Karnataka: Initial government appraisal points to massive flood damage

TNN
August 9, 2019

Bengaluru, Aug 9: Floods and heavy rain in several parts of Karnataka over the past four days have damaged 1.5 lakh hectares of crops, according to a preliminary assessment by the government.

The monsoon fury has also damaged around 1,400km of roads, 211 bridges and more than 2,500 electricity poles and transformers, officials from the state revenue department said.

Belagavi sustained the most damage (70%) to crops and infrastructure among the flood-hit north Karnataka districts, which also include Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Raichur and Yadgir, the officials said.

“A final assessment can be made only after floodwaters recede,” said Lalitha Handigod, revenue deputy secretary, disaster management. “What we now have is only a preliminary assessment. We are focused on rescue operations.” The agriculture department presented a grimmer picture, saying close to 2 lakh hectares of standing crops are under water. “If the water recedes in a day or two, some of the crops may not be affected,” agriculture director BY Srinivas said. “We’ll soon have a more accurate estimate.”

According to the agriculture department officials, flooding has severely affected crops in eleven districts including Shivamogga, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Gadag, and Kalaburagi. Apart from standing crops like sugarcane and paddy in Belagavi, Vijayapura and other districts, rain has also damaged short-duration crops such as vegetables and horticulture crops like areca and coconut.

Sowing has been completed on 22.6 hectares of a cumulative target area of 31.2 hectares in these districts. “People were worried about drought till last month,” said Chamarasa Malipatil, honorary president, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha.

In the Malnad region, Heavy rainfall and landslips have taken a toll on cash crops such as areca nut and coffee. “Short-duration crops and horticulture crops account for about 40% of the total crop loss,” an official said. After a delayed monsoon, farmers had just picked up pace with sowing when floods hit after heavy rainfall in the Malnad region and from overflowing rivers in the northern districts.

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News Network
March 19,2020

New Delhi, Mar 19: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the validity of Karnataka's 2018 reservation law, which granted reservation in promotion to employees belonging to SC and ST categories.

A bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud holds that applications filed by a group of general category employees for applying 'post-based quota' and the principle of the creamy layer at entry-level in public employment are not maintainable.

The apex court had, in November last year, reserved its order on the applications filed by general category candidates in the matter.

In May last year, the top court had upheld the law allowing reservations in promotions for SC and ST candidates with consequential seniority.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 14,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 15: The total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka reached the 7,000-mark on Sunday, with the state reporting 176 new cases and five related fatalities, taking the toll to 86.

The day also saw 312 patients getting discharged in the state after recovery while the total number of positive cases in the Udupi district alone breached 1000 cases mark.

As of June 14 evening, cumulatively 7,000 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 86 deaths and 3,955 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin. It said, out of 2,956 active cases, 2,940 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 16 are in ICU.

The five dead include- thee from Bengaluru urban, and one each from Dakshina Kannada and Bidar. The three from Bengaluru include- two women aged 57 and 60 respectively and a man who was 50 years; while the person who died in Dakshina Kannada was a 24-year-old man.

Also, a 76-year-old man from Bidar, who died at his residence on June 6, later tested positive for COVID-19. Out of 176 new cases, 88 are returnees from other states, the majority of them from neighboring Maharashtra. While 6 are those who returned from other countries.

Among the districts where new cases were reported, Bengaluru urban accounts for 42, Yadgir 22, Udupi 21, Bidar 20, Kalaburagi 13, Dharwad 10, Ballari 8, Kolar 7, Uttara Kannada 6, five each from Mandya and Dakshina Kannada, Bagalkote 4 and Ramanagara 3. Besides, two each from Raichur and Shivamogga, and one each from Belagavi, Hassan, Vijayapura, Bengaluru rural, and Haveri.

Udupi district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 1,026 infections, followed by Kalaburagi 896 and Yadgir 809.

Among discharges also Udupi tops the list with total of 713 discharges, followed by Kalaburagi 427 and Bengaluru urban 327. A total of 4,43,969 samples were tested so far, out of which 7,451 were tested on Sunday alone. So far 4,27,608 samples have been reported as negative, and out of the 6,835 were reported negative today.

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News Network
March 21,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 21: The news and public relations department, the Indian Red Cross Society and the Karnataka State Labour Studies Institute have invited volunteers for the programme to provide real-time information to people to avoid spreading rumours and misinformation about coronavirus.

This is an opportunity to join hands with the Karnataka government and fight coronavirus. These volunteers will be known as the "Corona Warriors", who will be entrusted with the job of monitoring social media sites to check rumours that are being spread across all taluks in the state. They will also take steps to provide proper information.

Applications are already being shared online and registered volunteers will be provided with appropriate training, security kits and identification cards at all district offices of the Department of Information and Public Relations.

At least four volunteers will work in four shifts per day in each taluk of the state. There are about 120 volunteers in Bengaluru city and about 3,000 Corona Warriors are expected to register from across the state. Over 400 volunteers have registered via online application on the first day.

Fifteen people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state, said Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Friday.

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