Bengaluru mayoral polls on Tuesday, will BJP take hold of city council after 4 years?

Politics

Currently, the BBMP council is controlled by a JD(S)-Congress coalition, even though the BJP has more corporators.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational Image

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials announced that the mayoral elections along with elections for chairpersons for four Standing Committees will be held on Tuesday as scheduled. Earlier in the day, there were reports suggesting that the mayoral polls would be deferred due to a Karnataka High Court order. Even Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa hinted that the polls won’t be held for the next one and a half months. However, officials said that nominations will be accepted from the period between 8:00 am to 9:30 am and the same will be verified by 11:30 am. The voting for the Mayor post will take place at 11:30 am. Following which elections for the Deputy Mayor and Standing Committees of Tax and Finance, Health, Accounts and Market will take place.   Currently, the BBMP council is controlled by a JD(S)-Congress coalition, even though the BJP has 101 corporators out of the 198-member council. This is due to the rule that alongside the corporators, all MLAs, MLCs and MPs residing in Bengaluru also have a vote in the mayoral elections taking the voter tally to 257.  However, a top source in the Congress-JD(S) told TNM that the coalition is not hopeful of retaining the council.  Five MLAs from Bengaluru stand disqualified as they paved way for the formation of the BJP government in state along with 10 others, and with this the BJP has a chance at the BBMP council for the first time. seven independent corporators will prove crucial for both the camps and sources say that most of these independents are likely to go with the BJP this time BJP on paper has 101 corporators, four Lok Sabha MPs, two Rajya Sabha MPs, 11 MLAs and 7 MLCs. In addition to this, in 2018, they had an independent councillor aligned with them taking their tally to 126, which is three short of the magic number. On the other hand, the JD(S)-Congress coalition claims it has the support of 131 voters with 90 corporators, one Lok Sabha MP, seven Rajya Sabha MPs, 12 MLAs, 15 MLCs and six independents who voted for them for the last four years.  “Out of the 22 corporators in the five constituencies held by the rebels, we are expecting 15 to abstain from tomorrow’s election, this will easily tilt the balance in favour of BJP,” a top source told TNM, Similarly, TNM had earlier reported that the BJP is in talks with corporators who are loyal to the five disqualified MLAs to vote in its favour.  Candidates  As part of the existing arrangement between the JD(S) and Congress, the Congress had held the Mayor post while JD(S) had settled for the Deputy Mayor post for the last four years. Sources in the Congress said they are counting on Satyanarayana BS and Mohammed Rizwan. For the BJP, party sources said current Leader of Opposition Padmanabha Reddy is the favourite alongside L Srinivas and K Umesh.  A formal announcement from both the camps is awaited.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2mgWmHb
via IFTTT

Children join their parents in protests against bad roads, traffic jams in Bengaluru

Protest

The young protestors were demanding for the widening of Balagere and Panathur Road, which becomes quickly congested during peak traffic hours.

TNM Staff

Citizen-led protests are not new in the city. However, when over 300 residents from Belagare Road took to protesting on Sunday, it caught everyone’s attention for one specific reason: many of the protestors were young children.   “We want proper drainage,” read one of the placards held by a child. “Help me reach school on time,” read another.   These young protestors were demanding for the widening of Balagere and Panathur Road, which become quickly congested during peak traffic hours. Children of all ages took part in the protest which began at 10 am on Sunday morning and continued until 1 pm in the afternoon.   Holding signs which drew attention to various infrastructural issues in the neighbourhood, several children and adults, gathered demanding for improvements.   Several citizens present at the protest complained that the narrow roads were causing immense congestion, particularly during peak traffic hours, which was leading to several delays when commuting in the mornings and evenings.   Another resident, speaking to TNIE, stated that while officials did repair some roads in the area earlier, the repairs did not last for a long time.   “This protest is just the beginning. Many more protests are being planned in the near future. The condition of the road remains the same for the last four-and-a-half years,” reportedly said Jagadeesh Reddy, a member of Varthur Rising, a citizen-led changemaker initiative.   Several protestors were reportedly upset with officials who failed to take cognisance of the situation. However, responding to all the complaints, Corporator of Ward 149, Pushpa Manjunath stated that Underground Drainage lines were being laid in the concerned areas by the Bangalore Water Supply Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and that the roads would be fixed once the work was done.   This is not the first time that residents of the city have taken to protesting against traffic woes.   Also read: ‘No more commercialisation’: B’luru’s Bellandur residents protest over traffic mess

