Karnataka farmers demand blanket ban on mining activities in Mandya

Mining

Farmers’ outfits in Karnataka on Tuesday said that the mining activities around Baby Betta was detrimental to agricultural activities in the region.

Representative Image/ Wikimedia Commons/ Hadalcommons

Farmers in Karnataka’s Mandya district on Tuesday demanded a blanket ban in mining activities in the region, claiming that it was detrimental to carrying out agricultural activities. Farmers with the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha demanded that the district administration must put a stop to mining activities around Baby Betta in Pandavapura taluk.  Mining activities have persisted around the Baby Betta despite the issuing of prohibitory orders by district officials, the farmers claimed. “Taking cognisance of the impact that mining activities had on the structural safety of the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam in Mandya, CM Yediyurappa banned all activities in Baby Betta. Mining in the 20 km radius of the dam was indefinitely banned in September, 2020,” said Kodihalli Chandrashekar, President of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha. When quizzed about the reason behind farmers’ protest, Kodihalli Chandrashekar said, “The mining activity has been going on in the vicinity of the KRS dam; according to the government’s guidelines, it is illegal. The government should stop mining activity in the region.” He further criticised the district officials and claimed they were hand in glove with the owners of mining companies. He announced that if the officials did not intervene, farmers would stage a massive protest across the state. “I have written a letter to the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, the Minister of Mines and Geology CC Patil and the concerned officials. We will schedule a meeting with the CM on January 17 or January 18 and broach this subject with him,” he added. Members of the KRRS said that farmers in the region have been adversely affected by the illegal mining activities. “Use of uncontrolled explosives has created air pollution and further may induce cracks in houses made of local stone and another material has proved detrimental for them. High magnitude blasts are also harmful to farmers living here,” he said.  Sachin, President of Karnataka Kisan Congress, claimed that the officials surpassed their authority and felled the trees that were planted by the farmers in Pandavapura. He also stated that the KKC would file a Public Interest Litigation if the government fails to address the concerns raised by farmer groups. According to TOI, the Mandya Deputy Commissioner M V Venkatesh said that the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Application Centre (KSRSAC) refused to partner with the district administration citing security reasons. “The KSRAC was supposed to capture photographs of Baby Betta, which would be reproduced in 2D and 3D which would have assisted officials in mapping any change in the landscape,” he told TOI. When contacted by TNM, Mandya DC Venkatesh was unavailable for comment. 

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Karnataka’s beef ban ordinance challenged in High Court

Court

The petition has stated that the ordinance violated the right to choose food and that in Karnataka, many people consume beef on a regular basis.

Pooja Prasanna

PTI

The Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the state government based on a Public Interest Litigation filed against the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, 2020 that mandates prevention of cattle slaughter. The notice was filed based on a petition filed by Mohammed Arif Jameel against the ordinance promulgated by Karnataka government and signed by the Governor on January 6. The Ordinance makes it illegal to slaughter all cattle except buffaloes above the age of 13. A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Sreenivas Oka and Justice Shankar Magadum were hearing a public interest litigation filed by Mohammed Arif Jameel, challenging the constitutionality of the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance 2020. Challenging the Ordinance, the petitioner contended that “law violates the fundamental rights of citizens and is unconstitutional. Further it is said that Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution of India guarantees citizens to carry out trade and business, subject to reasonable restriction as mentioned in clause 6 of that Article,” as reported by Live Law. Read: Will block anti-cattle slaughter bill in Council: HD Kumaraswamy to TNM The petition has stated that the ordinance violated the right to choose food and that in Karnataka, many people consume beef on a regular basis. It adds that beef is the staple food of Dalits, Muslims, Mangaloreans, Keralites and people from North Eastern Part of India who are residing in the state. The petition also talks about concerns that the ordinance gives the police a free hand to raid and seize any property on mere suspicion and that this provision could lead to harassment. It says the ordinance invades a citizen’s right to privacy as it allows for search and seizure by a police pfficer, a Tahsildar or a veterinary officer. The petitioner further expresses concerns about the possible increase in incidents of cow vigilantism in the state especially in the coastal region. The Advocate General(AG) has told the HC that the government is in the process of framing the rules and that it requires time till January 18 to complete the process. The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill was passed in the Karnataka Assembly on December 9 but the government did not table the same in the Legislative Council. The Government then chose to pass an Ordinance to bring in the law. Also read: There is no 'too much democracy', Karnataka govt’s bulldozing of beef Bill is proof    

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Farmers' protests not limited to Delhi: South Indian farmers oppose Union govt claim

Agriculture

The farmers opposed the Attorney General’s claim that Karnataka and Kerala farmers were accepting of the three farm laws.

