Category Archives: Green Initiatives / Environment

Cracks in Mangaluru-Madikeri NH275 retaining wall spark landslide fears; residents evacuated

This highway is lined with several retaining walls, including the Rs 7.5 crore retaining wall behind DC Office that also faced the threat of collapse and is currently being strengthened.

Residents living below the retaining wall are relocating to relief camps after large cracks appeared in the structure, raising fears of a possible collapse.Photo | Special Arrangement

Madikeri :

The first landslide-prone spot on the Mangaluru-Madikeri NH275 that caved in during the 2018 floods is once again under threat, with the multi-crore retaining wall at the site developing major cracks. Residents living right below the wall have been asked to shift to a relief center in Madikeri.

Permanent relief work across the Mangaluru-Madikeri National Highway, which has become vulnerable to landslides and road slips, has remained a distant dream from 2018. While crores of funds have been sanctioned for temporary relief works, the National Highway faces the threat of collapse and poses a risk to commuters every monsoon season.

This highway is lined with several retaining walls, including the Rs 7.5 crore retaining wall behind DC Office that also faced the threat of collapse and is currently being strengthened.

Another retaining wall on this road is located about 4 km from Madikeri city centre and was sanctioned after a major landslide on the road in 2018. Thousands of sandbags were then lined across this vulnerable spot and crores of funds were released for the establishment of the retaining wall.

After over five years of project sanction, the retaining wall recorded was completed in 2023. Nevertheless, just two years after its completion, massive cracks have developed on the retaining wall that faces the threat of collapse.

Following the development of cracks, Madikeri taluk tahashildar visited the spot and requested the families residing below the retaining wall to shift to a relief centre.

Meanwhile, the locals voiced against the authorities for poor quality work and urged them to take action against the concerned contractor. DC Venkat Raja visited the spot and inspected the retaining wall.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Express News Service / July 31st, 2025

Kodagu reels under landslides, heavy rains: Over 60 families evacuated amid fear of floods

Kodagu :

Torrential rains continued to lash Kodagu district, triggering landslides, overflowing rivers, and widespread panic among residents. The worst affected is the Shaktinagar area near Madikeri, where more than 60 families have been forced to vacate their homes due to fear of landslides.

The relentless downpour has caused rivers, streams, and rivulets across the district to swell beyond danger levels. In Shaktinagar of Mekeri village, located on a vulnerable hill slope, the threat of soil erosion has left residents in deep anxiety. Authorities have covered the vulnerable area with tarpaulin sheets in an attempt to prevent further damage.

District officials have stepped up vigilance across Kodagu as the current weather situation draws parallels to the devastating floods of 2018. Powerful winds accompanying the rain have uprooted hundreds of trees and electric poles, further worsening the situation.

In a related incident, a massive tree fell on a moving car in Bajegundi village, Somwarpet taluk. The driver, Charan, had a miraculous escape with no injuries reported.

Meanwhile, water has been discharged from the Harangi reservoir into the Harangi and Cauvery rivers, which are now flowing dangerously over their banks. In Kushalnagar taluk’s Hudugur area, coffee plantations and paddy fields have already been submerged, and fears are growing that homes in low-lying areas could soon be inundated.

Several roads across the district have been affected. A large tree fell across the Madikeri–Somwarpet highway, bringing traffic to a standstill for over an hour. In Ponampet taluk, many low-lying areas are submerged, and the Balyamandur–Harihara road has been rendered impassable.

The district administration, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), has been placed on high alert, closely monitoring the situation. Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to remain vigilant as rain and strong winds are expected to continue.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Daijiworld Media Network – Kodagu / July 27th, 2025

No let-up in rain in Kodagu, several houses damaged

Harangi reservoir outflow increased to 25,000 cusecs owing to heavy rain in the catchment area, say irrigation officials; IMD issues orange alert for Kodagu district.

A house damaged due to incessant rain at Kurchi village of Srimangala Hobli in Kodagu district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The hilly district of Kodagu continued to be battered by incessant rains, with widespread damage to property reported during the last 48 hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rains for the district and issued an orange alert.

There were incidents of telephone and electricity poles being uprooted and collapsing onto residential buildings, vehicles, or blocking roads and disrupting traffic movement on Sunday.