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2mWJNBg
via IFTTT

Shattered by Mysuru man's sudden death, his wife and two children end their lives

Death

The bodies of the mother and daughter were recovered on Sunday, while a search is still on for the son's body.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Unable to bear the sudden death of her husband, a 55-year-old woman and their two children, who are from Mysuru, ended their lives on Saturday. The woman and her children drove to Mangaluru and jumped into the Netravati River. The bodies of the mother and daughter were recovered on Sunday, while a search is still on for the son's body.  The Mandanna family -- Kishan (65), Kavita (55), Kaushik (30) and Kalpitha (21) lived in a rented house in Mysuru's Vijayanagara Stage IV.  Kavitha Mandanna found that her husband had passed away in his sleep when she woke up on Saturday morning. Kavita was a homemaker and her two children were engineers, who had returned to Mysuru two months ago, Deccan Herald reported.  Shattered by Kishan's death, the family drove to Mangaluru with their pet dog and ended their lives. Although the mother and her children died, locals rescued the dog, who was trying to swim towards the river bank.  According to the TOI report, Kavita and her children had left a note that read 'We miss you' in the car, which was parked at the Netravati river bridge.  On learning about the incident, relatives of the Mandanna family rushed to the family’s residence in Mysuru, where they found Kishan's body. According to the Vijayanagara police, the victims were originally from Kodagu and had settled in Mysuru. When they drove to the Nethravathi river bridge in Bantwal's Panemangaluru area, they first threw the dog off the bridge at around 10.45 pm on Saturday and then took the fatal plunge.  "Some people who saw them jump immediately alerted locals, who alerted local swimmers. But the bodies had washed away quickly. Locals found Kavitha's body within two hours and the search operation is still on," police said.  The daughter's body was found on Sunday, while the rescue team is still looking for Kaushik. "The dog has been sent to the veterinary hospital. The family had sold their own house in Mysuru and also their coffee plantation in Kodagu recently. We believe that financial crisis may have led them to take the step," Bantwal police said.  If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help.    Tamil Nadu:    State health department suicide helpline number - 104   Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in TN)   Telangana:     Telangana government suicide prevention toll free no - 104    Roshni- 040-66202000, 66202001   SEVA- 09441778290, 040 - 27504682 (between 9 AM and 7 PM)    Karnataka:   Sahai : 24-hour helpline numbers: 080- 65000111, 080-65000222   Kerala:   Maithri helpline - 0484-2540530   Chaithram helpline: 0484-2361161   Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.    Andhra Pradesh:    Life Suicide Prevention Helpline No.78930-78930    Roshni  Helpline 1: 9166202000  Helpline 2: 9127848584

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2ortjBr
via IFTTT

The mesmerising experience of seeing the majestic Jog Falls for the first time

Travel

A writer looks back on her mother’s story of witnessing the Jog Falls, and witnesses the same with her son.

