MP urges CM to release an additional sum of ₹70 crore for the 450-bed teaching hospital of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences.
Pratap Simha, MP, at the meeting on KIMS in Madikeri on Friday. Deputy Commissioner Venkatraja is also seen. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha on Friday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to release an additional sum of ₹70 crore for the completion of a 450-bed teaching hospital for Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Madikeri. A sum of ₹100 crore had been released for the hospital project and additional funds are essential for completing the works, he added.
Earlier, the MP held a meeting with the officials and doctors of KIMS on establishing a critical care center on the KIMS premises in Madikeri. The proposed center has been estimated to cost₹29 crore, he said.
Engineer Rajesh told the meeting that the critical care center has been proposed on 45-cent land on the KIMS campus and the tender process had also been done. He said the general wards of the teaching hospital of the KIMS are likely to be completed by November. The works need additional funds for completion, he said, adding that the critical care center will be completed in the next 15 months.
Mr. Simha told the officials to send the proposal on a critical care center to the government for the funds. MRI equipment for the teaching hospital and the mother and child hospital for Kodagu has become essential for improving public healthcare services, he added.
The hospital doctors and staff told the MP about the need for constructing quarters for the KIMS staff. In reply, the MP said suitable land for the staff quarters will be provided.
The concerned engineers told the meeting that the land on Murnad Road belonged to the KIMS and the same land parcel can be used for building KIMS’ staff quarters.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 28th, 2023
Fulfilling a long-pending demand of Kodavas, the Karnataka Cabinet, which met here on Thursday, agreed to mention as ‘Kodava/Kodavaru’ in the Caste Certificate, instead of ‘Kodagaru,’ who are currently listed in the 3a Category.
Announcing this after the Cabinet meeting here yesterday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said the State Government has accepted the recommendations made by the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission to use the words ‘Kodava’, ‘Kodavaru’, instead of ‘Kodagaru’ in the list of Backward Classes and issue a notification in this regard.
The Commission, after a thorough study, in 2005 and 2010, had recommended the Government to use ‘Kodava’ and ‘Kodavaru’ in Kannada and ‘Codava’, ‘Codavaru’ in English, instead of ‘Kodagaru’ in the 3a Category list.
The Karnataka High Court, on Dec.16, 2021, had directed the Government to use the name ‘Kodava’, Kodavaru’ as suggested by the Backward Classes Commission. Justice Krishna S. Dixit had passed the order while allowing a petition filed by Codava National Council (CNC).
The Court then had also cautioned the Government of imposing a heavy cost in the next level of legal battle if it does not comply with the order within an outer limit of three months.
CNC’s effort pays off
The Cabinet decision on Thursday is a victory of sorts for CNC and its President N.U. Nachappa, who had fought over the issue for over a decade.
With the change of Government in the State, Nachappa and other CNC members had met Chief Minister Siddharamaiah recently under the leadership of Virajpet MLA and Advocate A.S. Ponnanna and reiterated the demand for mentioning ‘Kodavaru’ in the Caste Certificate. Nachappa had argued that in the past, it was mentioned as ‘Kodagaru’ in the Caste Certificate, which had an impact on the cultural and social values of the Kodavas.
He further maintained that the CNC had appealed to the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission Secretary to bring in changes in the Caste Certificate issued under Category 3a.
Now, CM Siddharamaiah, responding to the plea, brought the issue before the Cabinet yesterday, which approved using the term ‘Kodava’, ‘Kodavaru’ in the Caste Certificate instead of ‘Kodagaru.’
The Cabinet decision has also called the bluff of former BJP MLAs of Kodagu, who had turned away from their responsibility regarding the issue for years. When confronted over the issue, the former MLAs in the past had constantly argued that the matter does not come under the purview of the State Government and it is the Centre which has to do it.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / July 28th, 2023
Nithish PV, a native of Kodagu, has bagged sixth rank in the five-year LLB course (Kannada medium) in the state.
Karnataka State Law University, Hubballi, has announced the tentative list of rank holders.
A student of Vidyavardhaka Law College, Nithish wrote exams in Kannada language and scored 51.28 % marks.
He hails from Abbur Katte village in Somwarpet taluk.