A portion of the Anganwadi centre in Harduru village in Somwarpet was damaged when a giant tree collapsed in the early hours of Sunday due to heavy rains and a gale that lashed the region.

A family in Madegodu village in Shanivarsanthe was shifted from their house as its walls developed major cracks. A portion of the house also collapsed, and the authorities who took stock of the situation declared the building unfit for occupation due to the imminent threat of complete collapse. The family was shifted to a room behind the house.

Similar reports have emerged from Emmemadu in Napoklu, Uluguli in Suntikoppa, Hoskote, Sampaje, Guddehosur in Kushalnagar and other places. In Surlabbhi village, heavy rains and gales damaged the tiled roof of the local higher primary school.

In Koodumangaluru village, Kushalnagar, a family of two was relocated as their house was damaged due to incessant rains, and the walls were on the verge of collapse when the officials visited to assess the rain damage.

Residents of Biligeri in Somawarpet were shifted to a relief centre as the water level in a local water body was steadily increasing, threatening to maroon the village.

Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department announced that outflow from the Harangi reservoir has been increased to 25,000 cusecs due to heavy rains in the catchment area of the river. Officials from the Revenue Department visited the area near the dam to take stock of the security. This is because the Yadavanadu bridge has submerged due to an increase in outflow from the dam. The public has been advised against venturing close to the dam, and the approach roads have been barricaded as a security and safety measure.

In Kanive village, Kushalnagar, the suspension bridge across Cauvery river was in danger of being submerged. Hence, the officials have erected barricades to prevent people from using it. Similarly, tourists were restricted from visiting the Rameshwara temple due to the surge in water level of the river.

Meanwhile, the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) said that damage to electricity poles and interruptions to power supply were reported at many places due to multiple incidents of tree falls. However, efforts were on to restore power, and the staff were working on a war-footing to restore normalcy, it added.

The district has received a cumulative rainfall of 89.11 mm during the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. Some of the places which recorded very heavy rains include Napoklu (80.2 mm), Bhagamandala (117.2 mm), Ammati (91.5 mm), Shanthalli (238 mm), Hudikeri (191.8 mm), Srimangala (166 mm), Ponnampet (60 mm) among others.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 27th, 2025

Rain: Holiday declared for schools in Kodagu district

The NDRF team inspecting the landslide-prone areas in Kodagu on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

In the wake of persistent and widespread rainfall across Kodagu district, Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja has declared a holiday for all anganwadi centres, primary and high schools, and pre-university colleges on Thursday as a precautionary measure.

The district has been witnessing heavy downpours over the past few days, with instances of rain-related damage reported from several locations. In the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday, Kodagu recorded 60.92 mm of rainfall. Srimangala received 146 mm, while Shanthalli and Shanivarasanthe registered 160 mm and 112 mm respectively.

Meanwhile, Kiran Kumar, assistant commandant of the 10th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), visited the district on Wednesday to evaluate the readiness of the NDRF team already deployed in Kodagu.

The NDRF team inspecting the landslide-prone areas in Kodagu on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

During his visit, he held discussions with R.M. Ananya Vasudev, a district disaster management expert, and inspected areas vulnerable to landslides. He also issued directives to strengthen safety measures and ensure swift relief operations in case of emergencies.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / June 25th, 2025

Karnataka rains: Minister seeks damage report from Kodagu DC

Minister in charge of Kodagu N.S. Boseraju inspecting a damaged house during his tour of rain-affected areas in the district on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Minister in charge of Kodagu N.S. Boseraju on Thursday directed the district administration to submit a comprehensive report on rain-related damages in the Karnataka district. He said the matter would be taken up at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for July 2, where necessary funds will be sanctioned based on the report.

Speaking to reporters at Harangi after inspecting rain-hit areas, Mr. Boseraju said that Kodagu had been under red alert for several days due to incessant rains that caused widespread damage to roads, bridges, and houses. “Fortunately, there has been no loss of life, thanks to timely precautionary measures,” he said.

The Minister stressed that while rainfall in Kodagu is vital for southern Karnataka, the current downpour has led to severe local destruction. “In the upcoming Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting, we will assess the extent of damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure for carrying out immediate relief measures and planning permanent solutions,” he added.

