Bengaluru metro services between RV Road and Yelachenahalli to be suspended for 3 days

Metro

The services will be suspended as inspections will be carried out to test the capabilities of the train along Reach 4B line.

TNM Staff

The Bengaluru metro rail services along the Green Line, between RV Road and Yelachenahalli Stations will be suspended on November 17, 18 and 19. In a statement, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said that the closure of train services would be to facilitate 'pre-commissioning' works for the Reach 4B project, an extension of the Green Line (Yelachenahalli to Nagasandra). Reach 4B will have an extended metro line between RV Road and Anjanapura.  Metro train services will be available only between Nagasandra and RV Road from 7 am to 9 pm on these three days. Train services will resume at 7 am on November 20, the statement said.  BMRCL officials said that the Commissioner of Railway Safety would inspect the operations of the metro rail for Reach 4B between RV Road and Anjanapura on November 18 and 19. The construction has been completed and the extended line will soon be ready for operations, the official said.  The inspection would include assessment of the civil, signalling and telecommunication infrastructure, the electrical systems and safety measures. The Commissioner for Railway Safety will also assess whether the safety standards have been met. BMRCL officials said that if the approvals are granted, train services can begin operations after November 20 along Reach 4B.  BMRCL managing Director Ajay Seth said that the agency expects to begin operations along the extended line by the end of November. “The inspection authority may also give feedback and those systems will have to be fixed. It is not necessary that the approvals will be given after the first inspection,” he said.  BMRCL had submitted its report regarding the operational capabilities along Reach 4B line in October this year. The metro stations along this line have been constructed along the median of the existing roads. This was primarily done to avoid land acquisition, which BMRCL officials said causes delay in construction. The metro stations along Reach 4B have been designed in a way  so commuters can interchange between both the entrances of the respective metro stations without the need for a foot overbridge.   

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BJP government in Karnataka to rename Anna Bhagya scheme

Politics

The Anna Bhagya scheme of supplying free food grains to the poor was started by the former Siddaramaiah government in 2013.

TNM Staff

The BJP government in Karnataka on Friday decided to rename the Anna Bhagya scheme to Mukhyamantri Annapoorna Yojane. The Anna Bhagya scheme of supplying free food grains to the poor was started by Congress leader Siddaramaiah when he was the Chief Minister in 2013. The BJP government led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, however, is yet to officially announce the change in name for the programme.  The renaming of the scheme was revealed on Friday after Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission Chairperson Hanumanagouda Belagurki submitted a report to CM BS Yediyurappa. The report, titled 'Mukhya Mantri Annapoorna Yojana', has a commentary of recommendations, which included analysis of the existing scheme, and methods to improve the quality of production and market prices.  Known as the former Congress government's crown jewel to many, the Anna Bhagya scheme proposition is said to have got Siddaramaiah elected as the Chief Minister in 2013. The scheme includes distribution of free rice, jowar, bajra, ragi and lentils through the public distribution system (PDS) for those below the poverty line. According to sources in the Chief Minister's Office, funds for developmental works including mid-day meal scheme, Anna Bhagya, Kshita Bhagya and Indira Canteens were cut after the pandemic struck Karnataka. The funds for these schemes were reallocated for COVID-19 efforts, the source said. Anna Bhagya has become synonymous with the achievement of the Siddaramaiah government and rebranding it is one of the primary steps to be taken to ensure that the scheme continues, the source said.  "Under the Congress government, the various 'bhagya' schemes were launched. Since the amount of food grains being distributed through Anna Bhagya scheme was reduced, there is a need to rebrand it as even now, it is known as Siddaramaiah's scheme," the source said.  The model of distributing free food grains to the poor was conceptualised and implemented for the first time by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Ramarao. Several state governments have subsequently adopted this scheme.  Three weeks ago, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah had launched a scathing attack on Yediyurappa, stating that the conditions of farmers and weavers, especially those who are from the low-income backgrounds, have deteriorated.  Siddaramaiah spoke to the media last week in a press conference, where he criticised the government for failing to allocate funds for developmental works. "Schemes that were implemented during the Congress government were now being sidelined. Rice allocation for Anna Bhagya, Kshira Bhagya and other programmes has been cut. Many farmers are died by suicide. It has become a percentage government. Funds for Assembly segments represented by opposition MLAs were not being given and for Assembly segments represented by BJP MLAs were released after receiving compensation from the third party. Such corrupt government had not been witnessed by him," Siddaramaiah had said. 