He is the son of farmer couple PD Vijay and MS Shobha, said senior advocate S Lokesh, under whom Nithish is currently receiving hands-on training in Mysuru.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mysuru News / July 27th, 2023
Kargil Diwas being observed in Mysuru on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
Kargil Vijay Diwas marking India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil war was celebrated in the city on Wednesday and tributes paid to those who were martyred in the war.
The district unit of the Akhil Karnataka Ex-servicemen’s Association along with Rotary Club of Heritage Mysore, held a programme which was attended by MLC C.N. Manje Gowda.
A bike rally of nearly 150 persons was taken out in the city to mark the occasion and it was flagged off Col. R.R. Menon, Commandant, NCC Group Head Quarters, Mysuru and the rally passed through the main thoroughfares of the city. There was also a function at a choultry where ex-servicemen from the city who took part in the Kargil war were also felicitated. MLA T.S. Srivatsa, Ex-servicemen association president K.P. Diwakar and others were present.
Members of Yuva Bharat also celebrated Kargil Vijay Diwas at Field Marshal K.M.Cariappa Circle.
In the neighbouring district of Kodagu, Kargil Diwas was attended by a large number of ex-servicemen and their family members besides the general public. The main event was held at General Thimayya Memorial Museum in Madikeri and district in charge Minister N.S. Boseraju paid tributes to the martyrs. Madikeri MLA Manthar Gowda said that all efforts would be made to build a community hall which has been a long-pending demand of the ex-servicemen in the district.
The MLA said there were more than 5,000 ex-servicemen in the district and hence a community hall was imperative. He said the sacrifices of the soldiers who died fighting for the country has to be recalled and Kargil Diwas was one such occasion. An ex-serviceman Girish Kiggalu was felicitated on the occasion and he recalled how the Indian soldiers overcame the Pakistani army and inflicted a defeat on the enemy forces.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 26th, 2023
A file photo of the Krishnaraja Sagar in Mandya district.
The water level in the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) across the Cauvery breached the 100-ft mark on Tuesday morning and attained 102.35 ft by night owing to heavy rain in the catchment area of the river for the last few days. Meanwhile, water level in the Kabini reservoir in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysuru district is nearing the full reservoir level.
The southwest monsoon, which was weak in Kodagu during June and a greater part of July, gained traction during the last few days consequent to which heavy to very heavy rain lashed the district, bridging the deficient significantly.
This also helped increase the volume of the inflow and enabled the KRS to cross the 100-ft mark, which seemed unlikely till a few days ago. The reservoir level was 91.24 ft on Saturday.
While the reservoir level has crossed the 100-ft mark as against the full reservoir level of 124.8 ft, the live storage in the dam increased from 16.69 tmcft on Saturday to 22.81 tmcft on Tuesday, an increase in the storage by 6.12 tmcft in less than three days. But it is pertinent to note that this is only 46% of the dam’s gross capacity of 49.45 tmcft.
Inflow and outflow
The inflow was at the rate of 48,025 cusecs on Tuesday morning and increased to 49,280 cusecs at night, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) and the outflow was at 5,449 cusecs. The current trend of increased inflow into the KRS may last so long as Kodagu receives copious rain coupled with an increase in the discharge from the Harangi where the outflow was hovering around the rate of 30,000 cusecs on Monday, dropped to 20,000 cusecs on Tuesday afternoon and further declined to 13,000 cusecs by evening.
The forecast
The ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Gonikoappal, which is the District Agro Meteorological Unit of Kodagu, has forecast rainfall from 41.6 mm in Somwarpet to 60.9 mm in Madikeri and 59.9 mm in Virajpet, on Wednesday. But from Thursday onwards, the forecast indicates that the rain will abate and the three taluks are expected to receive between 8.7 mm and 14.7 mm rainfall on Thursday and 1.5 mm and 3.1 mm on Friday with a further decline by Saturday. Consequently, the rate of inflow into the Harangi and the KRS in the downstream will also abate.
Kabini nearing FRL
The Kabini reservoir at Beechanahalli in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysuru district is inching closer to attaining the full reservoir level of 2,284 feet.
This is due to heavy inflow consequent to rain in the catchment area of the river in Wayanad, Kerala, in the upstream region. The rate of inflow was 25,485 cusecs and the water level was 2,281.27 ft on Tuesday. The authorities have announced that the outflow from the dam was stepped up from the rate of 15,000 cusecs to 20,000 cusecs and said the Bidarahalli bridge could be partially submerged.