He noted that earlier, the release of relief funds required specific criteria to be met. Now, however, funds will be disbursed based on the actual scale of damage.

“Officers have been directed to submit the report at the earliest. Once received, it will be discussed with the Chief Minister, the Revenue Minister, and departmental secretaries to facilitate timely fund allocation.”

Referring to the closure of the Ramaswamy Kanive hanging bridge, which connects Kushalnagar in Kodagu with Periyapatna in Mysuru, Mr. Boseraju said steps would be taken to reopen the bridge in coordination with K. Venkatesh, Periyapatna MLA and Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture.

N.S. Boseraju inspecting the hanging bridge near Kushalnagar in Kodagu on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Earlier in the day, the Minister, accompanied by Mantar Gowda, MLA, visited several rain-affected locations. He inspected the flow of the Cauvery river and assessed damage to the hanging bridge at Kushalnagar, and assessed another bridge near Rangasamudra., and visited a damaged house belonging to a local resident Chandrashekhar.

He said the monsoon had arrived unusually early — in late May — this year, resulting in considerable damage across the district. With more rain expected over the next two months, he directed officials to take adequate precautionary measures in flood-prone areas.

Mr. Boseraju also assured that the district administration has sufficient funds in its Personal Deposits account to manage disaster response, and that compensation has already been distributed to those whose houses were damaged. Permanent reconstruction works will begin after the monsoon subsides, he said.

A report on the total rain damage will be submitted to the Chief Minister, along with a request for additional funds, he added.

Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, Zilla Panchayat CEO Anand Prakash Meena, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, and other officials were present during the visit.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / June 26th, 2025

Every frog has its day

One day, this scientist hopes to mislead a kumbara night frog into thinking he’s one of them

Coorg Yellow Bush Frog

Gururaja K.V. hid behind a tree and called “ treeek…ting…ting…ting. ” Several Coorg yellow bush frogs replied, “ treeek…ting…ting…ting .” When he called again, the amphibians leaped towards him. He snuck behind another tree and sang the frog song. The little leapers reoriented to his new position. For 90 minutes, the researcher played hide-and-seek as his subjects sought the intruder. One of them eventually found him and jumped on his throat. “It literally wanted to choke me,” he recalled, barely able to contain his laughter. Realising its opponent was much larger, the confused amphibian leapt off.

Gururaja’s experiments with mimicry led to another species trying to out-compete him. He imitated the bird-whistle call of the Jog night frog, signalling he was a male who had found a mate. His ‘rivals’ upped their volumes to drown out his chirps so that the female wouldn’t hear him.

To most people, all frogs look similar. Gururaja is one of the few experts who can point to slight differences that set species apart. He even discerns distinct personalities. His research subjects have names such as Hegde, Bhat, and Vishnu. The Hegde frog was talkative like Gururaja’s host in the area, Ashok Hegde. The frog he called Bhat was so quiet, the researcher had to check on it every hour.

Gururaja didn’t discover these amphibians until he was a master’s student at Karnataka’s Kuvempu University. Since he was an amateur birdwatcher, his advisor, S.V. Krishnamurthy, had suggested he list the species frequenting the campus. Gururaja wanted a more challenging project. How about studying the diet of night frogs, his advisor asked. That’s how his career in this field began.

At first, touching the frogs’ loose skin and slippery texture felt icky. After handling hundreds over a month, his disgust dissipated and he was hooked. Since no more than five people studied frogs at that time, making a mark in this under-researched area was easier than in the crowded field of bird research.

Much of the amphibian work in India is taxonomic — examining dead specimens, describing species, and establishing the relationship between different ones. After completing his postgraduate studies, Gururaja switched to studying their natural history. His curiosity and observations led to the discovery of one of the most enigmatic species — the kumbara night frog.

In 2006, Gururaja observed a female perform a headstand, with the male riding piggyback, to lay her eggs on leaves and twigs. The deed done, she hopped away, while the male picked up globules of mud with his tiny hands and plastered the mass of eggs until it was completely covered.

