Degree, engineering colleges in Karnataka to reopen from Jan 15

Education

Colleges can also begin cultural and sports activities, the state government said.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

The Karnataka government on Monday decided to reopen classes for intermediate semesters of degree, diploma and engineering colleges from January 15. Canteens and libraries which were closed until now will also be allowed to be open. Colleges can also begin cultural and sports activities, the state government said. The decision came after Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ashwatha Narayan CN, who is also in charge of Higher Education, held a meeting with the state COVID-19 technical advisory committee. However, a decision is awaited on physical classes for Class 11 students, which were expected to resume from January 15. This decision comes after the state government had allowed students of Classes 10 and 12 in Karnataka to attend schools starting January 1 after a nine-month hiatus, following the lockdown imposed over the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020.   Students who wish to attend classes in school were asked to carry letters from their parents giving consent. Teachers in government schools took COVID-19 tests before the reopening of schools. Within a week of schools reopening for Class 10 and PU-II students, more than 200   teachers across Karnataka have tested positive for the coronavirus. The government had mandated that all teaching and non-teaching staff must undergo a COVID-19 test before educational institutions reopened.  All educational institutions in the state have been closed since mid-March, 2020, when the state government had announced a lockdown in wake of the pandemic followed by a more stringent lockdown announced by the Union government. Even the last Class 10 or SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) Board exams which were due to be held in the last week of March were postponed along with the last paper for PU-II board exams. The government had decided that all examinations for students in Classes 7, 8 and 9 in the state be also cancelled. The English paper for PU-II students which had to be postponed was held only in June.

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Badanekai yennegai to Ellu holige: Savour Karnataka’s Makara Sankranthi dishes

Food

All the treats prepared during the festival across the state are made with these ingredients: fresh farm produce, jaggery and sesame seeds.

Sanjana Deshpande

Picxy/Manju Mandavya

Makara Sankranthi, the harvest festival, is just around the corner. People discard their old and worn-out goods and replace them with newer ones to welcome good fortune. In Karnataka, homes sport a festive look with front porches decorated with vivid rangolis (decorative drawings made on the floor using rice flour and colours). Ellu bella (a mixture of sesame seeds [ellu] and jaggery [bella]) is customarily served to family and friends. In some parts of India, kites are flown on the day to mark Uttarayana, the northward movement of the sun which is said to be auspicious. However, for a year now festivities have been low-key owing to the pandemic. Colourful kites may not grace the skies as usual this year, but people will strive to serve the delicacies prepared specially during Sankranthi to mark the festival.  Karnataka cuisine is a mélange of multiple styles of cooking. Reflections of food habits from neighbouring states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala can be experienced in each distinct cuisine of the state. The northern, southern and coastal belts of Karnataka are ethno linguistically diverse and so is their cuisine. The food, however, has found a way to transcend these differences. All the treats made during the festival of Sankranthi across the state are replete with these specific ingredients: fresh farm produce, jaggery and sesame seeds. Bisibelebath made with carrots, peas, eggplants, potatoes, lentils and rice. Image source: Wikimedia Commons/FoodandRemedy On Bhogi, the day before Sankranthi, people enjoy a simple yet delicious spread of Sajji bhakri (flatbread made from jowar and coated with sesame seeds), a thick layer of benne (freshly churned unsalted butter) and Badanekai yennegai (a curry made with small eggplants, carrots and peas simmered in a gravy made from powdered groundnut, sesame seeds and jaggery). The sweet dish Kadabu that is filled with jaggery, sesame seeds and coconut. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons/Kart127 Another Sankranthi favourite is Hasi kadale kaalu palya – fresh groundnuts and green chickpeas tossed in a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, Bengal gram dal and asafoetida, garnished with freshly grated coconut. In the southern parts of the state, avarekalu (hyacinth beans) is the legume that is largely consumed and is used to make a range of dishes, including side dishes. Hitikida avarekalu saaru (a stew made with hyacinth beans, lentils and spices) is specially made during festivals. Avarekalu usli is prepared with similar ingredients and can be made as either a sweet or savoury treat. The usli is usually paired with ragi mudde (finger millet steamed balls) or dosas. On the main Sankranthi day, the spread tends to lean towards sweeter dishes. Popular dishes are Ellu holige (similar to Puran poli, this dessert has a filling of sesame seeds and jaggery), Ellu unde (sesame seed, peanut and jaggery truffle), Payasa (vermicelli or rice pudding), Kadabu (fried dish with a filling made from sesame seed powder, peanut powder, coconut, jaggery and dry fruits) and Pongal — both sweet and savoury variants. The sweet variant of Pongal also called Sakkarai Pongal. Image Source: Wikimedia Commons/ V Sharmilee Avarekalu bath or Bisibelebath (blend of rice, lentils, vegetables and spices) are commonly prepared on the day too. The main course dishes are served with sides like Kosambari (salad with a tempering) or Mekke jola usli (steamed corn kernels coarsely ground into a paste and topped with tempering) while some Shenga hindi or Shenga pudi (powdered blend of spices, chillies and roasted peanuts) seals the deal.  A helping of Puliogare (spicy tamarind rice) or Chitranna (lemon rice) with some of the delightful desserts treats one’s palate to rich flavours.  Makara Sankranthi is celebrated as a way to thank Mother Earth for her produce and this can be seen in the festival platter. If you happen to be in Karnataka during this time, make sure to partake in the celebrations while following the necessary COVID-19 protocols and treat yourself to a hearty Sankranthi meal.

