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Karnataka News Archive: February 2005
Tara - from actress to director
Saturday, February 26, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 25 : Talented Kannada actress Tara is the latest to join the list of stars who have turned producers.
With over 18 years of experience in films and television and as the winner of five state awards, the actress, who is now producing "Achala" directed by Girish Kasaravalli, told IANS that her next target is direction.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q: You are still busy acting. Then why production, like Jayamala and Soundarya did? Are you too desperate for a national award?
A: I cannot speak for others, but I can only say that producing a Kannada film was in mind for a long time and everything fell into place this time.
Winning a national award is certainly a huge achievement, but that was not primarily the reason for my venturing into production. I was long interested in making a film, but until last year I had not thought over the specifics.
I wanted to work with a director like Girish Kasaravalli with whom I had not worked.
I had earlier met Girish and expressed my desire to work with him. Though he took some time initially to accept this proposal, he told me to read anthologies of stories written by some good woman writers.
I had read a story "Benki Male" written by Bhanu Mushtaq in her book "Karinagaragalu" and was impressed. Girish too had read the story and had contemplated working on a script based on the story. I said I was prepared to produce the film.
I told Girish that he could choose his own artistes. But I am happy he placed confidence in me and gave me the leading lady's role.
Q: What will be your preference next, to produce Kannada films or act?
A: I am happy I get called by producers and directors to act in difficult roles. I would like to act in different types of films.
Recently, "Nalla" was well appreciated. The film's hero Sudeep and director Nagendra Prasad were the first to compliment me on my performance.
Q: But Girish's films have not been commercially successful.
A: Girish's films, as I have seen, are as appealing in narration as any other commercial film, although they may not have some ingredients that are the hallmarks of commercial films.
Girish focuses more on details and narration and this will certainly strike a chord with the audience who want to watch serious films.
Q: You are typecast in character roles in Kannada films and you should be feeling stagnant. Perhaps this is the reason why you decided to act in Tamil films after a gap of nearly 10 years?
A: Essentially I am called for roles that may look stereotyped, but I have not allowed stagnation to go deep into my mind. I will certainly give my best to whatever role comes to me.
In "Nalla", I had a small role of four or five sequences. The Tamil film offer came to me just like that and I took it. I had won the Tamil Nadu award for my acting in "Ingeyum Oru Gangai" in 1987.
The Tamil film "Solli Adippen" has Vivek as a hero. Vivek, who has excelled in comical roles, has turned hero for the first time. I have a good role in the film.
Earlier, I did have some good offers from Telugu and Tamil films, but I could not accommodate dates then. I am also acting in Kannada films such as "Siddhu" and "Shastri".
Q: What is your next step? Turning into a film director?
A: Absolutely. I really want to become a film director, but it would certainly take another two to three years.
But I am already working on a script, which is deep in my mind. I am making some additions and subtractions in the story line to make a perfect script before I decide to turn into a director.
I will certainly do a lot of homework and prepare a complete script before going behind the camera.
--Indo-Asian News Service
Solar power system for Karnataka police stations
Saturday, February 26, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 25: Solar power systems have been commissioned in 300 police stations located in various rural areas of Karnataka by the Electronics Division of engineering major Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
The solar modules installed atop the police stations would directly convert sunlight into electricity and store it in a battery bank through which lighting, computer and wireless systems were operated, a BHEL statement said today.
"The successful commissioning of solar power systems will go a long way in improving the working conditions of police stations in rural areas of the state," it said. (Agencies)
Iranian Speaker on a day's visit to K'taka
Saturday, February 26, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 25 (UNI) Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Dr Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, along with a Parliamentary delegation, will arrive in the city on March three on a day's official visit to Karnataka.
An official note here tonight said, on arrival, the Iranian delegation would visit the International Tech Park and hold a detailed discussion with IT officials.
The delegation would then come to the Vidhana Soudha and visit both the Houses. It would also meet Assembly Speaker Krishna, Council Chairman V R Sudharshan and Chief Minister N Dharam Singh.
The foreign delegates would later visit the hospital constructed at Alipur in Kolar district with Iranian aid.
Besides taking part in the dinner to be hosted by Mr Sudharshan and Mr Krishna, the members would also meet Iranian students studying in the city, before leaving for Hyderabad late that night.
Karnataka, Goa in quarters
Saturday, February 26, 2005 | Editor
IMPHAL, Feb 24: Karnataka and Goa entered the quarter finals of the ongoing 13th senior national women’s football tournament 2005 organised by the All Manipur Football Association under the aegis of the All India Football Federation at Imphal today.
At Mapal Kangjeibung, in group A’s last league match, Karnataka beat Delhi by 2-1 goals. The first goal of this match was scored by Vinita Baloni of Delhi in the 45th minute. The equaliser came in the 52nd minute scored by Vanitha P in favour of Karnataka. The winning goal was scored by captain of the Karnataka team Shiva Shankari P in the 68th minute.
In another match today in group F league Goa drew Assam goalless. Referee B Saha awarded two yellow cards in the 22nd minute to Goa international player Blanka Barretto and Rekha Boro of Assam. Tomorrow, five quarter finalist teams will be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Karnataka coach Victoria talking to IFP said that Manipur was one of the strongest teams in Indian football. She said her girls will be very lucky to play against Manipur and she won’t mind losing also.
VAT Introduction Module Worries Karnataka Hoteliers
Saturday, February 26, 2005 | Editor
Vyas Sivanand - Bangalore
Budget hoteliers in Karnataka are keeping their fingers crossed further to the government’s decision to introduce Value Added Tax (VAT). According to Karnataka Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association (KPHRA) president K L Ramanatha Bhat, as per VAT rules of Karnataka, hoteliers and caterers other than the star category hotels have to pay a tax of four per cent if their turnover is between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
There are just four rates of taxes under VAT - the zero rate, one per cent, four per cent and a general rate of 12.5 per cent. These rates will be uniform in all the states across the country. The same set of goods will be charged at same rates in all states. Most of the essential commodities are exempt from VAT, or fall in the four per cent category.
VAT does not cover small businesses with a turnover below a certain limit, which is decided by each state. Medium size businesses, again decided by the state, can opt for VAT or a composition system of tax on turnover. “The state of Karnataka comes under composition basis and we have requested the authorities to provide exemption from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 30 lakh and a four per cent tax above Rs 30 lakh under the VAT system, if it is introduced,” said Bhat.
Each state seems to have appealed to respective authorities with regard to their concerns relating to the introduction of VAT. In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the traders have to pay one per cent tax on income between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh while above that, one has to pay 12.5 per cent tax. According to Bhat, hoteliers in Karnataka will not be treated like Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu because of the composition. “Each state has its own structure. In Tamil Nadu, for up to Rs 10 lakh there is an exemption after which there is composition which goes in slabs,” said Bhat.
The budget hoteliers thus have two concerns - whether the VAT introduction will be rational across all states and secondly, if introduced, will the state authorities take heed to their requests of tax exemption up to a certain level.
Another concern, according to Bhat is the luxury tax, which until last year was eight per cent on room accommodation ranging from Rs 400 to Rs 1000, which is has now come to four per cent on room rate ranging between Rs 150 to Rs 400. “In Andhra Pradesh, hoteliers do not have pay tax on rooms costing up to Rs 600. We have requested for the same arrangement. Other than that, the hotels come under the Shops and Establishments Act further to which we are deprived of benefits derived through electricity and water charges. I feel, if tourism can be given industry status, then hotels, which are an integral part should also be able to enjoy the industrial status,” said Bhat.