Gururaja spent the following eight years documenting more instances of this unusual behaviour before publishing his discovery. He continues to study the kumbara night frog, seeking answers to questions such as: why does it do what it does? Is it protecting its eggs? From what? Some species carry tadpoles on their backs such as poison dart frogs or in their mouths like gastric-brooding frogs. But no other amphibian stands on its hands or daubs mud on its eggs. He estimates he has enough work with night frogs alone to keep him occupied for another 15 to 20 years.

In northern Kerala, his team discovered another species, the ochlandra reed frog, with a beautiful yellow sunburst pattern in its eyes. He had seen nothing like it before. Nor had he seen any frog do what it subsequently did. It disappeared from view by squeezing into a hole in a length of reed bamboo. It wasn’t merely hiding from predators. To Gururaja’s astonishment, it stuck its eggs to the inner walls of the hollow columns. Researchers knew of no other amphibian that exploited this snug space as a nest site until 2011, when they saw a related species wriggling into a reed bamboo in Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats.

Publishing natural history observations such as this demands tedious work. It’s not enough to report on one frog that did something exceptional. To be scientifically acceptable, researchers spend several seasons watching different frogs of the same species before they can conclude the behaviour is not an aberration.

Gururaja is mindful that spending long months during the rains in damp clothes and mucking in streams and swamps is not for everyone. He gives recording equipment to new students to record frog calls. In the process, the youngsters forge their own relationship with the forest and the creatures. Only a few turn their backs on this field deterred by leeches. Gururaja safeguards against burnout by taking a break after every five days of fieldwork.

The high humidity has greater success in killing recording equipment. No matter how well Gururaja treats his gear — wrapped in plastic, sheltered under an umbrella, wiping it dry at the end of each session — moisture condenses on the circuit boards, corroding them. He shrugs off the loss as par for the course in doing frog work.

One species resists Gururaja’s attempts to fool it with his mimicry. He can’t match the frequency of the kumbara night frog’s call, but it’s not from lack of trying. Every season, he tries afresh to challenge his favourite amphibians at their game, and one day he hopes to mislead one into thinking he’s of them.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Environment> Beautiful People / by Janaki Lenin / February 23rd, 2025

A rain gauge in Kodagu that can never do its job!

Ponnampet:

Relentless rains continue to lash Kodagu, pushing rivers and streams well above the danger mark. Authorities have evacuated residents from low-lying areas and declared a holiday for all schools and colleges today, as the region remained under a red alert issued until 8 am this morning.

But as Kodagu battles the fury of nature, its most critical weather monitoring tools are failing. Of the 104 Telemetric Rain Gauges (TRGs) installed across the district, 56 — over 54 percent — are non-functional. Shockingly, there is no clear timeline for when these essential devices will be restored.

In a glaring act of official negligence, a TRG installed at Kanoor Gram Panchayat in Ponnampet Taluk — an area known for heavy rainfall — has been placed under a roof. Ironically, it is installed to measure rain but placed where it does not rain.

This baffling decision has rendered the gauge completely useless. With not a drop of rain reaching the sensor, accurate data from this high-rainfall zone is lost. Residents said that the TRG was installed two months ago and nothing has been done to rectify the construction anomaly. 

Furious residents have flayed the Panchayat for such incompetence, calling out the lack of basic common sense and waste of public funds. TRGs are vital for real-time rainfall data collection and help agencies like the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) issue timely flood alerts and coordinate emergency responses.

With more rain forecast and rivers swelling dangerously, the failure to properly install and maintain these gauges could cost lives, and underscores a disturbing lack of preparedness to face the monsoon.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / June 26th, 2025

Abandoned hilltop houses tell a tale of destruction in Madikeri

People looking at the devastation near Raja Seat at Indira Nagar in Madikeri.

The abandoned localities on the hilltops near the Raja Seat in Madikeri town, which bore the brunt of landslips, are testimony to the devastation here. People are thronging the roads leading to the dwellings to understand the scale of destruction from a safe distance.

Though tourist arrivals have dropped drastically following the Deputy Commissioner’s diktat to hotels and homestays to not accept bookings until August 31, people carrying relief from various places and those from adjoining places bordering the district are thronging these places to see the destruction that has struck the coffee land this month.

