Splash'12' Fest held at Dr. M V Shetty Institute of Technology

Chmarajanagara, Feb 23: In order to control and keep a tab on the activities within the forest area and after the bitter experiences with frequent forest fires, like the one in Bandipur Tiger Reserve last year Karnataka Forest Department officials have decided to use drones to prevent the occurrences of such wildfires, and to use drones to nab trouble makers and take timely action to put out or prevent forest fires, especially during the summer season.

The department of forest has been working on using drones and setting up a centre in Mysuru or Chamarajanagar to monitor three crucial tiger reserves — Bandipur, Nagarhole, and BRT.

Kolhapur, May 27: Praising the Muslims of Ichalkaranji town in the Kolhapur district for making invaluable contribution for setting up of a new intensive care unit in Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) hospital for treatment of corona infected patients, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that with this donation, they have set an ideal example before the country.

While dedicating a 10-bed ICU unit at IGM hospital online from Mumbai, during Eid al Fitr, Mr Thackeray said that by donating Rs 36 lakh for ICU unit at IGM hospital, the Muslim community has set an ideal example before the country as to how to celebrate the festival.

The Muslims of Ichalkaranji made the donation following an appeal by the state government about avoiding unnecessary expenses for celebrating the Eid.

Minister of State for Health Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar, MP Dharysheel Mane, MLAs Prakash Awade and Raju Awale, district collector Daulat Desai, district superintendent of police Dr Abhinav Deshmukh, Zilla Parishad chief executive officer Aman Mittal, district surgeon Dr B C Kempipatil and others were present on the occasion.

May 28: The Karnataka State Election Commission on Thursday announced postponement of gram panchayat polls citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Out of 6,025 gram panchayats, the tenure of 5,800 gram panchayats will end by June-August 2020.

"After examining the feasibility of conducting general elections to gram panchayats, the State Election Commission, considering the current situation as exceptional circumstance, has decided to temporarily postpone the general elections to the gram panchayats," the SEC said in a release.

It said after examining the situation in the days to come, the decision will be taken on holding the general elections to the gram panchayats.

The CEC also states that report by Deputy Commissioners of districts on holding the elections was verified and it has been found that district administrations are involved in COVID-19 related work and there will be shortage of staff and transport facilities for the elections. Besides, there would be a problem in maintaining law and order.

Last week through a letter to Deputy Commissioners of districts, the commission had sought opinion on holding panchayat polls amid the COVID-19 crisis. It had also pointed out that electoral roll needs to be prepared and reservations had to be allocated as per the new amendments.

Stating that the state election commission's decision to postpone gram panchayat elections was against the provisions of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act 1993, the Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said the Congress will question this "undemocratic act" in the court of law.

He accused the commission of playing to the BJP's tune and said the congress will protest the decision at gram panchayat level.

Opposition parties in the state, especially congress, have been demanding elections.

The government was in favour of postponement of polls and wants to have administrative committees to govern the panchayats, until the polls are held, according to government sources.

The Congress, raising apprehension about administrative committees, has accused the government of conspiring to have ruling BJP workers as its members.

A congress delegation had last week submitted a petition to State Election Commissioner B Basavaraju and urged the Commission to hold elections.

The congress had even suggested continuation of sitting panchayat members until the polls are held, instead of appointing administrative committees.