Gita Aravamudan

All images courtesy Gita Aravamudan

And there it was, the rock my mother had spoken about. The rock atop which she said that she, as a small girl, had lain down and viewed the head of the gushing Raja falls at scarily close quarters. The rock jutted out a bit over the cliff from which Raja thundered down. I could only imagine now how frightening and exhilarating the experience must have been for the tiny five year old.  The rock was now inaccessible. The paths leading down to it from the viewing gallery in front of the Circuit House (aka British Bungalow) were cordoned off. “A couple of drunks must have toppled over,” the tourist next to me said. “Or they would have fallen in trying to take selfies.” The Jog Falls is also known as Gersoppa Falls after a nearby village of that name. It is made up of four distinct plunge falls created by the Sharavathi River, which, after flowing over a very rocky bed, plunges into a 960 feet deep gorge.  Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani. Nobody seems to know who named these falls but the names have stuck! Raja — the tallest waterfall majestically tumbles down 830 feet in one sheer unbroken column. The next tallest, Roarer is also the noisiest. It falls into a rocky cup before rushing down jubilantly to meet Raja. The third and most vigorous waterfall, Rocket, stands close to Raja and shoots downwards in a series of jets. Rani, the fourth waterfall, is the most delicate. It comes down gently veiled in sheets of foam.  “I was quite a bold girl, but this was frightening,” my mother would say, every time she repeated the story to me or my boys. “I was crying, but my father insisted I should do it because it was an unmissable sight. So he held my legs and I peeped over the edge of the rock. And wow! I can never forget that experience.” *** My grandfather was a civil servant in the 1930s when this incident must have taken place. He was a bold and adventurous man who rode on horseback to the remotest parts. He often took his seven children along on trekking expeditions inside the forests of the Western Ghats, and my mother, who was a great storyteller, would regale us with tales of leeches and forest streams, tigers roaring in the dark and peacocks dancing on the paths.  But about that rock she was not sure where it was. Was it really at Jog Falls or was she mixing it up with some other small waterfall?  On my trip to Jog Falls many, many summers ago, I had just seen a pencil like stream of water…not the gushing falls she described. My brother and I ran down the steps to the bottom of the gorge and played around in the pools of water. We gazed up at the impressive rock face which was 80ft tall and seemed to stretch up and up into the sky. We wondered then what it would be like if the waterfalls were full. It took me more than fifty years to find out! This time, my son took me to view Jog Falls at the end of the monsoon and the experience was totally different. These were the waterfalls my mother had spoken about. We stood mesmerised. Jog Falls was picture perfect. It looked almost like a painting had come alive. Tall, sheer streams of water plunging off the cliff into a gorge. Mist rising all around. Rainbows forming across the waterfalls. We watched the changing mood of the falls as they veiled themselves with clouds and emerged again, as they swayed with the winds and gushed and roared through the day and night. It was a surreal experience. *** My son Sriram decided to go down to the gorge. But this time around I found the prospect of 1400 steps too daunting. The steps had been closed to the public for a while, the watchman at the entrance told him, because some visitors managed to smuggle liquor with them when they went down and there had been a couple of cases of people drowning after getting drunk. Now, there were security guards all along the steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Sriram came back awestruck by the experience of standing so close to the waterfalls thundering all around him. Some young men who had come to bathe in the pools told him that when the water is released from the Linganamakki dam upstream, the force is so great that no one is allowed. This, in fact, had happened just a week before we went. The Linganamakki dam was completed in the 1960s and has a huge reservoir which is used for storing water for generating hydroelectric power. The building of this dam upstream definitely affected the flow of water to the falls. Now, the falls can be seen in their full glory only during the four months of the monsoon season when the dam is full and the overflow comes rushing down to the cliff. In fact, when the reservoir is overfull, water is released and the powerful gush creates a dramatic scene. According to popular legend, Sir M Viveswariah — who was responsible for building the dam — was the consummate engineer. He could not bear to see anything go to waste. And when he saw the gorgeous Jog Falls with water gushing down the cliff side, he exclaimed, “What a waste!” and decided to harness them for power generation. Utility won over natural beauty. The Jog Management Authority has now proposed a project to keep the falls flowing all through the year. The project, which is estimated to cost over Rs 350 crore, envisions recycling the water back into the reservoir so it can be used even during the dry season. *** I stood on The British Bungalow steps as close as I could get to my mother’s rock and saw the falls from a different close-up angle. Each one had a personality of its own. In spite of our interference, Jog Falls continued to stun us with its natural beauty. It's time we learnt to stop interfering and just let it be.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2nEvLUP
via IFTTT

Ex-K’taka CM Kumaraswamy denies alleged phone tapping of Nirmalanda Swami

Controversy

Media reports have said the seer’s phone was tapped after his number was made part of a list of suspected sandalwood smugglers.