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Kichcha Sudeep’s upcoming project based on Mahabharata’s Ashwatthama?

Sandalwood

Anup Bhandari, who will be directing the project, is currently working with Sudeep for ‘Phantom’.

Digital Native

Kannada director Anup Bhandari announced his new project some months ago, and the poster of this film was released by Kichcha Sudeep, garnering interest amongst his fans. While the duo is associated with Phantom currently, the groundwork for this yet-untitled project is also happening simultaneously. According to the latest reports, this new project will be based on Ashwatthama, an important character in the epic Mahabharata. Sources in the know say that Sudeep will be playing the lead role. Speaking about the project in an interview earlier with the Times of India, director Anup Bhandari had said, “I have already written the first half of the script and whenever I get time off, I get cracking on the second part of the script. I have been working on the story for two years now. I’ll get clarity on this only after wrapping Phantom.” The shooting of Phantom, which is in the final stages, is currently happening in Kerala. While Sudeep plays the lead character Vikranth Rona, Nirup Bhandari will be seen in the role of Sanjeev Gambhira and Neetha Ashok as Aparna Ballal aka Panna.  Manjunath Gowda, a close associate of Sudeep, is producing the film under his banner. The technical crew of Phantom includes B Ajaneesh Loknath for music and William David to crank the camera. On Sudeep’s role as Vikranth Rona, director Anup Bhandari said in an interview earlier, “The character of Vikranth Rona is as powerful as his name. Nobody knows why he does what he does. But there is a reason behind everything he does.” Another highlight of this film is that the Bollywood diva Jacqueline Fernandez will be making a special appearance in it. We hear that she will be a part of a special musical number in the film. Earlier, there were reports that the filmmakers are planning to release the teaser of Phantom at the famous Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Confirming this, Alankar Pandian said that all plans were made for the teaser launch here, but it had to be put off due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. He, however, confirmed that the event will happen as planned and the team is working on a fresh release date, which will probably be at the end of January or early February. While the shooting of Phantom is on, Kichcha Sudeep’s fans are eagerly awaiting the release of Kotigobba 3. Arjun Janya is composing music for this venture while Shekar Chandru is handling the camera. Madonna Sebastian and Shraddha Das are playing the female leads in Kotigobba 3, with Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani playing an important role. This film is produced by Surappa Babu under his banner. Kichcha Sudeep was last seen on the silver screens in the Bollywood flick Dabangg 3, directed by Prabhu Deva and produced by Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan under their banners Salman Khan Films and Arbaaz Khan Productions.

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Tensions grow on Biden's team over odds of making vaccination goal

The president-elect has criticized his Covid coordinator on multiple occasions in front of groups of transition officials.

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Bengaluru’s HSR Layout to face power outages this week

Power

The outages are due to works for converting overhead electricity lines into an underground system in various parts of Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) on Sunday announced that there will be power outages in various areas in HSR Layout in Bengaluru between January 11 and 16. The outages are expected due to the conversion of the 11 kV overhead (OH) line to underground (UG) cables and the laying of optical fibre cables in the area. The first and second sectors in HSR Layout will have power cuts on January 11 and 12 while the 7th sector will have power outages on January 13. The third sector will have outages on January 15 while the 27th Main Road will have an outage on January 16. "The line will be taken up by BESCOM staff to carry out the work of conversion of 11 kV OH line to UG cable, LT OH line by LT UG/AB cable and laying of OFC cable. Consumers are requested to cooperate," a note issued by BESCOM's Executive Engineer for the HSR Layout Division in Bengaluru read. The note added that the areas where outages are expected will be the ones coming under 220/66/11KV HSR MUSS, as per BESCOM's terminology. Consumers can dial 1912 for lodging complaints against BESCOM. Other areas in southern Bengaluru are expected to have minor outages this month for the same reason. Meanwhile, outages are also expected in the city's east division, in Indiranagar and Whitefield areas, due to tree trimming work being taken up by BESCOM. As many as 47 areas have been earmarked for tree trimming work, with the longest outage being in Whitefield, for six hours.  BESCOM has taken up the works for converting 7,250-kilometre overhead electricity lines into an underground system, including 2,393-kilometre 11 kV high-tension lines in six areas of the city at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore. The six areas identified for the project are Indiranagar, Jayanagar, Shivajinagar, Koramangala, Whitefield and Hosur Road-Sarjapur Road divisions.  