Karnataka govt passes new order on CET
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
Nehal Kidwai
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 (Bangalore):
The Karnataka government has taken an arbitrary decision to only allow students from Karnataka to write the CET exam this year.
Every year over 1,20,000 students sit for the Common Entrance Test (CET) held as the first step of admission into Karnataka's multitude of private medical, dental and engineering colleges.
This year's sudden decision has surprised many. But the Karnataka politicians are defending their directive.
"This is a preliminary step taken to protect the interest of the Karnataka students. If the Supreme Court gives any new directive then we have to think accordingly," says Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Minster.
No concrete solutions
The CET exams will be conducted on May 3-4 and unlike every year no students from outside Karnataka will be allowed to write the exam.
This means that they will be left to the mercy exclusively of the management quota, which in turn means that a poor merit student from outside Karnataka will not be able to get a seat.
A meeting today by the Karnataka government ended without any concrete solutions.
"Upto March 15 the 7-member bench of the Supreme Court is hearing the CET case. Once they come out with the directive then we will meet again to discuss the future course of action," says Dharam Singh, Karnataka Chief Minister.
A seven-member bench of the Supreme Court is looking into the issue of admission norms to privately run professional colleges.
And the students from out of Karnataka will now have to wait for the apex court's order before they begin to queue up outside these privately run professional colleges.
Karnataka lad enters Guinness Book of Records
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 23: He had a penchant for carving from childhood much to the chagrin of his parents. But the adamant boy remained unfazed and continued his hobby that has now propelled him into the Guinness Book of World Records.
That is the story of 24-year-old C Mallikarjun Reddy, who achieved the feat of carving 28 links on a single toothpick.
Reddy who hails from Thoppanahally in Kolar district had not dreamt that one day he would hog the limelight and create a record for the piece of intricate carvings he started working on chalk pieces.
Reddy says, "I started this hobby when I was in second standard using chalkpieces that were available easily in school".
But Reddy's mother Akayamma was annoyed over her son's hobby and at times had even beat him warning against continuing the carvings.
After the authorities of Guinness Book refused to recognise his carving talent made on chalkpieces, Reddy chose toothpick, as a record stood in the name of Bob Shamey of America, who had carved 17 links on this miniature in 1993.
Yesterday, before a representative of the Indian branch of Guinness, Reddy took five hours to carve 28 links on a single toothpick with 66 mm length and two mm in diameter.
The arduous task and patient wait has fulfilled his dream now. (Agencies)
`Thevar Magan` in Kannada!
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
Thevar Magan’, that classic Tamil film (starring Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Hassan) is now being remade into Kannada as ‘Thandege Thakka Maga’ starring Ambarish and Upendra. The film went on the floors at Hotel Ashok on Sunday (20th Feb) evening.
Karnataka Chief Minister N.Dharam Singh switched the camera for the maiden shot. This is the second film function attended by Karnataka CM in his regime of roughly six months. Prabhavathi Dharam Singh lighted the lamp and KFCC President H.D.Gangaraju sounded the clapper board. Upendra and Ambarish in traditional attire faced the camera.
Ambarish, a sitting MP and actor of over 200 films had grown a thick moustache for the covete role that Sivaji Ganesan had made memorable in Tamil. Upendra has also changed his get-up for ‘Thandege Thakka Maga’.
S.Ramesh is the producer of this film. Director S.Mahender takes credit for screenplay and direction. Gurukiran scores the music and Krishnakumar is the cameraman.
State ready for moving into VAT regime: Siddaramiah
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
BANGALORE: Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramiah has said that the State was all set to move into VAT regime from April 1 and a final decision in this regard would be taken by the month end.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, Siddaramiah said that there was no confusion in Karnataka in this regard and the State was ready with the rules for moving into VAT regime.
When asked about protest from certain trade bodies against implementing VAT, Siddaramiah said that he had held discussions with trade bodies like FKCCI, CII and district trade bodies. Besides, the matter has been debated for over eight years, he added.
On some States backtracking from implementing VAT, Siddaramiah said that the central empowered committee on VAT under Chairmanship of West Bengal finance Minister Ashim Das Gupa was expected to meet either by this month end or early March, by which time a clarity would emerge on which are the States that would go for vat implementation.
Barring Uttar Pradesh, other States had agreed to implement VAT from April this year at a recent meeting of the empowered committee, attended by finance ministers of all States. However, Tamil Nadu had made not any official announcement to the effect that it will not adopt VAT, but it wanted exempt rice from tax.
Karnataka also wanted to exempt rice from tax if Tamil Nadu did so, to avoid trade diversion. State would be losing Rs 100 crore from that and Finance Minister P Chaidambaram had assured to sort out the issue, Siddaramia said.
Even States like Rajasthan and Punjab, which were now trying to backtrack on vat implementation, had consented to it at the empowered committee meeting he said and added, ``there are no grounds for opposing VAT by any State.''
Karnataka, AP join hands to check Naxalites
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
Press Trust Of India
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, over the weekend, launched a joint operation in the ravines of Kamanadurga hills near Pavagada in Tumkur district, in a bid to curb increasing Naxal influence in the region, police sources told PTI here.
The strength of the joint force is not known. Karnataka’s chief minister N Dharam Singh confirmed to PTI that joint operations had started and said the government would deal with the Naxalites ruthlessly.
A February 11 raid, on a police camp in Pavagada, by the Naxals resulted in the death of seven policemen.
Factional feud hits BJP in Karnataka
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
The north-south divide in the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit has boiled over after senior leaders and leaders of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Council, Yediurappa and Shankara Murthy, threatened to quit the party over "non-consultation" in the appointment of office-bearers by state party chief Jagdish Shettar.
The Karnataka BJP has always found its spiritual support from the north of the state, with the two senior leaders Yediurappa and Shankara Murthy hailing from the northern Shimoga district.
The leadership of the south of the state though has always dominated in Delhi, with Bangalore MP Ananth Kumar and former Mangalore MP Dhananjaya Kumar being made ministers in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
There has always been an uneasy truce between the two factions, which finally broke when Shettar, who is considered a close to Anantha Kumar, announced his new team of office-bearers. It was, according to detractors, made up entirely of people close to Kumar.
According to Shankaramurthy, a senior BJP leader in Karnataka, he was not upset with who had been selected as office-bearers, but the manner in which the selection was done. "There was no consultation with senior leaders, and the selection was done in a thoroughly undemocratic manner," he said.
"The people in the team are all good, but the appointments were made in a dictatorial manner," he said.
The problem for the Shimoga leaders has been compounded by the fact that former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, who joined the BJP just before the 2004 general elections and is a member of the Lok Sabha from that area, has been ignored in Delhi, even though Sadananda Gowda, elected from Mangalore has been prabhari for Goa.
Add to this the fact that Kumar has been general secretary of the national chapter of the BJP, and the factional cauldron is boiling over.
The angry Murthy and Yediurappa have shot off a letter to Karnataka party in charge VP Goel, who has promised to visit the state in a day or two to clarify matters.
"We have threatened to resign from our posts as leader of the opposition in the Assembly and council, but we are confident that the Central leadership will be able to resolve the problem," said Shankaramurthy.