TNM Staff

Farmers' protest in Bengaluru

While the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three controversial farm laws, during the proceedings in the apex court, Attorney General KK Venugopal claimed twice that farmers in south India were amenable to the laws enacted. The Attorney General on Tuesday told the court, “As far as Karnataka, Kerala etc are concerned, there is huge support for these laws.” The AG’s affidavit also indicated that the farmers’ protest was limited to only one part of the country. "The agitation being limited to only one place out of the whole country is witness to the fact that majority of farmers are not only happy with the legislations but are finding these legislations to be progressive and in their interest,” the AG’s preliminary affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court said.  The AG’s statement, however, has drawn criticism from farmers in the southern states, who say that their agitation in December 2020 cannot be discounted. Besides, the Kerala Legislative Assembly even passed a resolution on December 31 seeking the Union government to withdraw the three farm laws, after farmers agitation.   Protests in South India Although the farmers’ protest in southern states has not been as big as the ones in Punjab and New Delhi, protests were held in various south Indian states and hundreds of farmers had mobilised to demand the rollback of the three farm laws.  In December this year, protests by farmer groups were held in Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, opposition parties like DMK and CPI(M) organised a few of the protests. In Karnataka, the farmers held massive protests in Bengaluru and 29 other districts in the state between December 9 and 14, 2020, when the Karnataka Legislative Assembly was holding its monsoon session. Hundreds of farmers held protest marches almost everyday, demanding that the three farm laws be rolled back.  “In Karnataka big protests have happened. We protested every day when the Assembly session was held. We held protests across all districts. Since the ruling party is BJP, there is propaganda by the state government that farmers are accepting of the laws. It is not at all true that farmers in south India are accepting of these laws,” said Kodihalli Chandrashekar, President of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha. “Unless the Union government issues a promise publicly, we cannot believe a word they say,” he added.  In Telangana, protests took place in December 2020 by farmer groups. Left parties mobilised farmers and ensured information about farm laws and its impact reached them. In Andhra Pradesh, solidarity protests are being held regularly by CPI, CPIM, and Rythu Swarajya Vedika- a farmers association.  “Since December, protests have increased in frequency and participation. There are regular meetings held at village, mandal and district level, to discuss the potential impact of the farm laws on Andhra farmers, and to express solidarity with the farmers protesting in Delhi. There is also a call to burn copies of farm laws in the Bhogi fire on Thursday,” Balu, Rythu Swarajya Vedika leader in Anakapalle. In Tamil Nadu, the protests were sporadic and spread across the state, mostly organised by opposition parties including the DMK and CPI (M). However, the state government expressed its support to the farm laws multiple times. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami spoke about it in Salem in the first week of December. Stating that the new laws ensure a pre-agreed price for the produce, the Chief Minister said while in states like Punjab, Assam and Haryana, farmers have to sell their produce only through agents, it is not so in Tamil Nadu.  Speaking to TNM, T Shanmugam, the General Secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam said that the protests in Tamil Nadu have been lukewarm due to lack of awareness among the people and the lack of coordination. “We organised a bunch of protests since June last year, when these laws were brought in as ordinance. Our protests and opposition have been consistent. Even tomorrow, we have arranged for a protest in which copies of these laws will be burned during Bhogi celebrations across the state,” he said.  A delegation of 500 farmers from Kerala left for Delhi on Monday by bus to join their counterparts at the borders of Delhi, who have been protesting against the contentious farm laws since November 26 last year. The farmers with the Kerala Karshaka Sangham', the state chapter of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS affiliated to the CPI(M), one of the organisations at the forefront of the protest. AIKS vice president S Ramachandra Pillai flagged off the bus, which is expected to reach Delhi on January 14. They would participate in the protest at Shahjahanpur, one of the venues. Farmer representatives from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana have participated in the protests in New Delhi, owing to the pandemic and the risk of infection.  With inputs from Theja Ram, Megha Kaveri, Janhavi and PTI

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HHS, FDA duel over top lawyer as officials fear last-minute moves

The FDA cycled through three different top lawyers, a personnel shake-up driven by ongoing clashes between the agency and the HHS department that oversees it,

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Watch: Actor Darshan clicks photos of tiger at wildlife reserve

Sandalwood

The actor can be seen capturing the movements of a tiger which is a few metres away from him.