Kabini is the first reservoir that tends to get filled up as early as late June or in the first week of July during monsoon but this year scanty rain resulted in poor inflow into the reservoir. The gross storage capacity of the reservoir is 19.52 tmcft against which the live storage on Tuesday was 17.79 tmc ft.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / byThe Hindu Bureau / July 25th, 2023
Brik Oven, the renowned Bangalore-based pizzeria is thrilled to announce a collaboration with Nikki Ponappa, golf coach and founder-the Food Lover Company, for a special breakfast sandwich pop-up event. This partnership aims to support the Coorg Wellness Foundation, with all proceeds from the event going towards the charitable organization.
Brik Oven’s sourdough, meticulously fermented for 48 hours, will be generously packed with the most delicious fillings. The menu will be showcasing a range of breakfast sandwiches including scrumptious Burrata and Mozzarella cheeses and bread made in-house at Brik Oven. Drawing inspiration from the coffee heartland, the sandwich spread will feature an authentic Coorg delicacy as well, directly sourced from the estates of Coorg – the Pandi Curry. The offering will also include Veg, Vegan, Prawn and Brik Oven’s own Roast Chicken and Ham varieties, paired with fresh seasonal fruits for a harmony of flavours.
Brik Oven and the Food Lover Company aim to create a memorable culinary experience for attendees while supporting a noble cause, a commitment to building a community and giving back to the Coorg Wellness Foundation. The Food Lover Company has made significant contributions to the foundation’s initiatives, including the construction of homes and the provision of higher education for children in Coorg.
Drop in at Brik Oven and dig into these mouth-watering sandwiches. Follow @brikovenblr on Instagram for more updates!
Stays at a resort in Galibeedu, visits General Thimayya Museumat Madikeri and Suttur Mutt in Mysuru
Madikeri/Mysuru:
After attending the Opposition unity meeting at Taj West End, Bengaluru, on July 18, former Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav headed to Kodagu to stay at Taj Madikeri Resort & Spa, Coorg in Monnangeri village, near Galibeedu.
Interacting with a few resort staff and the guests for a few moments, Akhilesh said that he had come to Kodagu a couple of times when he was a student at Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE) (now JSS Science and Technology University) and had visited Madikeri to witness the night-long Dasara procession.
Before heading to Kodagu, Akhilesh had a stopover in Mandya where he rested at a private hotel and he met his old friends and classmates.
After his night’s stay in Kodagu, the Samajwadi Party leader took time yesterday morning to visit General Thimayya Museum at Madikeri which celebrates the life of former Army Chief General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya, housing a variety of antique weaponry and war relics.
Welcoming the former UP CM, Museum Manager Subedar Major Gowdanda Thimmaiah, took him around the Museum and explained to him how ‘Sunny Side,’ the erstwhile ancestral house of General Thimayya, who served as the Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961, has been renovated and converted into the Museum.
Accompanied by party National Spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhuri, Akhilesh Yadav went to every section of the Museum and was curious to know the tradition of warriors and how the Kodagu district became a nurturing place for Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, General Thimayya and other numerous Lieutenant Generals, Brigadiers, Majors and the other Defence Services officers.
The Kodagu Police had provided tight security to the visiting VIP and media persons were not allowed inside the Museum during his visit. Only one camera person was allowed to click photos. Here too, Akhilesh spoke about his warm association with Madikeri and Mysuru.
“I studied in a Military School and read about General Thimayya. I recently came to know about this historic and well-maintained Museum and I had made up my mind to visit Madikeri. I bow to the celebrated General and the soil of Kodagu,” he said.
Picture shows Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji blessing the Samajwadi Party leader during his visit to Suttur Mutt at the foot of Chamundi Hill in city.
Akhilesh returned to Mysuru where he caught up with a few of his friends and classmates. At SJCE, between 1990 and 1994, Akhilesh studied Civil Engineering before proceeding to Australia for MS in Environmental Engineering.
His classmate Dashrath Rai and others accompanied Akhilesh to Suttur Mutt where the former UP CM took the blessings of Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji. The Swamiji felicitated Akhilesh and presented a memento.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles> Top Stories / July 209th, 2023
The 22nd Annual get-together of Kuvempunagar Kodava Residents Association, Mysuru was held on July 16 at Kodava Samaja’s Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Community Hall in Vijayanagar 1st Stage here.