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Bengaluru apartment security guard kills his three children, dies by suicide

Crime

The police said that Janakraj Bhisht, who is from Nepal, was depressed since his wife died by suicide in September this year.

TNM Staff

Representation photo

A 32-year-old security guard from Nepal killed three of his children and later died by suicide in Bengaluru. Their bodies were found by his sister on Friday at the security guard’s residence in Mico Layout. The police said that Janakraj Bhist came to Bengaluru with his wife nine years ago and had been working in the city ever since. The couple had three children — Saraswati (14), Hemanti (9) and Rajkumar (3). The family was residing at the quarters in Vinyasa Vijaya Apartments in Ramanashree Layout, where Janakraj worked as a security guard.  The Mico Layout police said that Janakraj allegedly strangled his children to death. The police said that he had played music loudly to drown out their cries. They said that Janakraj had been depressed ever since his wife, Nanda Devi, died by suicide on September 21. Preliminary investigations revealed that his neighbours knocked on the door many times due to the loud music but did not receive any response from him.  Police sources said that Nanda Devi was severely ill since the last few years and Janakraj had been caring for her. “When she died, our investigation led us to believe she took the step as she did not want to live with the illness,” the police said.  Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East division), Srinath Mahadev Joshi said that their bodies were found by Janakraj’s sister Apsara on Friday afternoon. After Nanda Devi’s death, Apsara was taking care of the children and would bring them lunch and dinner. When she went to his residence on Friday afternoon, she opened the door with the spare key and found their bodies.  The Mico Layout Police have registered a case of unnatural death in Janakraj’s case and also a murder case against Janakraj. “Prima facie, it appears that Janakraj took the drastic step as he was severely depressed after his wife’s death. We haven't found a death note. Further investigation is on,” DCP Joshi added.  The bodies were taken to Victoria Hospital for an autopsy.  If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.    Tamil Nadu State health department’s suicide helpline: 104 Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre – 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu) Andhra Pradesh Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930 Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584 Karnataka Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222 Kerala Maithri: 0484 2540530 Chaithram: 0484 2361161 Both are 24-hour helpline numbers. Telangana State government’s suicide prevention (tollfree): 104 Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200 SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm) Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one. 24x7 Helpline: 9820466726  Click here for working helplines across India.

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Bengaluru cops pose as drug dealers, seize 110 kg marijuana from a truck driver

Crime

The ganja was found in a vegetable supply truck.

IANS

The police had to impersonate themselves as big time ganja traders to nab the drug dealer. After getting the police team runaround, he finally came on a video call and asked them to show money if they really wanted such a quantity, the police did what he said only then he decided to meet them, the police officer told reporters. According to the Rajgopal Nagar police the accused has been identified as Shivakumar aka Shiva (27), resident of Chikkaballapur district. Police said that the accused used to transport marijuana hidden in his vegetable supply truck from Chilkkaballapur to Bengaluru, which is 50 km afar. A senior police officer added that Shivakumar modus operandi was to visit cities like Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vijyawada and Vizag to procure ganja from there and store it in his house in Chikkaballapur. The police team had palced an order of nearly 17 kg from him. "We were stunned to see the way he had managed to store it in his house. It can only be done by a after gaining lot of experience as a professional smuggler," the police said.

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Karnataka agriculture body recommends Rs 5k cr revolving fund for farm procurement

Agriculture

The Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission chairperson submitted a report to CM BS Yediyurappa with recommendations.

IANS

PTI/Representation Photo

Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission (KAPC) on Friday strongly recommended to the state government to set up a revolving fund to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore to help farmers to procure their produce. Speaking to reporters after submitting the report "Cost of Cultivation of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops, quantity of production, present status of market prices and analysis of the recent Market Acts - 2019-2020" to the Chief Minister, B.S. Yediyurappa here, the KPC chairman, Hanumanagouda Belagurki, said that there is urgent need for any government to protect the interests of the farmers. "The products must be purchased from their farm land itself. Therefore, the state needs to constitute a revolving fund. Though the state government at present has set up a revolving fund but it is insufficient. It needs to be increased at least to Rs 5,000 crore," he said Apart from this, the state government should also establish Karnataka Horticulture Federation on the lines of National Dairy Development Board or Karnataka Milk Federation to help farmers to sell their produce, he explained. According to Belagurki, Mobile Purchase Centres are must to manage and purchase these commodities at Minimum Support Price through farmers. While commending the Commission's work, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa directed the officials concerned to take steps to implement the recommendations made by the commission.