The BJP in Karnataka started becoming a force in the late 80s, before which it had a presence of only six MLAs in the Karnataka Assembly. Shankaramurthy and Yediurappa who joined the party in its infancy in the state are now feeling ignored after the party became the biggest party in the Assembly.
Coastal Karnataka to have TV channel
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
Mangalore , Feb. 22
A MANGALORE-based television production house will soon launch `Namma TV', an 18-hour channel for the people of coastal Karnataka.
The soft launch of the channel is slated for Thursday (February 24).
Addressing newspersons here on Monday, Mr Suresh Rao, Director (Marketing) of Katalysts Productions Pvt Ltd, said though Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have a unique culture, no mainstream channel is catering to the needs of the region. Considering this, Katalysts Productions came out with an idea of launching `Namma TV', exclusively for the people of coastal Karnataka.
The channel will produce and telecast programmes in Tulu, Kannada, Konkani and English languages.
`Namma TV' will be available on prime band and will be transmitted through optical fibre cable along Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. It will also be available at Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district.
Apart from entertainment programmes such as serials and movies, the channel will take up live coverage of regional events and programmes. There will be regular programmes by music directors of Kannada movie industry, Mr Gurukiran and Mr V. Manohar.
`Namma TV' will telecast news bulletins in two months, he said.
The company will formally launch the channel in March after receiving response from viewers. It will rectify hitches, if any, at the time of formal launch, Mr Rao said.
The company's studio and production house will be inaugurated in Mangalore on Thursday.
Mr Manoj Kumar, Managing Director; Dr Shivasharan Shetty, Director (Programming); and Mr Gururaj S. Amin, Director (Technical), were present.
Seventeen persons killed in road mishap in Karnataka
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 21 : Seventeen persons were killed in a collision between a state-owned bus and a passenger van at Nidagatta in Mandya district of Karnataka today, police said here.
Most of the victims were said to be travelling in the van.
More than 20 persons sustained injuries in the mishap and were rushed to hospitals at Maddur, Mysore and Bangalore, police said.
Police blamed "negligent driving" by drivers of the two vehicles for the mishap on Bangalore-Mysore highway.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus was bound for Mysore from here.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi expressed shock over the accident. PTI
Karnataka to introduce Konkani as optional language in schools
Sunday, February 20, 2005 | Editor
Kumta (Uttar Kannada) Feb 19: The Karnataka Cooperation Minister, Mr R V Deshpande today assured that the Karnataka government would introduce Konkani as an optional language in schools in Konkani-speaking districts of Karnataka. He also promised that the government would co-operate in establishing Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Parishad.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the 17th All-India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan at Manjunath Shanbag Nagar here, Mr Deshpande stated that Konkani was a secular language which united people from all religions. The Karnataka minister, who chaired the convention, urged the gathering not to hate other languages as it might lead to national disintegration.
The two-day Konkani literary conference was inaugurated by renowned Kannada writer, Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kambar said, “On the literary front we must be free to receive what we want from western countries, but at the same time be powerful and tempt others to take from us.”
Dr Kambar felt that English language tempted our writers to imitate western writers, and it was a fact that imitation could never be as good and legitimate as the original.
“The critical eye of the westerners defeat us in this game. An eye which goes on tempting us to take one more chance. The morality of western discourse is to defeat and exhaust all other discourses,” he observed.
Speaking further he stated, “Languages like politics can also become a centre of power. We can understand this politics of culture by studying the domination of English language.”
Various other speakers spoke on the occasion.
The Karwar Joida MLA, Mr Gangadhar Bhatt; the Goa Konkani Akademi president, Mr Pundalik Naik; the Kumta MLA, Mr Mohan Shetty; the Kumta Konkani Parishad president, Mr Murlidhar Prabhu; the convention chairman, Mr Mahabaleshwar Sail and Konkani Parishad president, Mr Basti Vaman Shenoy were present on the dais.
The two-day convention will conclude tomorrow. Congress leader, Ms Margaret Alva is expected to attend the finale.
Crack down on Bangalore land sharks soon
Sunday, February 20, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 19 : Land grabbers beware. The Karnataka government has finally woken up to the fact that thousands of acres of its valuable land in and around this city have been either encroached upon or grabbed by land sharks over the past several years.
Riding on a real estate boom and rapid expansion of the hi-tech city touted as India's Silicon Valley, unscrupulous elements have been appropriating government and revenue lands in and around the city in connivance with officials through middlemen.
A survey undertaken by the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) recently has brought out some startling facts and figures, indicating that around 177,435 acres of government land, valued at Rs 27.84 billion, has been occupied by unauthorised people.
"The survey also identified 24,142 buildings constructed on these illegal lands without clearances and defaulting on payment of property taxes. The state revenue department has found that 14,333 acres in the green belt area around the city were not spared by land sharks," state Information Minister B. Shivram told IANS here.
In a bid to recover the encroached lands and initiate stringent action against the grabbers, the state government has decided to set up a committee headed by the principal secretary of the revenue department.
"The committee will coordinate with BMTF to launch legal action against the illegal occupants. Notices will be served on the encroachers as well as the owners of the buildings seeking explanation," Shivram said.
In case some of the lands or buildings were being used for civic purposes, the government may spare them from eviction or demolition in public interest, provided the occupants come forward to regularise the property and pay up the cost.
"The government has not only lost its hold on these lands but is losing about Rs.50 billion ($1.1 billion) revenue annually in terms of property taxes and development costs," Shivram lamented.
Unauthorised constructions in prime lands measuring 1,273 acres valued at Rs.490 million were also discovered by the revenue authorities.
"The value of these lands has been estimated at nominal rates and not at the present market rate," Shivram stated.
Of the farmlands around the greenbelt, it has been found that several were being used for non-farming activities without obtaining clearance and paying conversion costs to the government.
Also warning of stringent action against bootleggers, the minister said the government would bring an amendment to the excise law for making production and trading of illicit liquor a non-bailable offence, with three years of imprisonment as penalty.
"The amendment will be introduced in the state assembly during the budget session next month," Shivram added.
-Indo-Asian News Service
Jaya case: Karnataka appoints public prosecutor
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore: With the appointment of a public prosecutor and completion of translation of voluminous documents, Karnataka on Saturday set in motion the process to facilitate commencement of trial in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case filed against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
The Karnataka High Court on Friday appointed B V Acharya, a senior advocate as the public prosecutor for the case, Karnataka Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H K Patil told a press conference.
The High Court has also informed the government that it has completed the work on translating documents running into 17,000 pages from Tamil to English.
Patil said A S Pacchhapure, who has been appointed the judge to try the case, would soon announce a date for commencing the trial.
WB to provide 39.5 mln dlrs for Karnataka water project:
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
New Delhi, Feb. 18 : The legal agreements for World Bank assisted Karnataka Urban Water Sector Improvement Project (Ln.4730-IN) were signed between the Government and World Bank, here today.
According to a press release, the World Bank has agreed to provide a Loan of 39.50 million dollars for the project.
The agreements were signed by Dr. Ranjit Bannerji, Joint Secretary (FB), Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the Government of India; Michael F. Carter, Country Director, World Bank on behalf of the World Bank and P. Ravi Kumar, Secretary, Urban Development Department on behalf of Government of Karnataka.