On the occasion, Association directory was released.
Seen in the picture are from left:
Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah, President, Shri Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha; Byretira Ganapathy, Association Past Secretary; Mukkatira B. Jeevan, Kodava Samaja Hon. Secretary; Machanda Raja Muthappa, Association Secretary; Voterira B. Medappa (Vittal), Association President; Mechanda Shashi Ponnappa, Samaja President; Madapanda Lala Appachu, Association Vice-President; Balyamanda Nanaiah, Past President; Moovera Kuttappa, Past President and Ithichanda Kalappa, Association Past President.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery> PhotoNews / July 23rd, 2023
Of the three, Kaverappa and Koushik are not widely known. Vyshak, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, is a more familiar name. The head-turner was Kaverappa, who snared eight wickets in the game and was adjudged man of the series for 15 wickets in two games.
From left) Vidwath Kaverappa, Vijayakumar Vyshak and V Koushik at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
There was a ’90s vibe about South Zone’s 75-run victory over West Zone in Sunday’s Duleep Trophy final in Bengaluru. The bowling backbone, as it was for the country for most of the 1990s and early 2000s, largely comprised those from Karnataka.
Like Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi, the pace trio of Vidwath Kaverappa, Vasuki Koushik and Vijaykumar Vyshak scythed through a star-studded batting line-up of Cheteshwar Pujara, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan and Priyank Panchal. They picked up 16 of the 20 South Zone scalps, a performance that held the promise of another wave of bowlers from the Southern powerhouse.
Between them, the three bowlers have featured in only 33 first-class games. Pujara alone has 103 Tests to his name. Shaw and Yadav, too, are Test cricketers while Panchal and Khan, both domestic stalwarts, have been knocking on the doors for a long time. But the gulf in experience hardly mattered.
Of the three, Kaverappa and Koushik are not widely known. Vyshak, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore , is a more familiar name. The head-turner was Kaverappa, who snared eight wickets in the game and was adjudged man of the series for 15 wickets in two games. Like most youngsters from Madikeri in Coorg, one of India’s hockey hubs, he used to play hockey until he fell in love with fast bowling. A product of Karnataka State Cricket Association’s talent hunt programme, the 24-year-old can move the ball both ways, thanks to his wrists. In just eight Ranji games, he grabbed 30 wickets. Hailing from a humble background, he attended the trials in Mangalore when he was 16 and impressed coaches and selectors right away. Noted coach Samuel Jayaraj, the man credited with mentoring K L Rahul, asked him to stay back. Kaverappa had second thoughts but Jayaraj eventually convinced him.
Possessing a smooth action and accuracy, he was more than a handful in the first innings, where he nabbed seven wickets including those of Pujara, Yadav and Khan. He swings the new ball and gets reverse swing when the ball gets old and ragged. “He is a natural athlete, and if he could add a few yards of pace, with the seam movement he has, he can go a long way,” Srinath Aravind, who worked with the trio as bowling coach of Karnataka last season, told The Indian Express.
His partner-in-crime is Vyshak, a selfless workhorse who ties up one end so others can reap the rewards of his labour. He conceded just 72 runs in 32 overs for three wickets in the game, suffocating the batters into mistakes and using the old ball to good effect with his leg-stump line.
Not that he is any less skilful. Vyshak could be as good as Kaverappa with his movement, but he has the heart and muscle to bowl long spells even if the pitch provides little assistance.
In his teens, he wanted to be a wicketkeeper but could not because he was overweight. He was a batsman in age-group cricket before becoming a spinner and then eventually a fast bowler. Pursuing his father’s dream to play cricket, Vyshak led Karnataka’s wicket charts in Ranji with 31 scalps in 8 matches last season, the state unearthing a mainstay after the heyday of Aravind, R Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun. He was lethal with short balls too, twice on Day Four, he struck Khan, one on his helmet and the other on his left shoulder.
Koushik’s journey to the state has been different too. A mechanical engineer who worked with Amazon as a content executive, he took the sport seriously only when he was 17.
At 30, he found the break he had long yearned for. “I lost my prime years between 22-26, because there was no place (with Vinay, Mithun & Aravind around). Even though I did well in club cricket, I could not even get a chance in Thimmaiah Cup squads from where Karnataka players are picked. But last season, I finally got an opening and from there on, it has been an enjoyable ride,” said Koushik, who possesses immaculate control with the old ball. He pocketed four wickets in the second innings, including those of Pujara and Yadav in the same over.
