Karnataka News Archive: April 2007

Bangalore to tackle garbage problem
Monday, April 30, 2007 | AY

Bangalore, which was known as the garden city, has earned the prestigious title of the 'garbage city'. To tackle this, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to spend huge amounts of money to get rid of the problem. Under the project, worth a whopping Rs 79 crore, Bangalore roads will be kept spik and span. The BBMP has off loaded the work to 30 private agencies in what they call a service contract.

Karnataka offers great potential for Helitourism
Sunday, April 29, 2007 | AY

Karnataka, a major tourist destination in the country, offers great potential to introduce 'helitourism' connecting different destinations of tourism interest. The state government had invited Pawan Hans to conduct a feasibility study to construct 22 helipads in the state and begin helitourism services between different tourist destination and shuttle services between major industrial areas in the state capital.

Ground beneath Bangalore shaky
Saturday, April 28, 2007 | AY

Bangalore is sitting on a potentially seismic fault, according to a recent study carried out by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Scientists of IISc are studying further to see how the new buildings that are coming up in the City will respond to, even during a moderate earthquake. Recent studies carried out by us showed presence of potentially active geological structures in the vicinity of Bangalore, one of them passes right through the IISc campus. In order to ascertain what will happen to these buildings during a moderate earthquake and improve planning, it is important to identify sub-regions within Bangalore (essence of microzonation) that will then respond in a similar way to peak horizontal acceleration (shock) induced by an earthquake. They have installed six strong motion accelerographs and two borehole sensors (one of them in IISc) to measure ground acceleration in Bangalore City.

CET for PG courses in Karnataka varsities
Thursday, April 26, 2007 | AY

The Karnataka Government is going to conduct a Common Entrance Test (CET) in 11 subjects for admission to post-graduation courses in different universities in the State for the coming academic year i.e. 2007-08. The various subjects covered under the CET include microbiology, biotechnology, biochemistry, physics, chemistry, commerce, history, political science, economics, social work (for Master of Social Work course) and education (for Master of Education course). The Government had fixed minimum qualifying marks for each subject covered by the CET as eligibility for admission to post-graduation courses. A candidate had to obtain the minimum qualifying marks in a particular subject in the degree course. Both the marks i.e. mark in graduation and in the entrance exam will be taken into consideration. The dates for CET are yet to be announced.

Kannada superstar's birth anniversary marked
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 | AY

Fan around Karnataka organised events to mark the 79th birth anniversary of Kannada Superstar Dr Rajkumar on Tuesday. His family used the occasion to launch the Dr Rajkumar Trust, which will encourage eye donation as one of its aims - a cause dear to the late actor's heart. Soon after Dr Rajkumar's death, in the middle of all the emotional distress and the havoc that was seen on the streets of Bangalore that day, the actor's family remembered his wish to donate his eyes. Rajkumar had launched a campaign to encourage people to give the gift of sight. And if this Trust can further that cause, it will indeed be a fitting tribute to the biggest star the world of Kannada cinema has ever seen.

Karnataka provides employment to 5.02 lakhs households
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 | AY

In Karnataka, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was initially launched in 5 districts of State and another 6 districts have been added in the year 2007-08. Up to February, 07, 5.16 lakh households demanded employment and out of them 5.02 lakh households were provided employment in the State. The average number of households provided employment in a district of the State is 1,00,314 while the national average is 91,685 households. The number of person days of employment provided in the State is 182.22 lakh. The average person days of employment provided in a district is 36.44 lakh compared to the national average of 36.47 lakh person days. The employment was provided on 16,885 works, out of which 8,=486 works have been completed. The average number of works taken up in a district stood at 3,377 against the national average of 3,581. The expenditure on wages is 59.25%, material is 39.45% and on administration is 1.30%. The average expenditure of a district in the State is Rs. 41 crore compared to the National average of Rs. 35 crore.