The total cost of the project is estimated at 51.08 million dollars with government of Karnataka contributing the balance amount of 11.58 million dollars.
The objectives of the project are to launch Karnataka's Urban Water Supply (UWS) reform process based on the state urban water policy, improve UWS services in participating Urban Local Bodies and demonstrate the sustainability of efficient and commercially-oriented UWS service provision.(ANI)
Setback to non-Karnataka students
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
In a major setback to non-Karnataka candidates, the State government has decided to conduct the Common Entrance Test (CET) this year for admissions to government quota seats only for Karnataka students, reports DHNS from Bangalore.
The government quota of seats in medical, dental and engineering colleges will now be restricted only to Karnataka candidates, says a notification issued on Friday.
Last year, the CET Cell had scrapped the seat-selection process for non-Karnataka candidates for medical and dental seats. The government quota seats were allotted to non-Karnataka students only in the engineering stream. Last year 32,000 non-Karnataka students appeared for the CET. The government has also decided that candidates who have obtained admission to a particular discipline through the CET Cell in the previous years will not be eligible for selection of a seat in the same discipline this year.
“We had to introduce this rule to ensure that merit (government) seats do not go waste or land in the hands of college managements,” CET Cell officials said.
Karnataka Bank raises deposit rates
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
Mangalore: Karnataka Bank Ltd has announced an upward revision of domestic term deposit rates with effect from February 21, on fresh deposits and renewals of maturing ones.
A bank release said here on Thursday that senior citizens would get one per cent more on their fixed deposit and Abhyudaya Cash Certificate deposit of one year and above maturity periods.
Karnataka accuses Centre of discrimination
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 18 : Karnataka today accused the Centre of "discrimination" in extending special assistance to the state to tackle the drought situation.
While the Centre provided Rs 100 crore special aid to Kerala, which has not even submitted a memorandum for it, the repeated pleas of Karnataka had been ignored so far, Minister for Revenue M P Prakash told reporters here.
The recommendations of a central study team that visited the affected areas recently for sanctioning 1.60 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains and Rs 80 crore assistance had also not been accepted, he said.
The Centre recently sanctioned Rs 49 crore out of the state's share of the Calamity Relief Fund, after adjusting the amounts released earlier, he said.
The state had received communication a few days ago that it has been allotted 1.16 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrain, Prakash said.
Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh had led an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and presented a memorandum, seeking Rs 1400 crore special aid to take up relief operations in scarcity hit areas.
About 82 out of the 176 taluks have been declared drought hit. This is the fourth consecutive year that such conditions are prevailing in the state. PTI
Withdraw turnover tax, says IT association
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
The North Karnataka Association of Information Technology has urged the state government to withdraw immedietely the order issued by the commercial tax department to recover the turnover tax (TOT) and resale tax on computer spare parts.
The commercial tax department has ordered payment of TOT and resale tax with retrospective effect from 1997.
Ashok Dhulanavar, association president, told reporters here on Wednesday that the commercial tax department had issued notification for reexamination of accounts from 1997.
He alleged that the department was pressing for payment of tax without giving any time for offering explanations. He said the commissioner of commercial taxes had earlier exempted computer spare parts from TOT and resale tax. But a sudden decision to recover the tax with retrospective effect had put the IT industry in a quandary, he added.
Ashok pointed out that the clarification issued by the commissioner on December 15, 2004 had mentioneds about the tax exemption given to computer spare parts. But subsequent order stated that the exemption had been cancelled and the tax would be recovered with retrospective effect from 1997,Ashok said.
He contended that the tax amount from 1997 would exceed the capital investment in the IT sector.
He appealed to the state government to withdraw the order to collect TOT and announce sales tax and TOT exemptiosn to computer spare parts and equipments in the forthcoming budget by passing suitable legislation . He said the IT sector was ready to pay the TOT and sales tax if imposed in future.
But he wanted the government to drop the order to recover the arrears as it would put the industry in difficulty. Ashok informed that the association had moved Karnataka High Court in this regard but the high court had rejected the plea.
Telgi case trial though video conferencing
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
New Delhi, Feb 18: The stage is set for commencement of simultaneous trial in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam through video conferencing.
A meeting to finalise the measures was held today at Bangalore in which prison officials of Karnataka, Maharashtra and CBI participated, a CBI spokesman said here.
The meeting was called to take stock of the measures to be implemented by both the states to ensure smooth functioning of the video conferencing facilities, he said.
Mock exercises were also carried out to ensure smooth functioning of the video conferencing facilities installed at various locations in Karnataka, the spokesman said.
He added that it was now expected that the trial through video conferencing could commence shortly at several locations including Bangalore.
A large number of accused, including Abdul Karim Telgi, were lodged in different jails of the country and facing trial in different courts in connection with the fake stamp paper case.
Holding of trial through video conferencing was initiated by the CBI to avoid unnecessary expenditure on the travel of the accused persons besides warding off security threat, he said.
He added that a petition for holding trial through this method was moved before the Supreme Court, which had ordered the state government to comply with the CBI request. (Agencies)
100 City jewellers to participate in Gold festival
Saturday, February 19, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore Gold Festival 2004, organised last year by the magazine and co-sponsored by the Council, received good response from both jewellers and consumers.
Nearly one hundred jewelers from Bangalore will participate in the 'Karnataka Gold Festival 2005' to be organised across the State in association with the 'Art of Jewellery' magazine from April four to May 25.
The World Gold Council (WGC) Vice-President K Shivram told reporters in Mangalore that such a fest was being organised for the first time in all the districts simultaneously, coinciding with the coming Ugadi festival, Akshaya Thritiya and wedding season.
Stating that a bumper prize of one kg gold was up for grabs at the festival, besides over 240 prizes and three assured prizes for each district, he said over 200 jewellers have confirmed participation. He would tour all the districts to rope in more jewellers, he added.
Mr Shivram said the Bangalore Gold Festival 2004, organised last year by the magazine and co-sponsored by the Council, received good response from both jewellers and consumers, with 40 leading jewellers taking part. It registered a 20 to 25 per cent growth in sales of gold and jewellery.
Rs.230 mn rehab package for Karnataka tribals
Friday, February 18, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 17 : The Karnataka government Thursday announced a Rs.230-million ($5 million) rehabilitation scheme for tribal families in the state.
In a bid to check the growing Maoist menace in tribal areas, the state cabinet decided to take up the scheme in Malnad region on a war footing.
After a meeting of the cabinet, State Information Minister B. Shivram told reporters: "The package includes regularisation of tribal-encroached land in the forest areas of Chikamaglur district and allotment of land for those tribal families willing to move out of the forest and settle in the plains.
"Out of the 1,300 tribal families in the district, we have identified 201 families for relocation at a cost of Rs.230 million. The central government will extend Rs.180 million for implementing the scheme."
The cabinet also decided to take up the socio-economic development of three southern districts - Udupi, Chikamaglur and Dakshina Kannada - where Maoists have been active of late.
"Each of the three districts will be allotted Rs.10 million for taking up schemes that will generate employment and self-help income to the adivasis (tribals) who are mainly dependent on forest resources," Shivram said.
With a spurt in Maoist activities in the Malnad region, the cabinet resolved to address issues concerning the vulnerable sections by providing them cultivable lands, irrigation and drinking water, healthcare and education.