Digital Native

Youtube/Public Music

Kannada actor Darshan, in a now viral video, can be seen capturing a tiger on camera while on a safari. In the minute-long video, he is seen capturing the movements of a tiger which is a few metres away from him. The Challenging Star was at Kabini recently. His love for animals is well-known to his fans. He also owns a farmhouse in Mysuru where he has a studio. The actor is the brand ambassador for the Karnataka Forest Department. The video was shared by the actor’s fan page and later went viral. Darshan has been spending his time in the forests of Karnataka as he is yet to resume shooting for films that were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown. The star had also visited the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in August and stayed there for a couple of days. The sanctuary is located in Chikkamagaluru and he stayed with his friends. The actor had hosted an exhibition of the wildlife photographs that he'd clicked at Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger reserves. The proceeds from the exhibition that was held in Mysuru in 2019 were donated to the Forest Department for the welfare of forest guards and watchers. The actor recently made an announcement that Roberrt will hit screens on March 11. Roberrt will be one of the biggest releases in Sandalwood post lockdown. The film directed by Tharun Sudhir was supposed to release in the summer of 2020. However, it was delayed owing to the pandemic. Darshan stars opposite Asha Bhat in the film. The actor made the announcement on his social media page through a Facebook Live. Darshan declared in the Live video that no matter what happens, his film Roberrt will release on the big screen only and that there is no question of the 50% occupancy guideline stopping them from going ahead with the release. He further asked his fans to not gather outside his home and assured them that he will visit the entire state as promised and meet them. 

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‘The world’s eyes on us’: Capt Zoya and Capt Thanmei on flying SF-Bengaluru nonstop

Aviation

The flight, recorded as the longest commercial flight operated by any Indian airline, landed in Bengaluru early Monday morning.