TNM Staff

PTI/ File image

Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has finally reacted to the phone tapping controversy after media reports claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation has found that the phone of Nirmalananda Swami seer was under surveillance during his regime. Nirmalanda is revered and is quite influential in the dominant Vokkaliga community, the community to which Kumaraswamy himself belongs to. According to reports, police was tracing his calls as his name was made part of a list of alleged sandalwood smugglers. In a series of tweets, the former CM on Sunday said that he has no role in the same and was hurt by the allegation made by the BJP leaders. He further said that there was an unnecessary controversy created around the issue. He said, "The reports about tapping of Nirmalananda Swamiji's phone during my administration and statements by political leaders regarding it has caused unbearable pain to my heart. Above all the fact that this might have upset Swamiji has increased my pain.” He added. “My name was unnecessarily mentioned in this case. R Ashoka (senior BJP minister) has gone ahead and apologized for the mistake that was not committed. I dont know what is the motive behind the apology. I am deeply hurt at Swamiji's pain.” In another tweet, he added, “"Is it possible for me to take suspicious step regarding him? Absolutely not.” Incidentally, Ashoka is also a leader from the Vokkaliga community.   ಈ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಅನಗತ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಹೆಸರು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಸಂಭವಿಸದ ತಪ್ಪೊಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಅಶೋಕ್ ಅವರು ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗಿಂತಲೂ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಕ್ಷಮೆ ಕೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಅವರಿಗೇನು ಲಾಭವೋ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವರ ಆತುರಕ್ಕೆ ಮರುಕವಿದೆ. ಅದೇ ಹೊತ್ತಲ್ಲೇ ಶ್ರೀಗಳಿಗಾಗುತ್ತಿರುವ ಬೇಸರಕ್ಕೆ ಅತೀವ ನೋವಿದೆ. — H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) September 29, 2019     He further said that there is no question of him authorising the phone tapping as he considers the seer to be his “moral guide” and  served as an inspiration for him in social work. The CBI is currently investigating former Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Alok Kumar for allegations leveled by the BJP that the JD(S)- Congress government had authorised him to illegally tap phones of political opponents and others. The current Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had sought for the CBI probe once a conversation between an accused in a ponzi scheme case and a senior police officer had gone viral on social media. Alok Kumar was questioned by CBI sleuths on Thursday and the CBI was due to probe other senior police officers in connection with the case.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2ol82JJ
via IFTTT

B’luru activists demand retention of eco-sensitive zone for Bannerghatta National Park

Environment

The demand was renewed after a communication from the Union Ministry of Forests to the Karnataka government to consider retaining the buffer zone was leaked.

