Court hill loses its green cover forever

May 1, 2012

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Mangalore, May 2: Huge trees on the northern slope of the Court hill have been axed to facilitate the work on 'Vakilara Bhavan.'

According to a press release, the northern slope of the Court hill harboured the last patch of the original forest which once covered the entire hill. The patch though small, formed an ecological niche of representative trees of the area. Perched on these trees were lianas – creepers with stems having a girth of a man's arm. It must have taken centuries for them to reach this size. The trees provided a living space for epiphytes like ferns and orchids characteristic of the flora of the region. The tree canopies were a refuge to many a bird in the middle of the city. The early morning walkers on the court road could enjoy listening to them singing to their hearts content in the shelter of the trees. The area was a home to a number of reptiles and frogs which are considered to be endangered.

The uppermost portion of this area below the Museum and the High School Building of St Aloysius College has been preserved as 'Al-Vana,' the biodiversity park of the college. In the past, the authorities had proposed to widen the road by felling the trees on the upper side of the road. However, the proposal was dropped with the agitation. A portion of the green cover was destroyed to make space for the proposed “Ambedkar Bhavan”.

Though this has not materialised till date, the age-old majestic trees which stood there are gone forever.

The Forest Department has given permission to cut an enormous 38 precious trees to make space for the building - and the deed has already been done.

The majestic trees are felled and cut and strewen on the ground. The valuable lianas are dangling, cut off from their base. A condition has been put that the party has to plant two trees for every tree they cut.

It may be said that they will fulfill this condition. But it will not bring back the original tree cover which was there for ages and which forms the last representatives of the original flora of Mangalore.

The cutting of these trees is an irreparable loss for the people of Mangalore and no less for the biodiversity of flora and fauna of Mangalore, said the release.

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Agencies
July 13,2020

Bengaluru, July 13: The Karnataka government today announced the cancellation of I PUC supplementary examinations across the state. 

Primary and Secondary Education minister S Suresh Kumar announced that the government took the decision in the wake of rising cases of Covid-19 and re-introduction of the lockdown. According to sources in the education department, as many as 60,000 students were supposed to appear for the examination.

Previously, the state government had decided to hold these exams at the college level in every district and publish the results by 30 July. However, the government has withdrawn even that arrangement and completely cancelled the exams. 

According to the minister, all the students who failed in the I PUC examination, shall also be promoted to II PUC. "The students who have attended all the subjects but unable to pass the exams will also be promoted to the next class," Suresh Kumar said.

However, those who missed out on the exams due to health reasons or failed in the examinations will be given a small test at the time of commencing classes for II PUC to assess their learning ability at the college level, according to the minister. "Only those students who missed out on the examination due to shortage of attendance will not be promoted to the next class," Suresh Kumar clarified.

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News Network
July 2,2020

Bengaluru, July 2: Congress leader and seven-time MLA D K Shivakumar today took charge as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress committee in the presence of senior leaders of the party.

The formal was held at the KPCC office in Bengaluru. The ceremony is said to be a first of its kind in the country as 10 lakh people from the remotest corners of the state — 462 blocks and 6,000 gram panchayats and municipalities across 7,800 locations —witnessed it online.

Dinesh Gundu Rao , MLA, and immediate past president, handed over the party flag to Mr. Shivakumar. Senior leaders Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other MLAs and MLCs attended the programme.

AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal spoke on the occasion and lashed out at the Modi government for poor handling of economic and health issues in the country.

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News Network
May 25,2020

Bengaluru, May 25: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday greeted the Muslim brethren on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, which is being celebrated in a subdued manner due to coronavirus related restrictions.

"Warm greetings of Eid-ul-Fitr. May this festival of peace and harmony bring happiness in life," Yediyurappa said in his message.

He congratulated the Muslim fraternity for cooperating with the authorities by offering prayers at home during the holy month of Ramadan and supporting the government to contain COVID-19.

"I hope the same trend will continue during the festivities of Eid-ul-Fitr too. I thank you all for your support in the fight against COVID-19," he said.

The Eid festivities were a low-key affair as Muslim brethren celebrated the festival indoors in view of lockdown to contain coronavirus on Monday.

People offered the special prayers inside their houses instead of performing it in mosques and Eidgah, the open field to perform prayers, and refrained from going out to greet each other.

As the Karnataka government has ordered Sunday Curfew throughout the lockdown-4 till May 31, the otherwise bustling markets in the urban areas of Karnataka remained shut.

People could not venture out to make necessary purchases on Sunday.

The Jama Masjid of Bengaluru at the City Market had asked the Muslims to offer prayers inside their houses and not go to the burial grounds to express their sentiments for the departed souls.

"Mass prayers are not allowed anywhere in Karnataka. Just five important persons managing the mosques offered the prayers. Similarly, people go to the graveyard to pray for the dead ones but this time we asked people to express their sentiments from inside their homes instead of going to the burial grounds," Maulana Maqsood Imran, the Khateeb-O-Imam, Jama Masjid, Bengaluru, told news agency.

He said, "coronavirus is spreading very rapidly in our country. If we don't follow the guidelines, it will not only cause trouble to us but also to the doctors and the government. It will be the biggest celebration if we abide by the norms."

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