Monthly Archives: January 2014

Farmers to get 50 per cent subsidy for solar fencing

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

The government will provide 50 per cent subsidy to farmers to put up solar fences on their farms, said Minister for Forests B. Ramanath Rai on Thursday, as an obstacle against entry of wild animals and to reduce man-animal conflict

During his visit to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office here, the Minister told presspersons that the department had put up elephant-proof trenches and installed solar-powered fences around some stretches of the reserve forests and national parks. “This is part of the Karnataka Sustainable Forest Management and Bio-diversity Conservation Programme. However, if farmers want to get solar fences installed by private companies, we will grant them 50 per cent subsidy,” he said.

The Minister said his department was not against development. However, only such projects that will directly benefit people will be permitted. People who submit applications for land in deemed and reserve forests should keep in mind the various rules governing forests in the State.

The Minister said the process of resolving the confusion over the C and D categories of land (degraded forest land) had commenced. “According to the law, there is no provision to regularise encroachments on forest land after April 27, 1978. However, we have received over one lakh applications seeking regularisation of land. A Cabinet subcommittee has been formed to study the issue and take a decision,” he said.

Posts to be filled
He said 700 posts in the department would be filled shortly. “The department is also encouraging farmers to grow sandalwood. We are giving away saplings at Re. 1 and Rs. 2 each to farmers. These farmers will also get an incentive of Rs. 10, Rs. 15 and Rs. 20 for each sapling annually, in the first, second and third year respectively, to ensure its growth,” the Minister said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bangalore – January 03rd, 2014

Nine-day Kannada Sahitya Ratha tour from Saturday

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

98 Gram Panchayats are to be covered by the ratha, which will be taken out from Madikeri to the rural areas of Kodagu to apprise the people of the glorious culture of Karnataka and its rich traditions.

A “Kannada Sahitya Ratha” will be taken out from Madikeri on Saturday to rural areas of Kodagu on a nine-day sojourn with the message of the 80th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, scheduled to be held in Madikeri from January 7.

The field publicity committee of the sammelan is taking out the ratha from its office at the D. Devaraj Urs Bhavan in Madikeri at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday, president of the committee T.G. Prem Kumar said in a statement here on Thursday.

This was a preliminary step to apprise the people of the importance of the sammelan and invite them to the meet, he said.

The 54th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan was held in Madikeri in 1981 presided over by writer Shamba Joshi.

Senior writer Na. D’Souza would preside over the 2014 sammelan, Mr. Kumar said and added that the ratha would cover all 98 gram panchayats in the district to provide information on the sammelan and invite them to participate in it.

The ratha would carry the portrait of the president of the sammelan and Jnanpith award winners from the State.

People would be apprised of the glorious culture of the State and its rich traditions, Mr. Kumar said.

Artiste B.R. Satish has designed the sammelan ratha. Pamphlets on the sammelan would be distributed among the people during the visit, Mr. Kumar said.

Principal convenor of the committee H.B. Shivananda said that the executive officers of the three taluks would be in-charge of the tour.

Training
Members of the field publicity committee were imparted training on Thursday to handle their jobs during the sammelan, by honorary general secretary of the Kodagu District Kannada Sahitya Parishat B.A. Shamsuddin.

Mr. Shamsuddin said that all members should have adequate knowledge of all aspects related to the sammelan to guarantee that the delegates were not short of any information.

Chief Minister invited
Meanwhile, president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat Pundalika Halambi, Kodagu district in-charge Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, Mysore-Kodagu MP A.H. Vishwanath and president of the Kodagu unit of the parishat T.P. Ramesh invited Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the sammelan by handing over an official invite to him in Bangalore on Thursday, a release said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Madikeri – December 27th, 2013

Supersonic opens to ‘7,000 footfalls’ at Candolim

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Candolim :

Vh1 Supersonic, the five-day electronic dance music (EDM) festival at Candolim beach, kicked off on Thursday, opening its doors to an estimated 7,000 people, as claimed by organizers on Day 1.

“The turnout today far exceeded our expectations-especially since the entire festival was built up in just 21 days!” said a delighted Nikhil Chinappa, music curator for the festival which features over 120 artists. “We still have four days to go, and expect a full house with over 10,000 people on December 30,” he added.

So what is it that sets Supersonic apart from other music festivals? “The feeling of sand between your toes is unrivalled,” Chinappa quipped. “Most EDM festivals try to cram too many DJs into their line-up, and each performance ends up sounding like just a trailer of their music. We will give our DJ’s longer sets to create a mood, and actually tell their stories through music,” he said. Despite competition from other EDM festivals under way in the state, Chinappa swears by Goa as the best possible destination to launch a new live music brand. “The biggest advantage about Goa is a practical one-our guests do not have to drive long distances to and from the festival venue; especially those who have had a few drinks at the festival. Most of them can just walk back to their hotel rooms and others have a large number of taxis at their disposal,” he adds.

The organizers of the event, Viacom 18, are going all out to boost international tourism in Goa. This year, guests from Malaysia will be admitted into the festival for free. “Every year, we will choose two countries, and all guests arriving from there will gain free entry. We will also conduct promotions for the festival there, which will automatically attract more tourists to Goa,” said Jaideep Singh, VP, Viacom 18, while briefing reporters at Candolim. The media company is also in talks with the Goa government to conduct three other large-scale events in a bid to increase tourist footfalls during the off season.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Goa> Candolim / TNN / December 27th, 2013