"The socio-economic development of backward and tribal areas is an ongoing process. We are committed to bring the marginal people into the mainstream to check the influence of Maoists in their region," Shivram said.
The cabinet, however, put off a decision on the deployment of two police squads set up to tackle the Maoist menace in the Malnad region and in the plains from Bidar in the northern part of the state to Kolar in the south.
"Though the cabinet has discussed this issue, the final decision will be taken after assessing the ground situation and consulting opposition parties in the state," Shivram said.
The Maoist issue dominated the three-hour cabinet meeting in the wake of an attack by suspected rebels near Pavagada last week on a police camp in which six policemen were killed.
The attack is suspected to be the handiwork of Maoist rebels who sneaked into the border village from Andhra Pradesh to retaliate against the death two of their comrades in a gun battle with police Feb 6.
(IANS)
Plea to give Kannada classical language status
Thursday, February 17, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 11 : A plea to give Kannada the status of a Classical Language was made by a delegation of Kannada literateurs to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who, assured them to place their request before the central Language Commitee.
Chief Minister N Dharam Singh also made out a strong case for giving Kannada the Classical Language status, saying languages like Kannada and Tamil have stood the test of time and were languages of the people in the first millennium.
"They continue to be the media of expression in the new world. Now they are in the third millennium holding their fort against all the onslaughts of the technology. These criteria should be included in the definition of a living Classical Language", Singh said in his representation.
Briefing reporters, Information Minister Shivaram said the Prime Minister assured the delegation that he was fully aware of the importance of Kannada and he would place their request before the language committee.
The delegation included noted litterateurs Chidananda Murthy, Chandrashekhar Patil, Javare Gowda and Prof L S Sheshagiri Rao.
An all party delegation also met the prime minister and placed various demands including granting special economic status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region under Article 371 to help remove the regional imbalance.
Problems relating to coffee growers were also mentioned to the prime minister, Shivaram said. PTI
Question papers will leak no more
Thursday, February 17, 2005 | Editor
BANGALORE: No more question paper leaks and fussy physical transfer of papers to students.
In a revolutionary move to cut the menace, especially for medical and dental courses, the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has decided to transmit question papers online to all its examination centres from the current academic year.
The questions papers will not only be printed in front of the students but even professors and examiners will have access to the papers only 15 minutes prior to the examinations. The online project is likely to be implemented from the next MBBS/BDS examinations for the 60,000 odd varsity students.
The university's initiative will be a first-of-its-kind in the country, as even the premier Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) physically transfer their Common Admission Test (CAT) question papers to centres across the country.
"The move follows several complaints of question paper leakages. This online transfer will ensure that no one has access to question papers before they get into the examination hall. We'll give passwords to examiners just 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the exams," RGUHS vice-chancellor R. Chandrasekhara told The Times of India.
Last year, RGUHS had admitted to a racket where question papers were sold for sums ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 a paper!
The racket was so organised that the "agents" visited students' hostels and supplied the question papers leading to discrepancies in the entire examination system.
With the online system of transferring question papers, all examination centres will have to gear up on the infrastructure front. "We'll have to ensure that the examination centres are equipped with computers, printers and back-up battery systems to avoid any delay in the commencement of the schedule. We're confident the much-needed credibility in the examination system is restored with this online transmission," Chandrasekhara said.
Karnataka Bank to celebrate Founders Day
Thursday, February 17, 2005 | Editor
The Mangalore-based Karnataka Bank Limited is celebrating its Founders’ Day on February 18. The event will be held from 5 pm at bank’s auditorium, head office building here in Kankady. The agenda for the function includes a lecture and musical concert.
The Founders’ Day Lecture will be delivered by justice N Venkatachala, Lokayukta.
Ananthakrishna, chairman of the bank, will preside over the function. The bank has opened the well wishers of the bank.
Guj NRE relocates Dharwad coke oven site
Thursday, February 17, 2005 | Editor
Gujarat NRE Coke Limited has annoucned that the 400,000 Metric Tonnes Per Annum, MTPA, Coke Oven Project at Dharwad will not be installed in its subsidiary Bharat NRE Coke Ltd (BNCL), as decided earlier. The oven site has been relocated to the parent company instead.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18 about the expansion plans of the company, Arun Kumar Jagatramka, MD, Gujarat NRE Coke Limited said that they were looking at Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds, FCCBs, worth Us $ 50 million. "We are still in the process of raising the money of around 250 crore as evaluation we took from shareholders last month," he said.
The consolidated manufacturing capacity of the company including its subsidiary BNCL will be 1,406,000 MTPA by December 2005. The BNCL plant at Dharwad of 324,000 MTPA capacity will be completed by September 2005.
The company's Coke manufacturing unit at Jamnagar, Gujarat with installed capacity of 358,000 MTPA is fully operational. The oven at Kutch in Gujarat, with installed capacity of 324,000 MTPA, is currently operating at 180,000 MTPA, while the remaining capacity will be operational by March 2005.
The facility at Dharwad, Karnataka with installed capacity of 400,000 MTPA is to be operational by December 2005.
KFCC: State Chamber’s unkind cut on film advertisements
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 | Editor
Starting Friday this week, you won’t see beaming, full-page advertisements on new film releases. For, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has imposed restrictions on issuing film advertisements of Kannada and non-Kannada films.
As per the new decision, Kannada film producers can issue a maximum of half-a-page ads, only during the release of the film and on completing 50 and 100 days of its show, while non-Kannada producers can issue a three column ad during the release of a new film. On all other occasions, Kannada film ads should always be less than half-a-page and non-Kannada films should not exceed two columns, KFCC vice-president Sa Ra Govindu told reporters.
Shilpa signs Kannada film
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 | Editor
Manisha Deshpande (IANS)
After trying her luck in Hindi films, actress Shilpa Shetty seems to have decided to experiment and re-invent herself with films in Kannada.
Her latest catch is a role in an upcoming film starring leading Kannada superstar P Upendra, reported film portal Bollywood Trade.
"It is a terrific role with multiple shades, where I play both a heroine and villain," Shilpa said. Incidentally the film will be her third after Preet Sod Tappa and Vongag Onabba.
"I make it a point to find time for Kannada films at least once in a year because Kannada is my mother tongue and it is like home coming for me," she smiles.
Ayya
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 | Editor
by R G Vijayasarathy
Source: rediff.com
Clichéd dialogues, lifted scenes and the usual masala mark Kannada action hero Darshan's latest film Ayya, which also stars Rakshitha.
In true tough cop style, Darshan declares, 'I am not a police officer who studied in a convent. I am a police officer who studied in a corporation school. Don't mess with me.'
Applause, except for the fact that Tamil hero Vijay says the same words in the film Madurai. There is another dialogue that refers to the number of goons in the state compared to the number of police personnel. It is lifted from Vijay's recent film Tiruppachchi.
Director Om Prakash Rao is a master in lifting sequences from popular non-Kannada films – as was seen in his previous film Kalasipalya, which became a huge hit. Ayya is no exception, and is a 'collage' of popular non-Kannada films like Tiruppachchi, Madurai, Saami and others.
The plot of Ayya is simple. Darshan comes to Hubli as the take-no-nonsense assistant police commissioner, and clashes with the Doddas, the city's Mafia dons who are the kingpins of various rackets, from the flesh trade to gun-running.
