Japanese firms ready to invest in Karnataka industrial township

Tech Shorts

Many Japanese companies are reportedly eager to invest in the upcoming Japanese Industrial Township at Vasanthanarasapura in Tumakuru, being developed by the Karnataka government.

IANS

Twitter / @CMofKarnataka

Japanese firms are keen to invest in Karnataka's industrial township being developed in Tumakuru district, Japan's Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu said on Tuesday. "Many Japanese companies are eager to invest in the upcoming Japanese Industrial Township at Vasanthanarasapura in Tumakuru (about 90km from Bengaluru), being developed by the Karnataka government," a statement from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's office said quoting Hiramatsu. A Japanese delegation, led by Hiramatsu, met the Chief Minister in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The township was announced in 2016 by the state government as an exclusive facility to host Japanese businesses in the southern state. A 519.5-acre area has been earmarked in the Vasanthanarasapura village for setting up of Japanese Industrial Township, Kumaraswamy said in the statement. "The Township will be an integral part of Tumakuru industrial node in the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor," he added. The Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor is among the five industrial corridors being developed by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry to boost economic activity and create jobs. Heavy engineering, machine tools, automotive and aerospace components will be among the key sectors of the industrial township. "Infrastructure facilities for the township like concrete roads, water supply and tertiary treatment plant, establishment of electric sub-station are in progress," the statement added.

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Ruckus in Karnataka Assembly as budget session kicks off, Governor walks out

Politics

Governor Vajubhai Vala was interrupted while giving his 22-page speech and had to stop after reading out just two pages.

TNM Staff

A ruckus broke out in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday after BJP MLAs began yelling slogans against the Congress-JD(S) coalition government. BJP MLAs began shouting, “We do not approve of the government” while Governor Vajubhai Vala was making his speech on the opening day of the budget session. The governor had a 22-page speech prepared and had to stop after reading out just two pages, as the decibel levels soared. “This government does not have the support of nearly half the MLAs. How will you pass the budget,” BJP leader R Ashoka yelled in the midst of Governor Vala’s speech. “Please sit down. Please sit down,” Governor Vala said. Soon, JD(S) MLC Basvaraj Horatti too began shouting at the BJP leaders. “This will be a black spot in the history of Karnataka Assembly’s budget session,” Horatti said. Enraged by the counter, BJP leaders began shouting slogans against the coalition government alleging that the Congress and JD(S) would never offer stability in Karnataka and termed the alliance a “sham”. BJP leaders also insisted that the coalition did not have support from its own MLAs and that they would never be able to pass the Finance bill. Disappointed at the turn of events, Governor Vala reprimanded the MLAs and demanded that the least they could do was to stand up and respect the National Song. Following this, there was a brief spell of silence as the Vande Mataram began playing. Later, Governor Vala shook his head in disappointment and walked out without finishing his speech.

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2 pilots killed in Mirage crash: K’taka MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar seeks transparent probe

Air Crash

Recalling that many brave air warriors had lost their lives in similar test flights or regular sorties, Chandrasekhar said the government should fix accountability.

IANS

BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Tuesday sought a transparent inquiry into the crash of the upgraded IAF Mirage-2000 fighter in Bengaluru on February 1, resulting in the death of two ace test pilots. "We need a thorough and transparent inquiry into the crash of an HAL-upgraded IAF Mirage in Bengaluru and the loss of life of its two brave warriors," said Chandrasekhar in a statement from New Delhi. Although the lawmaker submitted a request for discussion on the crash in the Upper House, disruption of the proceedings by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) members did not allow the Zero Hour. "Though I had submitted a Zero Hour mention on the issue, it could not be taken up due to disruption of the proceedings by the TMC members," lamented the member in the statement. The test pilots -- Squadron Leader Samir Abrol from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Squadron Leader Siddartha Negi from Dehradun in Uttarkhand died from fatal injuries after the fighter crashed while taking off from the military airport on an acceptance sortie after an upgrade by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). The pilots, commissioned in the air force a decade ago, were on deputation as test pilots at the IAF's Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in this tech hub from their respective air bases. "I appeal to those in the political class who dithered in the modernisation of the IAF combat fleet for over a decade whilst they bought helicopters for VIPs -- to not obstruct modernisation to score brownie points," he said. "Doing so (politicking) would be to put our brave young aviators at risk unrelated to the enemy or combat mission," the lawmaker said. Recalling that many brave air warriors had lost their lives in similar test flights or regular sorties, Chandrasekhar said the government should fix accountability for the mishaps. "It is our collective duty to ensure the brave combat aviators fly the latest aircraft and not continue with 35-40-year-old aircraft to fulfil their missions in peace and war for our nation," the member added. A joint inquiry by HAL and IAF will be held to ascertain the causes that led to the fatal crash of the ill-fated French fighter on a test flight.

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Democrats bat away Trump's olive branch on drug pricing

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Ahead of budget session, K'taka Congress issues whip to party MLAs

Politics

A Congress source told TNM that all 4 MLAs will be suspended from the party if they fail to report to party leaders on Wednesday.

