Memorial service for Mangaluru air crash victims held at '22/5 Park'

Mandya, Jun 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised an 83-year-old farmer from Malavalli taluk in Mandya district of Karnataka for his efforts in water conservation.

While urging the people to focus on saving water, Modi, in his 'Man Ki Baat' on All India Radio quoted Kamegowda from Dasna Doddi village who single handedly dug small 16 ponds over the years in his farm land and in nearby hill while taking his animals for grazing.

"Kamegowda ji is an ordinary farmer, albeit possessing an extraordinary personality. He has achieved a personal feat that will leave anyone awestruck! Kamegowda ji, aged 80-85 takes out his animals for grazing but at the same time he has taken it upon himself to build new ponds in his area", the PM said in his Mann Ki Baat, a monthly radio address on Sunday.

To overcome problems of water scarcity in the area, Gowda started building small ponds. Thereby, he contributed a lot for water conservation, the PM said.

"... An octagenerarian like Kamegowda ji, till now, has dug 16 ponds through his hard work and the sweat of his brow. It is possible that the ponds he has constructed may not be very big but then his efforts are huge. Today, the entire area has got a new lease of life on account of these ponds," the PM said.

A little effort by us helps nature and environment quite significantly. Many of our countrymen are putting extraordinary efforts in this endeavour, the PM said. 

Kamegowda, used to take his sheep and goats to nearby hill for grazing. After finding no water to sheeps, he started digging ponds to address water scarcity. With collection of rain water, these lakes are brimming with water even during peak summer.

Bengaluru, Apr 16: In order to bring uniform act for all universities in the state under the Karnataka University Act 2017, the state government formed a committee in this connection.

As per the instruction of deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, higher education department has issued an order to form a committee under the chairmanship of R Vasudeva Athre.

The other members are former Bengaluru university Vice-Chancellor Prof B Thimmegoda, IIT Bengaluru director Prof Sadagopan, Srusti institute of arts and design technology Geetha Narayan Srusti, centre of educational and social studies president Dr M K Sridhat and state higher education parishad Executive Director Dr M S Kori, co-member of the committee.

New Delhi, Apr 4: The Supreme Court on Friday urged Karnataka and Kerala to amicably resolve their issues concerning a border blockade that has choked the free flow of vehicles carrying essential items and patients in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Karnataka, which imposed the blockade, justified that its border was sealed to “combat the spread of the pandemic by preventing the movement of people from the bordering districts of Kerala to Karnataka”.

The State had moved the Supreme Court, challenging a Kerala High Court order on April 1 to open the border. Kerala has countered that patients from the State cannot be denied access to health care. Besides, the blockade has severely affected the supply of essential items, from medicines to food, to Kerala.

On Friday, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta urged the States to not confront each other in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis. Instead, it asked the Chief Secretaries of both States to sit with the Union Health Secretary and iron out a solution. Meanwhile, the apex court urged Kerala not to take any precipitative action based on the High Court order.

The court issued notice to Kerala on the appeal filed by Karnataka, represented by advocate Shubhranshu Padhi. It listed the case for further hearing on April 7.

Karnataka, in its appeal against the High Court order, said the blockade was put in place in the interest of public health. The situation regarding Coronavirus was “really dire”, it said. It warned that opening the blockade would cause a law and order issue as its local population wanted the border to remain sealed.

Karnataka argued that Kerala was the “worst-affected” State in the country with nearly 194 coronavirus cases. In this, Kasaragod, adjoining Karnataka, was the “worst affected” district of Kerala with over a 100 positive cases.

MP’s plea

The court also separately considered a writ petition by Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan for an order to forthwith open the State border.

The parliamentarian, represented by advocates Haris Beeran and Pallavi Pratap, urged the court to issue an ex-parte stay on the operation of the blockade imposed by Karnataka with its border States.

Mr. Unnithan said Karnataka’s blockade was “ill-planned and dangerous” and had led to loss of lives. Two patients from Kerala, in need of urgent medical care, died after their ambulances were denied entry at the border by the Karnataka authorities.