When the youngest son of the Mafia family is acquitted in a rape case for lack of evidence, he humiliates Darshan outside the court. Before you can say 'long arm of law,' Darshan kills him in front of everyone, and files a report saying the criminal was killed in an encounter.
Thereafter, Darshan dispenses similar justice to the corrupt superintendent of police, gets the family members of the gang's henchmen to plead with their kin to abandon the path of crime, and fights the three Dodda dons single-handed. No prizes for guessing who wins.
In between, he also romances college belle Rakshitha, who all but disappears in the second half of the movie. She looks glamorous in some sequences, and too fat in others.
It is a film meant for the masses, and Darshan's fans get what they want. In fact, he looks good in a police uniform.
The comedy sequences of Sadhu Kokila, Tennis Krishna and Mandeep Rai fail to generate interest, mainly because of the shoddy dialogues. Shobharaj, Avinash and Sathyajith are good as the villains.
Ravichandran has scored music for the first time for a film he does not star in. Two of the songs, Thabala, thabala and Darshan Rakshitha are catchy. He has written lyrics for the songs as well. But the other songs are ordinary and even the picturisations are below par. Darshan Rakshitha is picturised the same way as Suntara gaali from Kalasipalya.
Anaji Nagaraj's camera work is, however, a plus point for the film.
Over all, Ayya is what they call a timepass movie. The first half is better than the second half of the film, which is not saying much. The climax scene, which the director had been touting as the 'real highlight,' falls flat because it seems too contrived.
Statutory warning: For those of you who liked Kalasipalya and want to watch Ayya because it has the same star cast, you might be disappointed.
A satellite town for Bangalore in the making
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 | Editor
Consider this picture. Businessmen from Bangalore travelling to Hosur in Tamil Nadu from the Karnataka city’s suburbs near Electronic City, Bangalore’s hub of IT (information technology) activity (which houses companies like Infosys and Wipro), just like Delhiites commute to Gurgaon or Mumbakars to Navi Mumbai.
Hosur is a mere 30 km away from Electronic City and the Tamil Nadu government wants to make the industrial township a giant satellite town like Gurgaon or Noida.
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) will commission a study shortly along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on how Hosur can be transformed into an information technology and IT- enabled services centre.
“The study will assess the socio-economic and technological potential of Hosur as an IT destination. It will be done by one of the top five consultants and will be completed in three to six months,” says Vivek Harinarain, IT secretary, government of Tamil Nadu.
Hosur, he says, has been chosen as it can dovetail the strengths of Bangalore’s deep talent pool and salubrious climate with Tamil Nadu’s infrastructural forte and relatively inexpensive real-estate rates.
Making Hosur an IT hub, however, will be a tough task. In 2003-04, when Tamil Nadu exported Rs 7,643 crore worth of software, Hosur’s contribution was zilch. Tamil Nadu is keen on changing this.
“We will consider building a 250,000 sq ft facility, on the lines of TIDEL Park in Chennai, at a cost of between Rs 35 crore and Rs 50 crore. This initiative, we hope, will create a light-house effect and boost investor confidence,” Harinarain says.
He says the Tamil Nadu government is likely to use a private-public partnership to upgrade Hosur’s present infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and shopping malls, to build Hosur into a viable satellite town.
The state government will provide all supporting infrastructural requirements such as land, sewerage, electricity and water.
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) plans on setting up a park at Hosur. The Union mMnistry of IT and Communications has asked the Tamil Nadu government to allot land for the building.
“With a TIDEL-type park, Hosur is a very viable idea. Lots of residential complexes will be thrown in between Hosur and Bangalore. Travel time is faster outside Bangalore to Hosur rather than within the city,” says K Pandia Rajan, managing director, Ma Foi Management Consultants Limited, the recruitment agency.
Yet the Tamil Nadu government will have to invest in improving the quality of people in the districts closest to Hosur. “There is a need for investment in schools and colleges in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri to develop human capital ,” Pandia Rajan points out.
It is not as if Hosur doesn’t have anything other than its proximity to Bangalore going for it.
It has been an industrial hub for more than two decades now and home to the manufacturing plants of Ashok Leyland, Titan Industries, T.T. Prestige, Reckitt Benckiser, Hindustan Lever, Carborandum Universal and TVS Motors. So, the basic infrastructure is firmly in place.
“Hosur’s potential to become a prime outlying suburb of Bangalore, on the lines of Noida and Gurgaon for Delhi and Navi Mumbai for Mumbai, has been largely underutilised. This is primarily due to the lack of adequate connectivity with Bangalore,” notes Shivaram Malakala, executive director, Habitat Ventures.
IT majors such Infosys and Wipro are just a stone’s throw away in Electronics City which is midway between Bangalore and Hosur.
These companies would be wary of setting up operations in Hosur as they are already battling the Karnataka government over the lack of proper roads to Electronic City from Bangalore. If anything can stop Hosur’s advances to becoming a IT super city, it will be poor road links.
Wipro and Infosys are already pushing a proposal for an elevated high-speed corridor between Electronic City and Bangalore. “Work on the Rs 400 crore, six-lane expressway will begin in April with a deadline of 18 months to complete the project,” K H Muniyappa, Union minister of state for road transport and highways, said early this year.
The IT industry has committed Rs 100 crore to the project and Karnataka will contribute Rs 100 crore, with the rest being invested by the National Highways Authority of India.
The initiative to develop the roads between Electronic City and Hosur will have to be taken up by the Karnataka state government, but it has no reason as of now to kickstart the process.
“The road to Hosur from Electronic City does not have a lot of traffic pressure as of now and both governments may work together to improve road connectivity,” says Sudeep Jain, managing director of ELCOT.
Also, Hosur’s residents are unlikely to shop in Bangalore. “Residents of Hosur might have to pay commercial taxes if they make purchases from stores in Bangalore. In Delhi, cross-border taxes are slowly being phased out,” adds Shivaram.
The Tamil Nadu government does not think this is a major roadblock because it believes that the roll out of the value added tax in April will solve this problem.
However, real estate prices are 25-30 per cent lower in Hosur than in the areas of Bangalore closest to Hosur. What do the software companies think of Hosur?
“We are not considering Bangalore or Hosur as of now. But assuming that we were, the primary concerns would be travel time, overheads and the cost of attracting talent,” says Arun Jain, chairman and CEO, Polaris Software Lab.
He adds that Hosur as an IT destination will be viable only if a company is considering setting up a 5,000 to 10,000 personnel organisation. “Setting up operations in Hosur might prove counter-productive if travel times are extended,” Jain remarks.
“Twenty-year tax incentives, subsidised land-registration charges and the creation of a special economic zone would help us invest in Hosur,” says an official at an IT major, who heads its Tamil Nadu operations. The proposed airport in the northern part of Bangalore will further challenge Hosur’s prospects of attracting industrial and employment generating industries.
So if Hosur is to become a hub of technology companies and industrial activities, it will need good infrastructure and road links to Bangalore.
In the long run, it is also Bangalore’s interests to assist in the development of Hosur as one of its satellite towns. This will only pave its way to becoming a true megapolis.
Hosur an IT hot spot? Soon!
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 | Editor
Consider this picture: Businessmen from Bangalore travelling to Hosur in Tamil Nadu, just like Delhiites commute to Gurgaon or Mumbaikars to Navi Mumbai.
