Dakshina Kannada, Udupi to get lightning sensor systems soon

coastaldigest.com news network
October 7, 2017

The heavy toll of lighting deaths in the rural and coastal areas of the Karnataka has prompted the state government to import lightning sensor systems from United States of America. 

According to sources, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has issued orders to procure 12 sensors to be installed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Mysuru and other districts of Karnataka.

The systems will be capable of detecting thunderstorms and predicting lightning strikes within 1 sq km radius. Lightning activity can be forecast up to an hour ahead, giving residents time to be safe.

“We have placed orders and depending on customs clearances, it can be set up in two months and we can be prepared before the next thunderstorm activities in pre-monsoon showers,” said G.S. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, KSNDMC. The project costs around than Rs 50 lakh.

“Our established call centre has the numbers of officials and even over 200 farmers in every village in the State. Once a lightning warning comes, information can be disseminated easily,” he said, adding that the warnings would be linked to an app for officials and citizens to view.

As many as 73 people have lost their lives owing to lightning across Karnataka this year. The National Crime Records Bureau states that between 2010 and 2015 over 708 people died from lightning, while floods claimed 66 lives in Karnataka.

Comments

Arif
 - 
Monday, 9 Oct 2017

Well, it is good to have this kind of systems which can save lives, but we also require good roads and traffic signal systems, particularly at the major junctions like Hampankatta, Nanthoor circle, Pumpwell circle and Kankanady circle. I request the authorities to look into these for the benefit of the motor drivers and the pedestrians.

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 4,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 4: Normal life was thrown out of gear as heavy rain under the influence of South East Monsoon started lashing coastal districts of Karnataka including Dakshina Kannada on Saturday.

The heavy rain is likely to continue till July 7, according to the meteorological experts. 

The water level in Netravati river is increasing and district administration has warned the people living in the low lying areas and has asked them to move to safer places.

Owing to lack of storm water drains, water logging of the roads inconvenienced the motorists at KS Rao Road, Pumpwell, Bejai, and other areas. 

The Met department sounded warning for fishermen not to venture into the sea observing that strong winds with speed reaching 50-60 kmph are likely to prevail over Southwest and West Central Arabian Sea till July 5.

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News Network
July 31,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 31: The Karnataka government on Wednesday put on hold a controversial proposal to drop certain chapters, including on Islam, Christianity, Tipu Sultan and his father Hyder Ali, from social science textbooks to reduce the 2020-21 syllabi for students in classes 1-10.

Citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption caused to the academic calendar of the year, the government had earlier dropped the chapter on Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali from the Class 7 social science textbook, saying chapters on Tipu Sultan have been retained in the Class 6 and 10 textbooks.

The move did not go down well with the opposition, which saw certain ulterior motives behind the decision.

Apparently under sharp criticism, the Department of Public Instruction issued a new notification on Wednesday "on the directions of the Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar".

There is a delay in opening the schools during the academic year 2020-21 due to COVID-19 pandemic, said the latest order.

In this context, the order said, chapters were dropped to fit in 120 days of the academic year for classes 1 to 10 and the same was published in the department's website.

"However, on the directions of the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, the decision to drop certain chapters has been put on hold. A review will be done following which the deleted chapters will be uploaded in the website," the order read.

Earlier in the day, Mr Kumar had issued a statement, saying that the decision to truncate the syllabus has not been finalised yet. He also made it clear that his department would not remove chapters unnecessarily.

Former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah had attacked the government on the issue.

"The government, which has failed to control the spread of coronavirus, is using it as an opportunity to push its clandestine agenda of saffronising the textbooks," Siddaramaiah tweeted.

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coastaldigest.com web desk
June 14,2020

Benglauru, June 14: Even as schools are divided over providing online education, the state Higher Education Department is stressing on continuing online education.

Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan has stressed the need for digital learning to eliminate educational inequalities.

Taking part in a Webinar on ‘Digitising Higher Education - Challenges and Opportunities,’ organised by the Padmashree Institute of Management, he asked educational institutions to give emphasis to digital learning.

“Digital learning is a means to ensure quality education to all sections of the society without discrimination on the basis of caste, region and religion. This is a solution to eliminate discrimination. Through digital learning, a student in a remote village will also get an opportunity to learn from an experienced and highly qualified teacher.”

In addition to this, students are getting study material in digital form. Keeping these important aspects in mind, all educational institutions should give stress to digital learning without wasting any time,’’ he said.

He, however, admitted that digital learning has its own challenges like - quality internet connectivity, laptops and mobile gadgets.

“We are trying to find a solution to it by raising funds through Corporate Social Responsibility or through government funds,” he said. “We are making efforts to provide 4G network across the State,” he said.

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