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New year, same old BBMP: Civic body misses another deadline to fix potholes

Civic

Administrator Gaurav Gupta had issued a 10-day deadline for engineers to fill Bengaluru’s potholes on December 29.

Shishir Rao

Representational image

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has missed yet another deadline for filling potholes in the city, nearly two weeks after Administrator Gaurav Gupta had issued a 10-day deadline to engineers to do the same. Explaining the reason for the delay some engineers have blamed the unusual January rains for not being able to start the work. Another reason that has been cited is lack of sufficient hot mix as the in-house hot mix plant for the BBMP is partially closed for the repairs. However, Gaurav Gupta and Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad have said that sufficient hot mix has been supplied to various parts of the city. It has been reported that the task has not begun in the city’s Bommanahalli, Yelahanka, West Zone and South Zone areas. In several other areas, residents and other citizens’ associations have expressed anger and dissatisfaction about the work that has been done, which according to them is shoddy.  “We must understand that there are nearly 15,000 km of roads in Bengaluru and over time traffic also has increased a lot. Before, we used to take a week to fill a pothole but we have improved the process from seven days to just two days. Despite this, roads will keep getting damaged and to imagine that one day all potholes would be gone is not possible. However, we are working to make Bengaluru pothole-free,” BS Prahalad, Chief Engineer (Roads), BBMP told TNM. Meanwhile many roads in the city are in a deplorable condition due to ongoing Smart City Project, water pipe laying and metro construction works. BBMP officials said that the roads will be repaired only after the works done on them are completed.   However, residents are unhappy with the pace and quality of work done by the civic body engineers. “In our area there has been no work done at all. While travelling to other areas, I have seen the work done here and there. It is such a shoddy job that one good rain will wash it away. All the repairs are done for namesake and it really doesn’t do much to improve roads. On the contrary, when they are improperly repaired, the potholes get worse and the loose stones create a dangerous surface to ride on.” N Ravi, a resident of Bengaluru’s Kathriguppe, told TNM.

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Air India's all-women crew complete longest flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru

Aviation

The direct distance between the two cities at opposite ends of the world is 13,993 km with a time zone change of around 13.5 hours.

Twitter/ Air India

Air India's longest direct flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru with an all-woman cockpit crew successfully landed in the southern city on Monday. The national carrier had said on Saturday that this flight would be the longest commercial flight in the world to be operated by any Indian airline and the total flight time on this route would be of more than 17 hours depending on the wind speed on that day. Members of the crew are: Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Captain Papagari Thanmai, Captain Akansha Sonaware and Captain Shivani Manhas. The direct distance between the two cities at opposite ends of the world is 13,993 km with a time zone change of around 13.5 hours. "In a moment to cherish and celebrate, women professionals of Indian civil aviation create history," Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri said on Twitter. "Heartiest Congratulations to Capt Zoya Aggarwal, Capt Papagari Thanmai, Capt Akansha Sonaware & Capt Shivani for flying over North Pole to land in Bengaluru from San Francisco, he stated. Flight AI176 departed from San Francisco in the USA at around 8.30 pm (local time) on Saturday and landed at the Kempegowda International Airport at around 3.45 am (local time) on Monday.   #WATCH via ANI multimedia: With four women pilots, Air India's longest direct route flight landed at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (Karnataka) from San Francisco, flying over North Pole & covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometres.https://t.co/vcy94g6fz0 — ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2021   The all-women crew was given a warm welcome at the Bengaluru airport.   A historic moment for us! BLR-SFO route commences with the arrival of flight AI 176. This marks the first non-stop connection between #Bengaluru and #SanFrancisco. #BLRAirport @airindiain @MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri #GOK pic.twitter.com/8pFLSbRaVh — BLR Airport (@BLRAirport) January 10, 2021   The flight was operated with a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft with a seating capacity of 238 seats, including eight First Class, 35 Business Class,195 Economy class configuration besides four cockpit and 12 cabin crew. Air India too expressed its elation when it tweeted "Imagine this: -All Women Cockpit Crew. -Longest flight into India. -Crossing the North Pole, it’s here & happening! Records broken. History in the making by AI176 from @flySFO to @BLRAirport. AI 176 is cruising at 30000 feet.” Air India has said this was the longest commercial flight in the world to be operated by it or any other airline in India. The total flight time on this route would be more than 17 hours depending on the wind speed on that particular day, it had said in a statement on the eve of the historic flight. Aggarwal, the lead pilot on flight, had told NDTV that the crew was going to try and fly over the North Pole on the eve of this historic flight. “However, it depends on multitude of factors like solar radiations and the turbulence,” she added. “So, we are going to sit tight and hope that we will go polar and break all sorts of records.” With PTI inputs  

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