The police have established a check-post near Raja Seat to prevent people from closing in where the remaining houses in Indira Nagar and Sri Chamundeshwari Nagar, the adjoining residential hubs, are delicately positioned. They are facing the looming threat of the earth caving in any time. All the residents had been evacuated to safer places and relief camps.

“The devastation is much bigger in the interior parts which have no access because of damage to roads. Therefore, people are coming to the town to see the havoc,” a local said.

‘Disaster tourism’

Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan said VIPs visiting Kodagu to understand the scale of devastation need to bring their escorts with them instead of depending on the local police and officials to usher them to the sites. If a large number of people accompany high-profile visitors, it will hamper the ongoing relief works, he said.

“Deployment of local officers on such visits may end up in relief work getting hindered despite the fact that officers from other districts have been deputed to oversee works,” he argued. “Local officers need to be on duty for relief and rescue since they are aware of the terrain. Deploying outstation officers will not serve the purpose. I have conveyed this to the Minister in charge of Kodagu district, S.R. Mahesh, and Deputy Commissioner P.I. Sreevidya.”

Meanwhile, the district officials and staff have been strictly told not to avail leave for at least a fortnight in order to assist with the relief and rebuilding works.

A woman Madikeri Zilla Panchayat employee said: “We have been told to put off our leave and stay in the headquarters for attending to the relief and other important works.”

An engineer attached to the Public Works Department, who is overseeing the roadworks, said, “Until the situation becomes stable, it may not be possible to avail leave, considering the devastation and the works to be carried out on a war footing.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Shankar Bennur / August 23rd, 2025

Treading the green path: Delhi man’s solo mission to beautify Madikeri

Delhi resident in search of pure air makes Madikeri his home, beautifies neighbourhoods

Armed with his ‘litter picker’, Piyush Agarwal picks up trash in his neighbourhood in Madikeri. He aims to beautify every lamppost in the city with a flower pot and a dustbin.(Photo | Express)

Madikeri :

A stroll on a quaint street near Government Junior College in Madikeri introduces one to a beautification project where flower pots hang on retaining walls of public spaces. In between the flower pots, dustbins are also placed for public use. This beautification project was not taken up by the City Municipal Council or any other government body; it is the effort of an individual from Delhi who moved into the city two years ago in search of clean air.

Piyush Agarwal has grand plans to make Madikeri one of the quaintest cities to live in. Piyush, who started on a road trip across India in search of a place with clean and pure air to lead a retired life, says, “Madikeri fit the bill the best for my retired life.” So, what made him undertake the journey from Delhi to Madikeri? “I was in search of a place with a low Air Quality Index (AQI), which I wanted to make my home,” he says.

The businessman and entrepreneur developed bouts of cough due to high air pollution in Delhi. “I had difficulty breathing and developed cough bouts. COVID happened, and my business suffered a bit. That is when I decided that Delhi was not the place I wanted to live in, and it was time for me to get out,” he shares.

Road trip across 27 states

He set off on a road trip across India, travelling from East coast to West coast, the AQI meter as his travel buddy. He checked the air quality in every place he visited. Ooty, Chikkamagaluru, Goa, Kerala, Kanyakumari – Piyush travelled the length and breadth of India and covered 27 of 29 states; this was in 2022.

“I had a few parameters in mind. While air quality was the priority, the other parameters included the kind of people, a not-so-large city, greenery. And Madikeri fit the bill the best,” he explains.

His travel experience also revealed that the majority of the country is polluted, as air quality level across several regions is above 50. “Madikeri had an AQI level of 16, and became my ideal place to settle down for a retired life. Kodagu is among the best districts and nowhere in the country can you find such forests with abundant greenery. Even coffee cultivation is done using shade trees,” he opines.

(Photo | Express)

Piyush rented out a house and has been a resident for two years. He wants Madikeri to become one of the most beautiful cities in the country and his efforts can be seen in the beautification and cleanliness projects he has undertaken silently. During his first year, Piyush caught the attention of the City Municipality Council after he was spotted picking up litter and clearing garbage in his neighbourhood, equipped with a ‘litter picker’ stick and gunny bag.