It’s the perfect combination, said Aravind. “All three are gifted in their own way and that is what makes them a perfect combination. When we gave them the opportunity last season, they showed hunger and that drive.”
Captain Hamuna Vihari, too, praised them effusively. “Quality bowlers will make the captain’s job really easy and these three did that for me,” he said. Like in the ’90s, Karnataka’s bowling is rocking again.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Sports> Cricket / by Venkata Krishna , Bengaluru / July 17th, 2023
Helps Forest Officers effectively plan operationsand drive pachyderms back into jungle.
Amid the rise in the human-elephant conflict in some forested pockets of Kodagu along the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, the Forest Department has deployed a hi-tech thermal drone to keep track of daytime and nocturnal movements of wild elephants inside forest ranges and human habitats.
The drone technology was first used in Nagarahole to control forest fires and now, there are three such drones there. However, a need was felt to acquire a thermal drone due to the increasing human-elephant conflict.
Sources said while managing the human-elephant conflict, the safety of elephants and also humans has been a major concern for the Forest Department and the wildlife activists as deaths of animals are being frequently reported from various parts of the district as they come into contact with live electricity wires.
Due to the need, one thermal drone was brought to Nagarahole in January this year at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh. Monitoring the movement of the elephants has always been a challenge for the Department amid several limitations.
“Now we have been using a thermal drone and it detects live objects through their body temperature and those get flashed on the computer screen. It gives us a proper count of a herd and the number of calves,” Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Director Harshakumar Chikkanaragund told Star of Mysore.
The drone can also be used to drive the elephant herd away from a potential danger area as its location can be pinpointed. The drones are not only helping the staff determine the herd composition and drive them in a desirable direction but also prevent casualties.
Heat signatures of living species
Unlike drones with normal cameras that rely on light signals to capture images, thermal drone cameras pick up heat signatures of living species in motion. This makes thermal drones ideal for deployment after sunset, complementing the use of normal drones during daylight hours.
“By accurately detecting herd movements, determining their composition and tracking elephant directions, objective decisions can be made for deploying elephant squads. Thermal drone cameras have become an invaluable asset for night-time operations. They enhance situational awareness, ensuring efficient management of wild elephant movements and mitigating potential conflicts,” Harshakumar added.
According to Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Yogeshwari Desai, who has been trained to use the thermal drone, the machine has a 2-km range and can fly 400 metres above the surface. It has a powerful thermal sensor and night vision ‘positive image’ technology cameras. It is convenient to use and the exact location can be ascertained. If one has to do physical combing even for a 2-km range, a lot of manpower and equipment is needed,” she explained.
Easy navigation inside woods
The camera on the drone operates based on the location information obtained via GPS, enabling easy navigation of the elephants’ whereabouts. Additionally, the drones produce minimal noise, allowing the staff to monitor animals such as elephants, tigers and other wildlife without causing any disturbance
During the night, the thermal drones conduct operations using radar, ensuring that local residents are not inconvenienced. Once the specific location of the elephants is identified, the information is sent to the Task Force and the teams proceed to drive the elephants back into the forest.
It also becomes easy to spot the origin of forest fire and extinguishers can be rushed to the place, she said. The drone has a backup of 40 minutes and after that, the battery must be charged. The drone has three batteries.
The team that has been trained to operate thermal drone at Nagarahole.
Trained team
Before the drone was deployed, a New Delhi-based team trained eight operators at Nagarahole. They are DRFO Jyothi Kumar and Forest Guard Sunil Nellebidu (Antharasanthe), DRFO B.B. Mahesh Kumar (D.B. Kuppe), DRFO Chethan Kumar Kolur (Nagarahole), DRFO Yogeshwari Desai (Anechowkur), DRFOs K.K. Arpitha and H.N. Madhuprasad (Hunsur) and Forest Guard Basavaraju (Veeranahosahalli).
The operators were trained for six days at Dammanakatte, Veeranahosahalli and Moorkal ranges that abut human habitats. The Nagarahole Director further said that they will seek aid from wildlife-related organisations, NGOs and firms to sponsor more such thermal drones for effective management of conflict zones.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles, Top Stories /July 18th, 2023
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