STATE’S

Chikkamagaluru: Former minister and MLC C.T. Ravi has called for greater respect and welfare measures for civic workers, saying their contribution to keeping cities clean should be recognised by both the government and society. Speaking at a Civic Workers' Day programme held at the Chikkamagaluru City Municipal Council premises, Ravi invoked the principle of “Kayakave Kailasa” (work is worship) and said every profession deserved dignity. He said Chikkamagaluru had earned a reputation as a clean city because of the sustained efforts of civic workers. However, garbage piles reported along the 60-feet Road, bypass road and parts of Uppalli Road indicated shortcomings in the sanitation system, he said. Ravi also stressed the need to protect the city's door-to-door garbage collection system, wh...

Bengaluru: Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy has directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to take immediate action following reports of untreated industrial wastewater from the Kadechur-Badiyal industrial area in Yadgir district allegedly flowing into the Bhima river. Reddy instructed KSPCB Member Secretary R Gokul to treat the matter with utmost seriousness and ensure immediate inspection of industries in the area. The minister said discharge of untreated industrial effluents into rivers and water bodies could pollute water resources and pose risks to people, livestock, agriculture and the environment.Officials have been directed to inspect the concerned industrial units and collect samples of discharged wastewater for scientific test...

HUBBALLI: Farmer leader and Karnataka Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene state president Kodihalli Chandrashekhar was arrested by Hubballi railway police in connection with a 2013 case involving a rail blockade during a protest seeking implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri project. Chandrashekhar was taken into custody in Sirsi early Monday with the assistance of local police. He had arrived in the town to address a press conference at 10am and participate in a farmers' protest scheduled at Dasanakoppa at 11.30am.Police said the arrest was made based on a court warrant in connection with the 2013 case. Farmers had then blocked railway traffic for nearly six hours as part of their agitation demanding the implementation of the Kalasa-Banduri project. Following his arrest, Chandrashekhar was taken to...

Mysuru: Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar on Monday said Mahisha Dasara can be organised as the Constitution allows citizens to practise their religious beliefs, but stressed that the celebrations should not hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Yaduveer said people have the constitutional right to follow and observe their religious practices and that no one can prevent them from doing so.“Mahisha Dasara can be organised in a manner that does not cause harm or inconvenience to anyone,” he said. On the demand to allow devotees to offer floral tributes at the Mahishasura statue atop Chamundi Hill, Yaduveer questioned the rationale behind holding such an event at the site. “Chamundi Hill is the abode of Goddess Chamundeshwari. Why should it be ...

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who held a meeting with presidents of cooperative milk producers’ unions on Saturday, said the final decision on the proposed price revision would be taken after discussions in the state cabinet. The government will also examine milk prices in neighbouring states, including Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, before taking a decision, Shivakumar said. Milk unions and their representatives have sought an increase of ₹12 per litre, with a proposal to pass on ₹2 of the increase directly to milk producers. Shivakumar acknowledged that unions were facing financial pressure under the existing pricing structure and said more than 50,000 milk producers had sought a price increase.Wide variation in union finances Bengaluru Milk Union (BAMUL) recorded th...

Bengaluru: Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge has raised objections to meetings and outreach programmes being organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in residential apartment complexes in Bengaluru. The issue came to the fore after social media advertisements for programmes titled “Introduction to RSS: Its Goals and Activities” circulated among residents of two prominent apartment complexes in the city. The invitations announced an interaction from 6pm to 7pm, with Harish Rao, identified as Karnataka South Sah Sampark Pramukh of the RSS, listed as the speaker. According to the invitation, the programme was aimed at explaining the RSS's outlook, functioning and its contribution towards building a “strong, united and self-reliant India”. Reacting on X, Kharge questioned whether apa...

Bengaluru: Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday assured farmers affected by the NICE integrated road project that he would stand by them and work to protect their land. Hundreds of residents from Madavara, Srikanthapura, Anchepalya, Thotadaguddadahalli and Thammenahalli met Kumaraswamy and submitted grievances concerning the project. Farmers from the affected villages expressed concern over the possible loss of agricultural and residential land that has been with their families for generations.Kumaraswamy alleged that the state government was acting in coordination with the NICE company to take over farmers’ land. He said the concerns of affected landowners would be examined and appropriate steps taken to safeguard their interests. “I stand with the farmers. There i...

Ahmedabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for railway projects worth ₹1,472 crore in Ahmedabad and flagged off what the government described as India’s first LNG-powered train from Sabarmati Railway Station. Shah also inaugurated a ₹700-crore WAG-12 locomotive maintenance shed and launched the Kavach train protection system on the Sabarmati–Kalol–Sabarmati section. Work on extending Kavach to the Ahmedabad–Palanpur and Ahmedabad–Samakhiali sections has also commenced, along with doubling of the Sabarmati–Sarkhej railway line. Addressing the gathering, Shah said the LNG-powered train would contribute to efforts aimed at reducing the environmental impact of railway operations. He also highlighted the development of Dedicated Freight Corrido...

Kollam: Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Sunday attended the Vishwa Seva Dinam celebrations at Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Amritapuri, Kollam, marking the 73rd birthday of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. During the programme, Radhakrishnan launched several humanitarian initiatives of the Math, including handing over ₹2 crore for Nepal flood relief to Nepal’s Ambassador to India Surender Thapa. He also distributed certificates for free surgeries for underprivileged beneficiaries at Amrita Hospitals in Kochi and Faridabad, besides providing financial assistance to fishermen’s families. The Vice-President also released the 30th anniversary souvenir of Amritakuteeram, marking the completion of 50,000 homes in India and Sri Lanka. Three publications — The Hanuman Chalisa, The Ocean of Grace and...

Bengaluru: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday described Kannada as the “mother tongue” and Tulu as its “daughter tongue”, while underlining the cultural and linguistic significance of Karnataka’s coastal region. “If Kannada is the mother tongue, Tulu is the daughter tongue. The mother tongue is extremely important to everyone,” Shivakumar said while addressing the ninth annual ‘Tulunadu Cultural Extravaganza’, organised by Bunts Sangha’s ‘Tulunad Javanar Bengaluru’ in the city. The chief minister appreciated the organisers for bringing the traditional culture of Tulunadu to Bengaluru. He said the initiative would help showcase the region’s language, traditions, customs and festivals not only to the Tulu-speaking community but also to people from other parts of the state. Shivakumar...