Hosur is a mere 30 km away from Electronic City, Bangalore's IT hub, and the Tamil Nadu government wants to make the industrial township a giant satellite town like Gurgaon or Noida.
The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) will commission a study shortly along with the Confederation of Indian Industry on how Hosur can be transformed into an information technology and IT-enabled Services hot spot.
"The study will assess the socio-economic and technological potential of Hosur as an IT destination. It will be done by one of the top five consultants and will be completed in three to six months," says Vivek Harinarain, IT secretary, government of Tamil Nadu.
Hosur, he says, has been chosen as it can dovetail the strengths of Bangalore's deep talent pool and salubrious climate with Tamil Nadu's infrastructural forte and relatively inexpensive real-estate rates.
Making Hosur an IT hub, however, will be a tough task. In 2003-04, when Tamil Nadu exported Rs 7,643 crore (Rs 76.43 billion) worth of software, Hosur's contribution was zilch. Tamil Nadu is keen on changing this.
"We will consider building a 250,000 sq ft facility, on the lines of TIDEL Park in Chennai, at a cost of between Rs 35 crore (Rs 350 million) and Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million). This initiative, we hope, will create a light-house effect and boost investor confidence," Harinarain says.
He says the Tamil Nadu government is likely to use a private-public partnership to upgrade Hosur's present infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and shopping malls, to build Hosur into a viable satellite town.
The state government will provide all supporting infrastructural requirements such as land, sewerage, electricity and water.
The Software Technology Parks of India plans on setting up a park at Hosur. The Union ministry of IT and communications has asked the Tamil Nadu government to allot land for the building.
"With a TIDEL-type park, Hosur is a very viable idea. Lots of residential complexes will be thrown in between Hosur and Bangalore. Travel time is faster outside Bangalore to Hosur rather than within the city," says K Pandia Rajan, managing director, Ma Foi Management Consultants Limited, the recruitment agency.
Yet the Tamil Nadu government will have to invest in improving the quality of people in the districts closest to Hosur. "There is a need for investment in schools and colleges in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri to develop human capital ," Pandia Rajan points out.
It is not as if Hosur doesn't have anything other than its proximity to Bangalore going for it.
It has been an industrial hub for more than two decades now and home to the manufacturing plants of Ashok Leyland, Titan Industries, TT Prestige, Reckitt Benckiser, Hindustan Lever, Carborandum Universal and TVS Motors. So, the basic infrastructure is firmly in place.
"Hosur's potential to become a prime outlying suburb of Bangalore, on the lines of Noida and Gurgaon for Delhi and Navi Mumbai for Mumbai, has been largely underutilised. This is primarily due to the lack of adequate connectivity with Bangalore," notes Shivaram Malakala, executive director, Habitat Ventures.
IT majors such Infosys and Wipro are just a stone's throw away in Electronics City which is midway between Bangalore and Hosur.
These companies would be wary of setting up operations in Hosur as they are already battling the Karnataka government over the lack of proper roads to Electronic City from Bangalore. If anything can stop Hosur's advances to becoming a IT super city, it will be poor road links.
Wipro and Infosys are already pushing a proposal for an elevated high-speed corridor between Electronic City and Bangalore.
"Work on the Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion), six-lane expressway will begin in April with a deadline of 18 months to complete the project," K H Muniyappa, Union minister of state for road transport and highways, said early this year.
The IT industry has committed Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) to the project and Karnataka will contribute Rs 100 crore, with the rest being invested by the National Highways Authority of India.
The initiative to develop the roads between Electronic City and Hosur will have to be taken up by the Karnataka state government, but it has no reason as of now to kick-start the process.
"The road to Hosur from Electronic City does not have a lot of traffic pressure as of now and both governments may work together to improve road connectivity," says Sudeep Jain, managing director of ELCOT.
Also, Hosur's residents are unlikely to shop in Bangalore. "Residents of Hosur might have to pay commercial taxes if they make purchases from stores in Bangalore. In Delhi, cross-border taxes are slowly being phased out," adds Shivaram.
The Tamil Nadu government does not think this is a major roadblock because it believes that the roll out of the value added tax in April will solve this problem.
However, real estate prices are 25-30 per cent lower in Hosur than in the areas of Bangalore closest to Hosur. What do the software companies think of Hosur?
"We are not considering Bangalore or Hosur as of now. But assuming that we were, the primary concerns would be travel time, overheads and the cost of attracting talent," says Arun Jain, chairman and CEO, Polaris Software Lab.
He adds that Hosur as an IT destination will be viable only if a company is considering setting up a 5,000 to 10,000 personnel organisation.
"Setting up operations in Hosur might prove counter-productive if travel times are extended," Jain remarks.
"Twenty-year tax incentives, subsidised land-registration charges and the creation of a special economic zone would help us invest in Hosur," says an official at an IT major, who heads its Tamil Nadu operations.
The proposed airport in the northern part of Bangalore will further challenge Hosur's prospects of attracting industrial and employment generating industries.
So if Hosur is to become a hub of technology companies and industrial activities, it will need good infrastructure and road links to Bangalore.
In the long run, it is also Bangalore's interests to assist in the development of Hosur as one of its satellite towns. This will only pave its way to becoming a true megapolis.
Karnataka special squads to fight Maoists
Saturday, February 12, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb 11 : The Karnataka government Friday announced two special security teams against Maoists as the rebels killed six policemen and another person in the state's Tumkur district.
Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh said one squad would be deployed in the Malnad region and the other on the plains from north Karnataka to the south.
Maoists had Thursday night attacked a Karnataka State Reserve Police team in Pavagada taluk, 150 km from here, and killed six policemen and another person.
"We had some sympathy for them (Maoists), but not anymore. The squads, headed by a DIG (director of inspector-general), will operate in the four districts of Malnad and from Bidar in north Karnataka to Kolar in the south," Singh said.
Singh would also discuss the Maoists with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who begins his two-day visit to the state Friday evening.
He said he would also take up Thursday's attack with the Andhra Pradesh chief minister as Maoists from the neighbouring state were suspected.
Director General of Police S.N. Borkar told IANS on telephone that more than 100 Maoists had entered the state from Andhra Pradesh and raided a school building where 30 policemen were camping.
"The rebels entered the camp after disconnecting power and shooting down the sentry. They threw grenades, set off explosives outside the building and opened fire," he said.
A part of the building collapsed after the explosion. The policemen returned the fire but the Maoists escaped, Borkar said.
The injured policemen have been admitted to hospitals in Tumkur and Bangalore.
Officials said police in Tumkur district are hunting for the killers, who are suspected to have entered the school from bordering Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.
"The attack appears to be a retaliation to the death of two Maoists in a police encounter Feb 6 in Chickmagalur district," Borkar said.
--Indo-Asian News Service
Naxals kill six Karnataka policemen
Friday, February 11, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore:
Six policemen were killed early this morning in a Naxal attack in Tumkur district on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border.
Naxalites targeted the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) camp at Venkammanahalli in Pawgarh taluk.
Reacting to the attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of civilised governments.
Indiscriminate firing
About 110 Naxals came in three vans to the KSRP camp set at a school building. They gunned down the sentry at the camp and fired indiscriminately at the KSRP men inside.
"They opened fire indiscriminately and threw hand grenades. The police returned fire. It is possible there may have been casualties among the Naxalites also," says S N Borkar, DGP, Karnataka.