Soumya Chatterjee

File image

Environmentalists in Bengaluru who rallied to protect the buffer zone of Bannerghatta National Park are hopeful of retaining the entire 268.96 km as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). The development comes after communication (dated August 20) between the Director of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the head of the Karnataka Forest Department came to light.  The communication, accessed by TNM, states: “Recently, while finalizing the ESZ notification, references received in the Ministry requesting retaining ESZ area to 268 96 sq km in view of the elephant corridors and the likely impact of reduced area on the overall ecology of the region In the light of the above, the state government is requested to consider the proposal and examine the possibility of retaining the original proposal for the purpose of declaration of ESZ.” In 2018, the union government and the state government proposed to reduce the ESZ to only 168.64 sq km, much to the dismay of nature lovers. Following the communication, activists who are part of the umbrella group, Save Bannerghatta, want the state government to retain the original proposal.  “Now that we know the Centre also does not want this to happen, we want the state government to endorse the recommendation without any delay. This is for the future of Bengaluru and the future generation. We all know that the restoration of ESZ will protect the little nature that is left. We urge the state government to redo a survey of the damage done due to illegal mining and penalise the errant companies,” says Vijay Nishanth, who previously met Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on the same issue. According to Supreme Court guidelines and other laws, mining or industrial operations cannot take place in an ESZ, as it disturbs wildlife and increases the risk of man-animal conflict. “Ultimately, the decision has to be taken by the political class. Only a cabinet sub-committee is authorised to take decisions. We are only called for explaining the matter. We will discuss this as well as the letter from the union government with the Forest Minister. With the current dispensation we have to see how they react,” a source in the Karnataka Forest Department told TNM. When the state and union governments made the proposal in 2018, activists had complained that the changes to the ESZ were being made in the interest of mining and real estate companies, who were set to be the biggest beneficiaries if the ESZ was to be reduced. Their demand was endorsed by Bengaluru-based MPs Rajeev Chandrasekhar and PC Mohan as well. While the Centre’s draft notification was published on November 5, 2018, the same was endorsed in March 2019 in a state-centre meeting during the 33rd ESZ Expert Committee meeting. The talk of reducing the buffer zone triggered many campaigns by various eco groups, and even spurred a coalition of Resident Welfare Associations to take up the matter. They had also planned to take the matter to court if the governments did not pay heed to their demand. Importance of the buffer zone An IISc study conducted by leading scientist TV Ramachandra in 2015 had stated that the present buffer zones are biologically and hydrologically sensitive zones. Mining in the area would create bottlenecks for animals, which meant that they can’t move around in their natural habitat and would eventually lead to man-animal conflicts and poaching.  Another study by the Indian Institute of Human Settlements said that preservation of this ESZ was important in protecting the city from becoming a heat island. Recently, a study led by renowned wildlife biologist Sanjay Gubbi, in partnership with the Forest Department, found that there were 40 leopards in the forest, which is much higher than what is usually found in a reserve area of this size. One of their findings was that the northwestern part of Bannerghatta is connected to 3,250 acres of deemed forests— Gullalligudda, BM Kaaval, UM Kaaval and the Roerich Estate. These four deemed forests altogether form 5,375 acres of good wildlife habitat, which the researchers recommended to be notified as a Conservation Reserve. Gubbi’s study recommended they should be notified as a Conservation Reserve which would act as a buffer between Bannerghatta National Park and human habitation, hence reducing human-wildlife conflict in addition to protecting watersheds.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2mDZJbD
via IFTTT

Days after new V-C takes charge, Nadimath resigns as Registrar of NLS Bengaluru

Controversy

OV Nandimath will, however, continue as a professor at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

OV Nandimath, who was at the heart of the recent controversy over the appointment of Vice-Chancellor of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bengaluru, resigned from the post of Registrar on Saturday. He will, however, continue as a professor at the University.  This comes just within days after Sudhir Krishnaswamy took charge as the Vice-Chancellor and after days of discontent among students over the alleged delay in his appointment. The students had even resorted to protests and even boycotted exams over the matter. While the former Vice-Chancellor of the University, R Venkata Rao, completed his 10-year term on July 31, his successor (Krishnaswamy) was named through a mandated process on August 2. Krishnaswamy, however, took charge as the V-C only on September 25.  Earlier this year, a three-member High-Level Committee consisting of MP Singh (distinguished Jurist), KK Venugopal (Attorney General for India) and senior advocate Arvind Datar had been set up by the Chief Justice of India, acting as the Chancellor of the University, to recommend a suitable candidate to succeed Venkata Rao. The High-Level Committee had shortlisted three candidates, in a stated order of preference, and found Sudhir Krishnaswamy to be the most suitable of the three. But no affirmative action had taken place then. The students had alleged a malafide intention of the interim administration for delaying his appointment.  Nandimath was the Ex-Officio Secretary to the Executive Council (EC), which is involved in the procedural formalities of the V-C’s appointment. The students alleged that he was plotting to delay the transition process and even trying to reverse the decision. They also accused Nandimath of conflict of interest, since he himself had applied to the V-C’s post but was not selected. The students had also complained that the temporary administration was passing anti-student resolutions, sometimes without even issuing circulars. In an elaborate statement issued earlier, the students had said, “The student body has lost all faith in his (Nandimath) ability to act in an impartial manner in this matter. The Registrar should recuse himself of this process owing to his obstructionist behaviour and evident conflict of interest, having been one of the 16 applicants for the position of Vice-Chancellor.  

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2m2jXeL
via IFTTT