Konkani writers urge CM to cancel grant to Mandd Sobhann over hate campaign

Mangaluru, Jun 26: In a gut-wrenching incident, a pack of stray dogs attacked a herd of barking deer, also known as Indian muntjac at Dr Shivaram Karanth Biological Park at Pilikula on the outskirts of the city last night.

Dhama H Jayaprakash Bhandary, director of the biological park said: “Due to heavy rains a tree was uprooted damaging the compound wall of the park one day ago. Last night pack of stray dogs entered the park and attacked the barking deer. When the incident came to light, 10 barking deer had lost their lives and many others were injured.”

He said that five years ago they had rescued four barking deer that bred and multiplied to 40. “We had planned to release some of the barking deer to jungle and retain around a dozen in the park. Last night’s incident has shocked us,” he said, adding that the injured barking deer are being treated.

Bengaluru, May 16: Health Minister B Sriramulu has sought the aid of Home department for curbing sex work in certain parts of the state - which continues unabated despite lockdown.

“It poses health risks to those involved. I request the department to ensure that the business is prohibited at such a time of crisis,” he stated in a letter to Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai.  

At the same time, in order to ensure the safety of these workers, Sriramulu has asked both the Health department and the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) to come up with a detailed report on rehabilitation of sex workers and transgenders.

The Health minister’s order was prompted by a letter by writer and activist Roopa Hassan. The writer, who was earlier member of a panel (led by actor-turned-politician Jayamala) on the study of issues faced by sex workers, had sought government’s intervention to stop condom distribution to registered sex workers and transgenders, as continuing work during pandemic was posing health risks to the community.

Bengaluru, Mar 5: Karnataka is facing unprecedented economic difficulties following a Rs 8,887 crore reduction in the state's share in central taxes, cut in allocation under 15th finance commission and a Rs 3,000 crore hit in GST compensation, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa indicated on Thursday.

Presenting the state budget for 2020-21 in the Assembly, he said Karnataka's share in central taxes has come down by Rs 8,887 crore in 2019-20 as per the revised budget estimates of the central government. Therefore the state's revenue resources have been reduced. Apart from this, Rs 3,000 crore GST compensation will also be reduced as collection from the GST compensation cess is not as expected, the Chief Minister said. "With all this it has become difficult to reach to reach the 2019-20 budget targets and to manage this situation within the bounds of the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act, an inevitable situation has arisen this year to cut down the expenditure of many departments," he added.

As per the interim report submitted by the 15th finance commission, there is a reduction in the state's share of central taxes to 3.64 per cent compared to 4.71 per cent fixed by the 14th finance commission. In view of this, there will be a reduction of Rs 11,215 crore in the state's share of central taxes in 2020-21 budget, when compared to the previous one.

He, however, noted that the allocation recommendation of the 15th finance commission is limited to one year only and the complete report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 will be submitted in October 2020.

"Our government will soon submit a revised memorandum to the commission to set right the loss caused to the state with regard allocation for the year 2020-21 and give more allocation for the remaining period," the Chief Minister said. He also said, when compared to the previous year, there is an increase of approximately Rs 10,000 crore for 2020-21 with regards to government employees salary, pension and interest on government loans, but there is no proportionate increase in resources as compared to committed expenditure. "Due to this reduction of the state's share of central taxes as per the 15th finance commission report and other developments, serious difficulties are being faced in resource mobilisation efforts of the state," Yediyurappa said. "This magnitude of economic difficulties was never faced in the previous years by our state," he added.

However, the state's own tax revenue collection is excellent during this year, he said. As compared to the previous year, there is a growth of 14 per cent in State GST collection. "Based on this, in the new budget, efforts are being made to manage the reduction in the share of central taxes by stabilising the state's own resources more", the Chief Minister said.

Karnataka recorded a gross state domestic product growth rate of 7.8 per cent in 2018-19 and Yediyurappa said for the current financial year it is estimated to be 6.8 per cent.