Impressed, then CMC president Anita Poovaiah invited Piyush to her office and appreciated his efforts. “I am 65 years old and cannot bend down to pick up litter. I bought the ‘litter picker’ stick online and have a few collections of these sticks. Every Indian wants to keep their house clean, but when it comes to their surroundings, they are not bothered, this is a very Indian sentiment. The road and neighbourhood are an extension of my house and I often clean my surroundings. This introduced me to CMC councillors and now, I have started an initiative to install public dustbins across the city,” he says.

During his chats with CMC officials, Piyush got permission to instal dustbins (pinned to retaining walls of public spaces) across several wards in the city. Similarly, he put up dustbins in busy public spaces, including tourist spots and outside schools.

“I approached the youth empowerment department for permission to instal dustbins across the District Ground premises,” he says.

He got the nod, and installed over 15 dustbins in the grounds, but they were all stolen within 48 hours. “I don’t want to fix the dustbins permanently as it would be difficult for civic workers to clear them. Cleaning dustbins must be a simple process. However, of the hundreds of dustbins installed across wards, over 50 per cent were stolen. This is when I realised that people of Madikeri don’t want dustbins,” he points out. Piyush faced several hurdles in the cleanliness project, but this did not stop him from beautifying the city.

After the dustbin project, he undertook beautification work by installing flower pots across the city limits. Flower pots with self-watering technology (originally designed by him) are lined up across city limits.

(Photo | Express)

‘Proud to live in Madikeri’

Piyush has more such initiatives in mind. He aims to install a flower pot and a dustbin on all lampposts. However, getting permission, especially from the CESC department, remains a Herculean task.

“Imagine if every lamppost was lined with a flower pot and a dustbin. Madikeri will become one among the cleanest cities in the country, and I would be proud to live here. I don’t want any government support and I am ready to invest completely on my own. However, CESC denied permission for it and there is nothing I can do to change this,” he says, disappointed.

Nevertheless, Piyush continues to involve himself in environment-friendly beautification projects. He has planted over 350 varieties of trees across his neighbour’s private estate and invented eco-friendly measures to water these saplings.

“I sought permission from one of my neighbours to plant saplings in his estate. I told him I don’t want any support or returns, but only oxygen from these saplings. I collected 10,000 plastic water bottles from restaurants and hotels. During monsoons, I collected water in these bottles and these bottles continue to water the self-watering flower pots and saplings I have planted so far,” he explains. His routine includes cleaning the neighbourhood of trash, taking a stroll across the estate to take care of his saplings, cycling and golf. While he visits the estate during the morning hours, he ensures to put his food in a solar cooker and keep it under the sun. “By the time I am back, I know my food is cooked and this is my routine during summer days,” he shares.

While the initiative undertaken by Piyush is not known to the majority in the city, people who know him are inspired by his efforts. “When I was growing up, pollution was not among the biggest concerns. The environment then was pristine, and we could swim in any stream as the water was clean. I have seen nature deteriorate in my lifetime and river Jamuna in Delhi is proof of that deterioration. Now, I do my bit to keep nature clean,” he concludes.

He also hopes to garner support from people’s representatives as he is ready to fund the beautification project, provided he has all the permissions in hand.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Prajna GR / May 25th, 2025

Parliamentary delegation visits spices research station in Kodagu

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Food Processing, headed by Charanjit Singh Channi, a member of the Lok Sabha, visited the ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Regional Station, at Appangala in Kodagu on Friday.

The delegation comprised 12 members of the Lok Sabha, four members of the Rajya Sabha, and officials from the Lok Sabha Secretariat. During the visit, the institute organised an exhibition highlighting the latest varieties and technologies in spice cultivation developed by the ICAR-IISR. Mr. Channi, the chairman of the committee, inaugurated the exhibition.

A meeting was convened, where R. Dinesh, Director of ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, presented a comprehensive overview of the activities and achievements of the institute.

The committee had discussions with the scientists and officials from the ICAR-IISR. Officials present at the event included Sudhakar Pandey, ADG (FVS&MP), ICAR, New Delhi, S.J. Ankegowda, principal scientist and head, ICAR-IISR, Regional Station, Appangala, and senior officials and staff from the ICAR-IISR and its regional station.

The event also featured an insightful interaction with Prema Ganesh, a progressive farmer from Maragodu, who shared her experiences regarding spice farming in Kodagu.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / May 24th, 2025