TNM Staff

  The Congress on Tuesday issued a whip to all its MLAs from Karnataka and have asked them to participate in the Legislature Party Meet on February 6 and the assembly session till 15.    In a note, Chikkodi MLA and chief whip of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government Ganesh Hukkeri asked all its MLAs to attend to their day-to-day work and be present at the Vidhana Soudha in support of the government.   The JD(S)-Congress coalition government is set to present its second budget on February 8.     The move is also seen as a counter to the BJP's attempts to dislodge the coalition government in the state. In January, BJP and Congress MLAs from Karnataka stayed in resorts for a few days amid reports that the BJP was speaking to Congress MLAs about switching allegiances. Anand Singh, a Congress legislator from Vijayanagara, was assaulted by JH Ganesh, MLA from Kampli.    Four Congress MLAs - Ramesh Jarkiholi (MLA of Gokak), Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani), Umesh Jadhav (Chincholi) and B Nagendra (Ballari Rural) - failed to show up for a party legislature meeting called on January 18.    A Congress source told TNM that all 4 MLAs will be suspended from the party if they fail to report to party leaders on Wednesday.    The Congress' move to issue a whip has sparked fresh reports of the BJP trying to contact Congress MLAs in the state in another bid to usurp power. Only 2 independent MLAs have withdrawn their support for the current coalition government so far.   Speaking to the media, MB Patil said that Kampli MLA JN Ganesh has not yet been nabbed as he had switched off his cellphone. "He has switiched of his phone and is sitting in an unknown location. How will we know where he is?" MB Patil said.    The BJP has repeatedly tried to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka and after three failed attempts, the party is once again trying to lure Congress MLAs to its side.   "If the Congress MLAs are not present, then the coalition will not have enough votes to pass the budget. This will automatically prove they do not have a majority and we will go to the Governor and ask him to impose President's rule," a BJP source said.         

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K'taka govt sends proposal to cut 3,700 trees for yet-to-be-cleared elevated corridor

Civic

According to law, if more than 50 trees have to be cut for any infrastructure work, permission can only be issued after consulting with the public.

Prajwal Bhat

Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL) has sent a proposal to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)’s Forest Department, seeking permission to remove more than 3,700 trees to make way for the elevated corridor project in Bengaluru. The proposal comes amid growing opposition from residents and environmentalists against the 102-km corridor proposed across the city.   KRDCL, which is constructing the elevated corridor, has sought to remove or translocate 3,716 trees. “We have received the proposal but we are yet to discuss it. We will look at ways to reduce the number of trees cleared for the project and prepare a survey of our own. Since this is a large number of trees in question, we are required to hold a public meeting,” Assistant Conservator of Forests Prakash AD told TNM. According to Section (8) of the Tree Preservation Act (TPA), 1976, if more than 50 trees have to be cut for any public purpose like road widening, construction of road, canal, tanks, buildings etc, permission can only be issued after the official concerned considers the public opinion.   Activists questioned the need to prepare a report detailing the number of trees to be removed for the elevated corridor when the project is yet to be given environmental clearance. An environmental impact assessment should be conducted by the State Environment Impact Assessment Agency (SEIAA) before any work on the project can be taken up. "This project is not even there in both existing and proposed master plans for Bengaluru and we have petitioned the SEIAA not to carry out an environmental impact assessment on the network of elevated corridors proposed", says Vinay Sreenivasa, a Bengaluru-based activist. Moreover, a study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) found that the construction of the elevated corridor will lead to more traffic congestion and pollution in the future. Read: Far from reducing traffic jams, B'luru's elevated corridors will increase it: IISc study Cholaraja, Deputy Conservator of Forests, BBMP, however, claimed that the department is only following procedure by preparing a fresh survey about the number of trees to be felled for the project. "We have begun a survey to estimate the number of trees to be cut for the project. We do not know about the opposition to the project. We are only doing what is being asked of us,” he says. The process for obtaining environmental clearance for the project has been initiated but is yet to be completed at present. Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has given his assent for the construction of the network of elevated corridors pending environmental clearance.

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BJP leader distributes free movie tickets for North Bengaluru residents

Politics

Lok Sabha ticket aspirant Nandish Reddy is giving free tickets for the film ‘Uri: Surgical Strike’ till February 21.

TNM Staff

A game of one-upmanship has begun between the BJP and JD(S) leaders, and it has started with the distribution of free movie tickets. After people in Mandya were given free tickets to watch Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Gowda’s movie Seetharama Kalyana, BJP leader and Lok Sabha ticket aspirant NS Nandish Reddy is doling out free tickets for his constituents to watch Uri: Surgical Strike. The former KR Puram legislator has decided to offer free movie tickets to the constituents of Bengaluru North Lok Sabha segment. The 9 am slot for the movie has been blocked for the constituents at Arena Mall in Doddenakundi. Constituents can now get the tickets from local ward committees for one week till February 21. “If we are able to eat at hotels and move around the country freely, it is because of the soldiers who sacrifice their lives for us. We have lost many soldiers in the last 60 years due to political decisions. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a decision to respond when our soldiers were attacked. How’s the Josh? has come to be a sort of campaign title for Modi’s supporters now,” Nandish Reddy told the media on Tuesday. In the last week of January, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy ensured that free movie tickets to his son’s film were distributed to households in Mandya and that each family got around 15 free tickets. The film Seetharama Kalyana was made with the intention of launching Nikhil Gowda as a future politician. Nikhil Gowda is an aspirant for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat. Speaking to the media about JD(S) party workers giving free movie tickets, Kumaraswamy had said that the film had nothing to do with elections. “No one has said that Nikhil would contest from Mandya. He is an upcoming actor and this was only encouraging for his acting career. His acting has received a good response,” Kumaraswamy said. Similarly, Nandish Reddy is also an aspirant for a Lok Sabha ticket from Bengaluru North constituency, which is the stronghold of BJP MP DV Sadananda Gowda. BJP sources say that the party leaders would most probably field Sadananda Gowda in Bengaluru North constituency as it has a strong Vokkaliga vote base. “Aspirants will try to gather support but ultimately high command will decide,” a source told TNM.

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