friends Union in a Group A league match of the MDFA ‘C’ division football tournament for the Chirag Trophy on Wednesday.
Kitti scored the lone goal for Friends Union in the 14th minute.
AKARSH AND ANMAY ADVANCE
Karnataka’s Akarsh Gaonkar and Anmay Yogesh Devaj entered the boys’ singles semifinals of the KTPPA Yonex AITA under-12 tennis championship at the Energy Tennis Centre courts here on Wednesday.
Gaonkar took out Tharakesh Ashokar of Tamil Nadu 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the last-eight, while Devaj rallied to script a 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-2 win over Arjun Gohad.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport / Mysuru – January 28th, 2016
Team Coorg receives the winner’s trophy from H E Indra Mani Pandey
Team Coorg edged past United Thalasserry Sports Club (UTSC) Oman 2-1 to lift the Republic Day Cup at the 67th Republic Day of India Hockey Festival, which was held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex recently.
It was the ninth successive year of the festival, organised by Team Coorg and Friends of Naqvi Group.
Three teams took part in the Republic Day Cup.
In the opening clash, UTSC Oman edged past Beatrice XI by a solitary goal to set up summit clash with Team Coorg, which received a first-round bye.
Earlier in the clash for the Ambassador Cup, Ambassador XI beat Indian School al Seeb 1-0. Later, H E Indra Mani Pandey, the Indian Ambassador to Oman, gave away the prizes in the presence of H E Sheikh Mahfoodh al Juma, the Oman Hockey Association (OHA) chairman and also a Majlis A’Shura member, and Kanak Khimji, the Oman Cricket chairman.
On this occasion, H E Pandey honoured veteran hockey coach and sports administrator S A S Naqvi for his contribution to the game.
Source: http://www.muscatdaily.com/ MuscatDaily.com / Home> Sports / January 27th, 2016
It seemed like actress Shubra Aiyappa was going through an identity crisis at the sixth edition of the Celebrity Cricket League. The actress who portrayed ground-breaking roles in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada industries was spotted cheering for ‘Telugu Tigers’ and ‘Karnataka Bulldozers’ when the latter played against ‘Chennai Rhinos’ recently. From being a travel junkie to having a penchant for belly dancing, Shubra recently confessed her love for sports at the League. She said that she is excited to see how all the matches play out and which team will walk away with the trophy.
It’s an open secret that the actress is biased towards the Telegu industry for she made her debut there. She says that she loves shooting in Hyderabad as people are very warm and welcoming there. However, coming back to Bengaluru, her birthplace, and cheering for her home team is equally special for her.
She says, “I was born here and studied in Baldwin Girls High School. It was in school that I was initiated into cricket. I started by playing with my brothers and classmates and have swung a bat or two since then. I love being in this stadium and the Karnataka players, under Sudeep sir, are doing extremely well and making their
State proud.”
Though she had to go to Mumbai for a shoot, Shubra has put that project on hold and took the weekend off to watch the match.
She is also hoping for an all-women’s celebrity cricket team soon and hopes to be the captain of that team.
“I share my birthday with the legend, Sachin Tendulkar, and cricket means much to me as much as cinema. So I should have some cricket blood in me and really hope to play for my team if there is a women’s celebrity league. I think the marriage between cricket and cinema is exciting because both of them offer entertainment to the masses. The craze people have for these two forms and the way people relate to cricket and cinema is actually overwhelming in our country.”
Coming to her movies, Shubra is waiting for the release of ‘Yevvanam Oka Fantasy’ a Telegu romantic comedy where the actress is paired opposite Arvind Krishna.
The two play a young married couple and the film is about how a young girl who gets married to a rich actor changes his life. She recalls that she enjoyed the shooting and felt comfortable with Arvind on sets.
Shubra has also recently appeared in ‘Sagaptham’, a Tamil film and also made her Kannada debut with ‘Vajrakaya’, where she starred opposite Shivarajkumar and played his dream girl.
The hit song ‘No problem’, that was sung by Dhanush, was especially written for her and contains references to her height.
She recalls, “I felt really special that the song was written for me. It was fun and a good break in the Kannada film industry. It also made the movie that much more special for me.”
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> MetroLife / by Anushka Sivakumar / DHNS – Bengaluru, January 27th, 2016
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