The last date for submitting nominations is December 11

In the backdrop of the State Election Commission announcing election to Madikeri CMC, the authorities have started making preparations for the smooth conduct of election.

To check the movement of people in front of CMC office, a barricade has been installed. The nominations will be received at a building next to Kaveri Kalakshetra. No nominations were received on the first day. The last date for submitting nominations is December 11 and nominations will be scrutinised on December 12. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is December 14. The public campaign will end on December 20 and election will be held on December 22 from 7 am to 5 pm.

The counting will be held on December 24 at 8 am. The total population in the CMC limits is 33,381. There are 24,325 voters, of which 11,934 are male and 12,391 are female voters.

There are 28 polling booths. Two election officers and two assistant election officers have already been appointed for 23 wards. Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives S Sridhar will be the election officer for ward 1 to 11. Youth Services and Sports department Assistant Director Jayalakshmi Bai will be the Assistant Election Officer.

Similarly, Watershed department Deputy Director Tirumalesh will be the election officer for ward number 12 to 23 and Horticulture department Assistant Director Pramod will function as Assistant Election Officer.

Three booths have been identified as hypersensitive, two as sensitive and 23 booths as general. St Michael High School booth has highest number of voters—1263 and Taluk panchayat building polling booth has lowest voters—465.

A total of 120 officials will be deployed for election.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS – Madikeri / December 04th, 2013

There are 4.02 lakh voters in the district,

Kodagu district administration has made preparations for webcasting facilities in five selected booths in each of the two Assembly constituencies during the May 5 elections, Deputy Commissioner, N.V. Prasad has said.

Addressing presspersons at the Old Assembly Hall in Madikeri on Friday, Mr. Prasad said webcasting would be done on the day of mustering and de-mustering — at the St. Joseph High School in Madikeri and Government Junior College in Virajpet — as also the day of counting at the St. Joseph’s High School. Steps had been taken to deploy police, paramilitary forces, videographers and micro-election observes to the sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths in the two constituencies, Dr. Prasad, said.

Vehicles

As many as 71 buses, four mini-buses, 34 maxi-cabs, 80 jeeps, have been hired for election duty in the district. There are 87 vehicles in Madikeri constituency and 102 in Virajpet taluk.

There are 4.02 lakh voters in the district. In Madikeri there are 2.02 lakh voters —1, 00,235 men and 1, 01,839 women — and in Virajpet there are 2, 00,259 voters —1, 00,290 men and 99,969 women, Dr. Prasad said.

Steps have been taken to distribute voter slips to the voters through the booth-level officials. Those who had not received the slips could call the helpline located at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Besides, voter facilitation centres would be opened on May 5 to distribute voter slips to those who have not received it, Dr. Prasad said.

Only two candidates of each political party would be allowed to set up booths at a distance of 200 meters from the polling booth on production of permission letters issued by the panchayat development officers and officers from the urban local bodies.

Sale of liquor has been banned in the district from 5 p.m. on May 3 to midnight of May 5 in all bars and restaurants, hotels, resorts, clubs as a precautionary measure, Dr. Prasad said.

Officials deputed for election duty could cast votes at the centre opened at the office of the Assembly Election Officer. If not, they could send the votes through post before 8 a.m. on May 8, the day of counting, to the counting centre at the St. Joseph’s High School, he said.

Counting

Dr. Prasad said that as many as 14 counting tables had been allocated to each of the Assembly segment. A supervisor, group ‘C’ employee, one Central government employee as the micro-observer and a counting agent representing the contesting candidates would be present. A media centre had been opened near the counting centre.

He appealed to the owners of the plantations, industrial units, shops and commercial establishments to give e a one-day leave to workers and employees on May 5 to facilitate voting. Police have made elaborate bandobast to maintain law and order during the elections by deploying more than 1,000 personnel and officers drawn from the paramilitary, district armed reserve, police. There will be special vigil at the booths identified as naxal-affected, he said.

Slips distributed to voters through the booth-level officials

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore – May 04th, 2013

Nothing like a holiday in the hills to breathe in some fresh mountain air and get rid of your summer blues. And the Vivanta by Taj – Madikeri, at Coorg, provides the perfect escape.

Nestled in the Western Ghats in the south of Karnataka, close to the Kerala border, is the little mountain town of Coorg, formerly known as Kodagu. Other than being one of the main coffee plantations in south India, the hill town has been a favourite getaway thanks to its proximity to Bangalore and Mysore being one of the factors in its favour.