Karnataka to launch luxury tourist train
Monday, April 23, 2007 | AY

After the famous Palace on Wheels in Rajasthan and Deccan Odyssey in Maharashtra, Karnataka is now all set to launch South India's first luxury train that will take Indian and foreign tourists on a journey through the rich natural and cultural heritage of the state. This would include the famed palaces of Mysore, ancient temples of Hassan, Belur, Halebid and Hospet, the Jain pilgrimage at Shravanbelgola, the world heritage site at the ruins of Hampi, Dandeli wildlife sanctuary and, finally, the breathtaking beaches of neighbouring Goa. To be operated as a joint venture between the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the launch of the luxury train is scheduled for November 1 when the state celebrates its 51st foundation day. The train, which is likely to be named as the Golden Chariot, will be fitted with all the five-star luxuries and comforts including a spa and gymnasium, restaurant coaches, TV lounges, conference coach and internet connectivity. The fare, which has yet to be finalised, is expected to be slightly less than the $ 400 per day charge on the Palace on Wheels for foreigners or its equivalent in Indian currency for the Indian tourists.

NTR award for Kannada author
Sunday, April 22, 2007 | AY

Best-selling Kannada novelist Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa has been named for the first-ever NTR national award for an outstanding literary personality. The award will be given away here on May 28, NTR's birthday, and carries a citation and a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh. Mr. Ramana, Executive Officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams and Chairman, Managing Committee of NTR Vignan Trust, said 76-year-old Bhyrappa was famous not just in India. He was popular internationally, specially for his works getting translated into several foreign languages, as he was a serious literary figure, always concerned with fundamental human conditions and predicaments.

Bidadi Knowledge City will be Reality Soon
Saturday, April 21, 2007 | AY

Karnataka Government will go ahead in establishing the ambitious Knowledge City near Bidadi to cater to the influx of IT industries into the state. The IT cluster near Bangalore city, would span 10,000 acres and an investment to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore was expected to flow in. The state-of-the-art facility would function on plug-and-play and live-and-earn module. The State Government had approved licence for Target, the US financial services software leader, to set up its facility in this city on a 21-acre land near Infosys' Global Education Centre. The company would invest Rs 65 crore in the first phase with an employment potential of 2000. In the second phase it would invest a further Rs 300 crore to employ 4000 more people.

Udupi tops State in health sector
Thursday, April 19, 2007 | AY

Medical Education Minister V.S. Acharya said on Wednesday that Udupi district topped the State in the health sector. Dr. Acharya said that maternal mortality and child mortality in Udupi district were the lowest in the State. The State Government had allotted Rs. 1,600 crore for the health sector in 2006-07. The Karnataka Development Front Government had allotted Rs. 2,200 crore for the health sector in 2007-08. He lauded the role of the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project in giving a fillip to rural development and issues of health.

Bangalore to add 6,000 hotel rooms by 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 | AY

Bangalore, which attracts the maximum number of business travellers in south India, is witnessing a hotel construction boom which is likely to treble the total number of premium hotel rooms and service apartments available. The city is set to add over 3,000 rooms in the next five years in the premium category and a similar number in the the service apartment segment. Currently, the city has over 2,500 rooms in the premium category and around 300 recognised service apartments. The ARR (Average Room Rate) in premium category hotels in Bangalore has grown 18.5 per cent to Rs 13,366 in the nine-month period (April to December 2006) against Rs 11,280 in the corresponding period last year. The development of the new international airport has attracted a number of hotel chains such as Radisson, Hilton and JW Marriott to the city.

Karnataka introduces telephone booths in Central Jail
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 | AY

Karnataka government today introduced telephone booths in the Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara, on the outskirts of the city, to help the 5000 jail birds get in touch with their families and friends. Speaking after inaugurating the facility, the first of its kind in the country, Home Minister M P Prakash said ten booths had been set up in the sprawling facility. This included one each at the hospital and quarantine room, apart from a separate booth for women. However, all calls would be taped. If the facility is used for any unlawful purpose it will be withdrawn. The inmates will have to buy BSNL prepaid cards to use the facility. The prisoners could use the facility once a week and were allowed to talk for a duration of five minutes.