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Karnataka’s COVID-19 recoveries continue to outnumber daily cases

COVID-19

In Bengaluru, too, a total of 1,200 patients were discharged in a day, while 1,030 new COVID-19 cases were reported in a day.

TNM Staff

PTI

Over the last few days, Karnataka has been reporting more patients recovering from COVID-19, outnumbering the number of daily positive cases. The state reported 3,443 discharges on Thursday, taking the total number of recoveries to 8,18,392. On the same day, the state reported 2,016 new COVID-19 cases, putting the total COVID-19 tally at 8,57,928. A total number of 28,026 patients are undergoing treatment for COVID-19 across the state. On November 11, the state reported 2,881 recoveries and 2,584 new COVID-19 cases. On November 12, the state reported 3,368 recoveries and 2,116 new COVID-19 cases. "With 3,443 discharged on Thursday, 8,18,392 recovered till date, while 17 succumbed to the infection, taking the state's death toll to 11,491 so far," said the state health bulletin on Friday. In Bengaluru, too, a total of 1,200 patients were discharged in a day, taking recoveries to 3,33,487. The city reported 1,030 new COVID-19 cases in a day, which took its tally to 3,55,245, including 17,769 active cases since the pandemic broke out in the state on March 8. With only three fatalities on Thursday, the city's death toll due to the virus rose to 3,988. The number of containment zones in the city continues to remain at 18. The city has conducted 36,62,569 tests (as on November 12) so far, said the War Room bulletin by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for November 13. West zone continues to have more number of positive cases as well as recoveries, followed by the South zone and East zone. Of the 781 patients in intensive care units (ICUs), 391 are in Bengaluru hospitals, 41 in Kalaburagi, 39 in Mysuru, 31 in Tumakuru and 24 in Hassan. Out of 1,17,999 tests conducted in a day across the state, 26,760 were through rapid-antigen detection and 91,239 through the RT-PCR (Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) method. "Positivity rate for the day was 1.71 per cent and case fatality rate 0.84 per cent," added the state health bulletin on Friiday. (With inputs from IANS)

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Karnataka: No quarantine for international passengers with negative COVID-19 report

COVID-19

Passengers can either produce a negative certificate after landing or undergo a test upon their arrival in Karnataka at the airport.

TNM Staff

Representational image

The Karnataka government on Friday announced that all international travellers entering the state will have to undergo 14 days of home quarantine. Travellers can choose to quarantine themselves in institutional quarantine facilities too, if they choose to. This can however be bypassed, if the traveller can produce a negative RT-PCR test report taken 72 hours prior to the date of travel. These were part of the latest guidelines issued by Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Services, Karnataka Pankaj Kumar Pandey. The travellers will also have to submit a self-declaration form on https://ift.tt/3gAtQ9E at least 72 hours before the scheduled date of travel. In addition to this, they have to submit a self-declaration form to the Ministry of Civil Aviation through the respective airlines. The test report too, has to be uploaded on the Air Suvidha portal and the same has to be produced upon arrival in Karnataka. Further, passengers can choose to bypass the 14-day quarantine by undergoing a test upon their arrival in Karnataka at the Bengaluru airport as well. Exemptions to these criteria include pregnant women, death in the family, people with serious illness and parents of children below 10 years of age. Business travellers, short-term travellers and students who are writing exams in Karnataka will be exempted from home quarantine if they carry a negative RT-PCR test report which should have been conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey. They shall undertake self-monitoring of their health for 14 days from their date of arrival in India. If they develop any COVID-19 like symptoms, they have been advised to immediately seek medical consultation. Similarly, international passengers who have landed in other states and are arriving in Karnataka with symptoms shall self-isolate and undergo rapid antigen or RT-PCR testing. Asymptomatic passengers who arrive without a negative certificate and do not opt for an RT-PCR test at the airport, will have to undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine.

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