Sanjana Deshpande

Twitter/Air India

Marking a new milestone in Indian aviation history, Air India’s longest flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru landed in Kempegowda International Airport at 3.45 am on Monday, January 11. The flight — the longest commercial one operated by any Indian airline — was operated by an all-women crew comprising Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Captain Papagiri Thanmei, Captain Akansha Sonaware and Captain Shivani Manhas, who have been lauded for the feat.  The direct distance between the two cities is 13,993 kilometres, with a time zone change of around 13.5 hours. Depending on the wind speed, the flying time is roughly over 17 hours.  TNM spoke to Captains Zoya and Thanmei, the flight’s commanding pilots, who recalled the journey, flying across the pole region and succeeding as women in a male-dominated industry.  An opportunity of a lifetime When Captain Thanmei first heard she would be flying the new route connecting the two Silicon Valleys of the world, she was over the moon. “I am extremely humbled that I received this opportunity to be on this inaugural flight,” she said. “This flight was the most challenging one because the whole world’s eyes were on us and this was the first time, we were doing it.” Zoya described the flight as an “amazing” experience.  The flight was the first direct, non-stop flight between the west coast of the United States and southern India, a long-pending demand from passengers. The biweekly flight will take off from Bengaluru to San Francisco on Mondays and Thursdays, and leave San Francisco for Bengaluru on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The polar route Incidentally, the route takes flight across the North Pole, an ambitious endeavour for which the pilots have been training for a year. Turning it into a reality felt surreal, Zoya said. She added that they broke the world record for flying over a polar route, connecting diametrically opposite cities of the world, a “proud moment” for the team.  Captain Thanmei said while the journey was not difficult to make, it was definitely challenging, she added. She elaborated that they cannot fly if the necessary components — cosmic radiation levels, solar radiation, navigation aids, fuel temperature and others — are not in line with the obligatory values. She noted that years of rigorous training teach them to recognise any fault with the aircraft. This flight tested their knowledge and experience of so many years, she said. Captain Zoya notes, “Within the polar region, it becomes more difficult owing to the extreme weather conditions. We are legally bound to carry equipment specially built for the polar regions, such as polar suits. One cannot step out of the aircraft without a polar suit. There is an extensive list of parameters that we have to take into account before we fly over the polar region.” Thanmei further added that while she has extensive experience flying long-haul flights, flying over the polar region is very different. The route of flying over the North Pole, the pilot said, is an unswerving one. Unlike other routes, the polar route saves tonnes of fuel, in turn reducing the flight’s carbon footprint. “There’s a zone in the polar region that can affect the communication of the pilots with the base. We have to take into account the weather, wind direction and solar radiation. We also have to look out for technical issues that may jeopardise the flight. Moreover, in case of emergencies, we have to consider if the facilities the airports can provide,” she said.  Subsequently, giving an insight into the planning, Thanmei said that the route changes according to the weather conditions. “You do not know until the last moment if you will fly from the polar region or will you go a little farther. We have been flying these routes (Delhi-New York) and this is just an addition [to the existing routes].” Zoya further fleshed out that it is not just the pilots who go through rigorous training but also the cabin crew. She said that it’s the cabin crew who manage the passengers, and in case of any emergency, they have to tend to them. “The cabin crew are the first who respond to any queries of the passengers. If there’s a sick patient on the flight, it is they who have to manage it and give them temporary respite until we can land or at least divert. Because of the polar region’s extreme conditions, the operation was riskier. Thankfully, we did not have a sick passenger on this flight,” she added. A team of women Speaking on their all-women crew in the cockpit, Captain Thanmei said, “Air India has always tried to empower the women employed there, and cockpit crews and cabin crews consisting of all-female employees have carried passengers across the globe. This flight has further boosted it.”  Zoya recalled how she had to toil to rise from a reserved background where women were expected to always stay in the shadows of men. “Life would be a flatline without challenges. As a pilot, no two days are the same for us and we have to be trained thoroughly for every challenge.”  She nonchalantly said that without challenges, they would not have grown or evolved. “Achieving this feat was possible because we struggled,” she said.  The pilots have been called an inspiration by many around the world. Thanmei said, “I would like to tell every woman, every girl out there that if they have a dream, it’s possible. Just dream big and work hard to achieve it.” Zoya attributed her success to god’s grace and hard work. “Every reality begins with a great dream and every great dream begins with a great dreamer and that is you,” she said. 

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University of Hyderabad fills vacant master’s seats after aspirant writes to UGC

Education

Deshdeep Dhankhar, an aspirant who was ranked 36 in the unreserved list, had written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) over the issue.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

A month after aspirants on the waitlist of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) raised complaints that the university had closed the admissions to its master’s courses early, the university filled up its vacant seats by inviting candidates from the waitlist.  Deshdeep Dhankhar, an aspirant who was ranked 36 in the unreserved list, had written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) over the issue. He had argued that the university had closed its admissions before other universities released their entrance rank lists. Read: Aspirants urge University of Hyderabad to reopen admissions to master’s seats The UoH Students’ Union highlighted the concerns raised by Deshdeep and said that the issue extended to aspirants for the MPhil and PhD seats as well. The students’ union, in a letter shared with the media, said that 2020 was an unusual year with a health emergency and urged the university to consider filling up vacant seats. The UGC wrote to UoH later in December asking it to fill its vacant seats. Speaking to TNM, Deshdeep said, “After the struggle, around 10 students from multiple departments in master’s courses got admission in the University of Hyderabad. For this basic issue of fulfilling vacant seats, it took support from all around, from the UGC to officials from the Education Minister’s team.” Deshdeep added that he was lucky in his fight because as he was based in New Delhi, it allowed him to approach the UGC. “I feel I could fight this battle for higher education because I was in a privileged place like Delhi where I could approach the UGC and educational institutions physically. Many of my fellow students from smaller towns in India didn’t have any option other than mailing officials and waiting endlessly for a response,” he added. Deshdeep is now concentrating on catching up with the course work since he has missed over a month of classes in the master’s course.

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