Increasing fees help drive Infosys to a record profit
Monday, April 16, 2007 | AY

Infosys Technologies, India's second-largest computer services company, reported record profit for a seventh quarter and forecast higher earnings because of rising fees and contracts to test software and manage networks. Profit included a tax gain of 1.24 billion rupees. Sales rose 44 percent to 37.72 billion rupees. Shares of Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro gained after the Bangalore-based company said profit and sales would advance to records. Infosys estimated first-quarter sales to rise by 29.2 percent to 29.8 percent to between 38.96 billion rupees and 39.13 billion rupees. Earnings per share, excluding one-time items, will probably gain 24.2 percent to 17.84 rupees. Fees for new contracts rose 4 percent to 6 percent, while rates on renewed contracts increased 2 percent to 3 percent.

Vijaya Raghavendra ties knot
Sunday, April 15, 2007 | AY

Kannada star Vijaya Raghavendra is getting ready to tie the knot with Spandana, the daughter of a senior police officer B.K. Shivaram, April 20. Vijaya's father S.A. Chinne Gowda, a veteran producer, is a close friend of Shivaram. While playing the role of an encounter specialist in 'Raajeeva', Vijaya received tips from Shivaram. After the success of 'Sevanthi Sevanthi' in 2006, Vijaya has become one of the busiest Kannada actors.

Passenger trains to run between Bangalore, Mangalore
Saturday, April 14, 2007 | AY

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (Southern Region) has certified the track between Sakleshpur in Hassan district and Subramanya Road in Dakshina Kannada district safe for passenger trains. The Hassan-Sakleshpur-Mangalore line will now add to the State's passenger train network. The 55-km stretch, passing through undulating terrain in the Western Ghats, posed many challenges during construction of the new broad-gauge line. Passenger trains on the stretch can now be operated at a maximum speed of 30 km an hour, subject to a temporary speed restriction of 15 km an hour between Shiribagilu and Subramanya Road, owing to the replacement of channel sleepers. In his authorisation dated April 12, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety Pranab Kumar Sen said he had inspected the stretch on April 10 and 11.

Bangalore, Chennai to host Afro-Asia Cup
Thursday, April 12, 2007 | AY

second edition of the Afro-Asian Cup featuring three day-night one-day matches will be hosted by Bangalore and Chennai in June. The $100,000 prize money event will kick-off with the first match at Bangalore on June 6 and the remaining two matches will be played in Chennai on June 9-10. The winner will take away a cheque of $ 25,000 while the 'Player of the match' will earn $5,000 and 'player of the tournament' would get richer by $10,000. Each participating players will be paid a match fee of $5,000 each. Apart from the ODIs, Bangalore will host two Twenty20 matches on June 5 among the men's and women's team from the two continents.

Narayan’s works in Kannada
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 | AY

Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) has come out with 30 short stories of writer R K Narayan translated into Kannada. Ramachandra Swami, a former professor of chemistry and a voracious reader of literature has done the job. Malgudi Days’ - the television serial introduced English writer R K Narayan and his Malgudi characters to millions across India. Once again Narayan’s works are ready to reach out to a different section of people - those unaware or who know little about the Malgudi man, his creative and humourous works.

English in Kannada schools
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 | AY

The much-debated introduction of English in Kannada medium schools will be made compulsory from this academic year. Basavaraj Horatti, Minister for Primary Education said that English education will be made compulsory from Std 1 from this academic year. As the government intends to provide better education, it is coming out with a mega plan of Rs 5200 crore. A primary school will be permitted in places where there are as few as 10 students. Schools which lack basic facilities will be provided infrastructure. Construction of new school buildings and renovation of old ones will get Rs 275 crore, another Rs 100 crore will be alloted for the purpose from the next academic year.