Describing Coorg would be like stringing together a bunch of clichés –from ‘rolling hills and misty mountains’, a view ‘to die for’ to ‘right in the lap of nature’ – and every one of these would hold true. The little town has been a great getaway option for ages and with the Taj property opening there, it’s a new luxury option for the discerning traveller.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

The property, spread over a 180 acres, is about 4,000 feet above sea level and takes full advantage of the breathtaking views offered by its location. Three types of accommodation – the regular villas, the luxury bliss villas and the 9,000 square foot presidential villas – are on offer and each of them provide stunning views through full length French windows.

While the luxury villas and the presidential suite come with extra perks like a heated indoor pool with skylights, a separate dining room and living area, every villa has its own fireplace. It is pointless in summer, but I am told that it gets quite cold during the rainy season and the fireplace can be lit on request then. If you have ever had visions of warming yourself in front of a cosy fireplace, the stone and cement hearth here is right out of a story book.

The décor throughout the hotel is kept basic with dark, wood tones contrasted with white and other light earthy colours, creating a colour scheme that’s soothing and relaxing. Contrast this with the bright green from the rainforests surrounding the villas, and it is clear that the focus is completely on nature. Large clear glass windows run the length of the room, letting the amazing view take centre stage. If you’re lucky enough to get a valley view room, then you will wake up feeling like you’re (quite literally) on top of the world!

For dining options, there are a number of restaurants to choose from. If you’re feeling all healthy, Dew, the hotel’s wellness restaurant, is a must try. Tucked into a small corner of the lobby, a floor above the spa, the restaurant has a limited menu but each of the dishes has been designed to ensure a balance between health and flavour. If you’re looking for some indulgence a visit to Nellaki – the restaurant that serves traditional Coorgi cuisine is a must. Guests can indulge in some delicious pork curry (called Pandi curry) made in the traditional style with a spicy, peppery gravy, or even try out the Kodagu-style chicken biryani, which is quite unique. Mushrooms are a staple in Coorgi cuisine and the mushroom soup, with the unusual spice and dominant pepper, is a great option for vegetarians.

TO-DO LIST!

The best part of the property is probably the fact that you can never run out of things to do here. If you get bored of relaxing in your villa, there are a number of options ranging from nature walks and ziplining for the adventurous, to the well-equipped spa and pottery classes for those who want less strenuous activity.

Early birds can set out at 6:30 am for a walk through the Nishanibetta hills, which runs through the rainforests that cover most of Coorg. Early mornings are extremely pleasant in this area, even in summers, but the heat sets in quite harshly around midday, so the best time to go exploring would be early mornings and in the evenings around four, when another session of cycling and trekking is usually organised. Another fun thing to do is to try out the zip-lining through a small section of the rainforest, for a slightly elevated view (and some cheap thrills). The nature walk is a great way to experience nature first hand, and it’s a great place to dust off that camera and try out some photography skills. However, I would also recommend leaving your camera and phone behind and just getting the feel of what it’s like to live a simpler, tech-free life. My guide pointed out some exotic flora and fauna including rudraksh trees, cardamom and coffee plants, and I even got a whiff of some wild jasmine and eucalyptus. Make sure to carry some good walking shoes though, since it is hilly terrain and walking around requires some extra care.

For those less inclined to physical exertion – it is a holiday resort after all – there is still a lot to do. I tried my hand at pottery and while it was fun, it’s nowhere as effortless as Demi Moore made it look! Set aside some quality time to spend at the Jiva Spa, a must visit. Everything from their delicious detox tea to the jasmine-infused oil they use seemed to have an extremely relaxing effect that’s sure to stay with you throughout your stay. You can even head down to the conservatory where the friendly colonel will give you a quick lesson on the Kodava community and what makes them unique – a fascinating account for those who are curious about the history of the place. Other options include chilling at the pool with a gorgeous view of the valley, playing a game of virtual golf or trying your hand at cooking some Coorgi delicacies along with the resident chef.

Take a walk around, indulge at the spa, try out some delicious traditional Coorgi fare, get a good look at the beauty of the rainforests and generally breathe in some of the fresh mountain air and relax in your own luxurious villa – a trip to the Taj Madikeri is the perfect getaway from the city this summer.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Smartbuy> Luxury & Fashion / by Elizabeth Mathew elizabeth. mathew@thehindu. co. in / April 24th, 2013