Some 30 KSRP personnel were at the camp where they had returned after a combing operation in Pawgarh taluk bordering naxal-infested areas of Andhra Pradesh.
Three of the wounded were rushed to Bangalore's Victoria Hospital where one policeman is in a critical condition.
Emergency meeting
Hours after the attack, Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh convened an emergency meeting of all top police officials.
The killing of policemen by Naxalites comes just a few days after the killing of two Naxalites in the western part of the state.
The state government, which had earlier talked of negotiations, now says there will be no more talks until the Naxalites give up violence.
"I am the only Chief Minister to have listened sympathetically to them. Now there will be no more talks until they give up violence," he said.
Special squads
The Karnataka government has decided to set up two anti-Naxal squads to carry out operations in Malnad areas and the plains.
The squads will be headed by a DIG and comprise 250 security personnel each.
One squad will be deployed in the Malnad districts of Chikamagalur, Mangalore and Udupi, where the naxals have been trying to gain a foothold.
The other will be placed in Bidar, Gulbarga, Tumkur, Raichur, Bellary and Kolar districts.
The Chief Minister also announced ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh each for those killed in today's attack and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured.
Karnataka, which has been relatively free of Naxal activity, has seen a spurt in attacks by Naxalites in recent weeks.
Last week, top Naxal leader Saketh Rajan was shot dead by police in an encounter along with another associate in Chikamagalur district. (with PTI inputs)
Karnataka to have special anti-naxal squads:
Friday, February 11, 2005 | Editor
Bangalore, Feb.11: Hours after the naxals killed six policemen in the state, the Karnataka government on Friday announced the formation of two Anti-Naxal squads to check the activities of ultras in Malnad region and the plains.
Chief Minister N Dharam Singh informed that each squad would have 250 personnel and would be headed by a DIG.
Earlier, he held senior-level meeting with top police and Home Department officials to review the situation after the morning attacks.
According to Singh, the squads would have their territories defined. The operational area of one squad would be the districts of Udupi, Mangalore and Chikmangalur in the Malnad region and the other squad would deal with the menace in Naxal strongholds in Bidar, Gulbarga, Tumkur, Raichur, Bellary and Kolar districts.
Earlier, Naxalites attacked a police camp in the wee hours of Friday morning and killed six policemen in Tumkur district on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border. Karnataka, which has been relatively unaffected by the naxal violence, has seen a significant increase in attacks by ultras in recent weeks. (ANI)
H Narasimhaiah passes into history
Wednesday, February 2, 2005 | Editor
BANGALORE, DHNS:
The crumpled, though spotless, khadi dhoti-kurta and the Gandhi cap lent him the demeanour of rustic simplicity, but belied his erudition and indomitable commitment to the cause of education.
And he was an uncompromising rationalist, though not an atheist, but a Gandhian. In an age when the term “educationist” stands devalued to mean one who starts schools and colleges which are money-spinners, he headed with distinction, the City’s premier educational institutions run by National Education Society for many years. He served ably as the vice-chancellor of fledgling Bangalore University from 1972 to 1977.
Perhaps the greatest contribution of Dr H Narasimhaiah or HN, as he was popularly known, is the Bangalore Science Forum, that he started to promote scientific temper in 1962. The forum has been organising periodic lectures, constituting updates in various subjects in an unbroken series till now. So far, nearly 2,000 such lectures and more than 500 film shows have been organised.
HN is among the people who have had an opportunity to interact with the Mahatma. For a staunch Gandhian, the crowning point of his life and a cherished memory must have been the moment when he translated Mahatma Gandhi’s Hindi speech into Kannada, when the latter visited the National High School here.
HN had a small room where he had been living for the last 53 years — first as a poor schoolboy, then as a lecturer, then as the principal and lastly as the president of the National Education Society. The room is spartan — a couple of folding metal chairs, a fan and a telephone. He did not even have a cot to sleep on.
Spirit of inquiry
His credo was “Do not accept anything without questioning”. Keeping with this, his office is adorned with a quotation of Albert Einstein on the wall “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds” and a question mark-signifying a spirit of inquiry.
He had been wedded to the cause of the spirit of enquiry from his childhood when he defied his mother and refused to tonsure his head while performing his father’s last rites because he did not get a convincing answer on the connection between the two.
He is said to have tempted his students with ‘kadlepuri’ to stay on for the physics class on Saturday afternoons. Instilling scientific thought in his students has been his life’s breath. He won the Sir M Visvesvaraya Award for his contribution to the popularisation of science.
The Government of India honoured him with a Padma Bhushan and presented him with a Tamrapatra for his part in the freedom struggle.
Nothing stopped him, not even the IT and BT revolution, from talking about the importance of pure sciences. His crusade for promoting basic science education and creating a scientific outlook in society continued unabated till the very end.
Dr Narasimhaiah stole the limelight when he challenged the Sai Baba to create a pumpkin out of thin air instead of gold rings and watches. Narasimhaiah had also invited the Baba twice to perform miracles in front of a committee. When this led to unrest in the university campus, he didn’t flinch from resigning as Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University in 1997, mid-way through his second term. Dr Narasimhaiah, who had a doctorate in nuclear physics from an American university, was the Chairman of the Kannada Watchdog Committee, and a member of the Legislative Council. He headed the committee which probed banamathi (witchcraft) menace which had reached alarming proportions in North Karnataka. After a thorough investigation with experts from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, he came to the conclusion that banamathi was a fear-complex perpetrated by vested interests on psychologically weak villagers. His report is the official last word on the menace, though banamathi stories are heard even now.
'Aaptha Mithra' on top, 'Rishi' surprises:
Wednesday, February 2, 2005 | Editor
[Cinema, South India]: Bangalore, Jan 31 : Kannada film "Aaptha Mithra" has turned out the biggest hit with collections improving even after its centenary-day run. The success of the film, likely to run for a year in some city centres, has belied expectations of even film trade analysts.
1 "Aaptha Mithra": The film has completed 150 days in all the centres. In Bangalore city, the film has netted over Rs.600,000 even in the 22nd week. It is expected to run for a year at least in two or three big city centres. It has proved a hit even in interior areas of the state, belying expectations of trade analysts.
2. "Rishi": This Shivaraj Kumar-Vijaya Raghavendra-starrer, directed by Prakash, is marching on, slowly and steadily. The critically acclaimed film has family audiences flocking to theatres to see it. The film, made on a Rs.20 million budget, is expected to become a big hit and collections are showing an upward trend.
3. "Mourya": The film has completed 100 days in over 10 centres. For director S. Narayan, it has not been just raining success, but pouring. His previous film "Chandra Chakori" was also a big hit. Meera Jasmine has struck gold in her first Kannada film. The film has netted over Rs.40 million at the box office.
4. "Kalasi Palya": The film, the biggest hit of action hero Darshan's career, is continuing to do wonders in B and C centres though collections have dropped in some places. It may complete a silver-jubilee run in Bangalore city.
5. "Joke Falls": The film has completed 50 days and is still running well in Bangalore city theatres including the PVR multiplex. Ramesh is going through a phase of success with both "Aaptha Mithra", in which he has a major role, proving a massive hit, and this comedy also doing well. The film is a remake of Hindi film "Chupke Chupke".
--Indo-Asian News Service
Archive: 2004, 2003
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