Mungaru Male tops the charts
Monday, April 9, 2007 | AY

Like the film, the album of 'Mungaru Male' is also setting new records and leads Kannada audio charts. songs of the film have become a rage among the youth. 'Anisuthidhe' rendered by Sonu Nigam and 'Onde ondu saari' by Kunal Ganjawala are already topping the charts.

Kannada writer Tejaswi passes away
Saturday, April 7, 2007 | AY

Prominent Kannada writer K P Poornachandra Tejaswi, who was known for his distinct style of writing, died of cardiac arrest at Mudigere in Chikamagalur district yesterday. Sixty-eight-year old Tejaswi, son of renowned Kannada poet and Jnanpeeth award winner late K V Puttappa, wrote poems, short stories, novels, plays and essays, enriching Kannada literature. He was a recipient of central and state sahitya (literary) awards and the state Rajyotsava award given on the occasion of the state's formation day.

Doha Mangalore Flight Now Non Stop
Thursday, April 5, 2007 | AY

The Doha Mangalorean community has received a summer bonus from Air India Express, due to which they will now have the privilege to fly directly from Doha to Mangalore on both Sundays and Tuesdays with effect from 8th April onwards. As per the new schedule, AIE flight IX812 Doha-Mangalore on both Sundays and Tuesdays will operate non stop and depart Doha at 13.55 hours (1.55PM local time) and will reach Mangalore at 2015 hours (8.15PM local time). These new timings will be continued for the entire summer schedule i.e. until October 2007.

LANCO wins Rs 102cr construction projects
Wednesday, April 4, 2007 | AY

Lanco Infratech Ltd(LITL), one of India’s leading infrastructure companies, has won the bid for three prestigious construction projects in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The three projects are cumulatively valued at Rs 102 crore. With the additions of these three projects, the order book of LANCO’s construction and EPC division now stands at more than Rs 5,000 crore. Among the projects secured is a Rs. 55 crore order for the upgradation of primary health centres to community health centres and taluka-level hospitals in Karnataka. The company has also secured a Rs 41 crore construction project from the Government Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka.

Sathya In Love
Tuesday, April 3, 2007 | AY

After doing Hindi, Telugu as well as Tamil movies like Boys, Sachein and Chennai Kaadhal, Genelia now makes her debut in Kannada. And the actor is very happy to be a part of the Kannada film industry as she belongs to a Konkani Christian family from Karnataka. Her ancestral house is in Mangalore. The muhurat of the film titled "Sathya In Love" was held at the Government Arts College, Bangalore with actor Upendra directing the initial shot on hero Shivarajkumar while Puneeth Rajkumar sounded the clapboard and Darshan switched on the camera. It is directed by debutant Raghava Loki.

Siddaganga seer receives Karnataka Ratna
Monday, April 2, 2007 | AY

The State Government on Sunday honoured the head of the Siddaganga Math, Sri Shivakumara Swamy, with the Karnataka Ratna award, the highest award of the State. The seer who turned 100 on Sunday is revered in the State for helping thousands of poor students to pursue education. The swamiji has been providing free food under the math's "Akshara Dasoha" scheme to 8,000 children from poor families every day to help them pursue education. The swamiji lauded the State Budget for waiving farmers' loans, and banning arrack and lotteries. He urged the Government to work towards elimination of poverty and illiteracy. The swamiji heads 125 educational institutions. He started a Sanskrit College and commenced "Akshara Dasoha" in 1930 for 80 students. The Karnataka Ratna award was first given to Kannada poet and Jnanpith award winner Kuvempu in 1992.

Ekadantha
Sunday, April 1, 2007 | AY

Talented film and television actor Sachin has proved his directorial abilities in his first Kannada venture 'Ekadantha', for which he has written the story and the screenplay too. Sachin has been able to get the best out of his huge star cast that includes Vishnuvardhan, Ramesh Arvind and Prema. Apart from them, 30 other artistes, mostly comedians, have acted in this laugh riot. The songs of the film are of high quality and music director Guru Kiran has been able to write and render the popular tune 'Bandal badaayi maadeva' for this first production.

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