The missing Venkatachala touch

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : ‘ We are not getting our pension, no water, road, underground drainage in mess, we are threatened by goondas." These are some samples of the complaints before the Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde at the Town Hall in the city recently. But, the style of functioning of the new Lokayukta very much lacked the Venkatachala touch which people were expecting of him.
Those wishing to air their grievance had to first file an application at the counter and later on the applicants were summoned one by one. Even the officials of the departments concerned were summoned and face to face the Lokayuka heard their grievance and sought an explanation from the officials. The officials gave some explanation to each and evey complaint with the Lokayukta patiently hearing them. At no time did he lose his patience and fired the officers. Thr result- the officials too heaved a sigh of relief, wuth the new Lokayukta they came to believe firmly, could not bring shivers down their spines.
When Abdul Rahiman of Salettur complained that the KSRTC officials were deliberately not introducing bus services on his route, the officer tried to give some vague explanation and also charged the petitioner of lying.
Reacting the Lokayukta, told the officer smilingly‘ Tell me the truth. I will note down as you say and in case something goes wrong, you will be in trouble,’ but the officer seemed not to have taken the Lokayukta’s words seriously at all.
When a certain Madhav of Attavar complained of impoper underground drainage, the Lokayukta summoned the officer and set a three month deadline.
However, the Lokayukta seemed to take seriously a complaint of a retired government officer who said he had not receivd pension even after eight years of retirement. Justice Hegde took the officer concerned to task and asked him to initate action.
It was common to see the petitioners returning with a suillen face with them having attended the meet wuth the hope that justice would be delivered to them on the spot.

Majority plaints to Agarwal against SP, police dept

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Several of the complaints which the additional chief secretary of the state government AK Agarwal, probing into the Mangalore riots, received were against the district superintendent of police B Dayanand and the police department.
Several victims of the Mangalore violence have complained to the chief secretary that the police inaction itself was responsible for the escalation of violence and that the police had not made any attempt to supress the Hindu organisations which tried to take law unto their hands.
Some Muslim organisations in thier complaint even alleged that the police, during the riots acted as agents of Hindu organisations and that the SP had not made any concerted effort to curtail the violence. He remained silent just to appease the distict minister and later on woke up from his slumber, the complainants said.
K Yadav Shetty , General Secretary of the Raitha Sangha, in his complaint forwarded to Agarwal said the SP when complained against the Bhajrangdal style of functioning hnd told them to understand the changed political scenario. He even complained that the SP did not pay heed to the complaint against the Bhajrangdal workers who spoilt the wall writing of DYFI.
Bondala Jagannath Shetty, Youth Congress President, in his complaint said the police department had failed to tackle sensitive cases. While Bhajrangdal workers were booked under Section 107, innocents were booked under Section 436. His another complaint was that the police had failed to take any action even when they found the accused in the rioting case, moving royally after the violence subsided.
Over 300 complaints were filed in two days and most of the complaints made a pointer towards the police atrocities during the riots.Now, it is left to be seen if the SP would be shunted taking serious note of all the complaints against the police department.

MCC sleeps over plaints against illegal constrns

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : It is beyond doubt that illegal constructions are mushrooming the city. Whenever complaints are lodged against them, the corporation orders eviction of the same. But, the buildings are not evicted with the orders remaining on mere paper.At the same time some dealings sans papers and documents gain utmost significance.
Buildings sans setback space have come up in various parts of the city including Hampankatta, KS Rao Road, Kankanady, Carstreet and Azeezuddin Road to name a few.In many cases, the builders have manipulated the original blue prints submitted to the authorities, while raising the constructions. Most of the buildings lack setback and parking space.
There is an illegal building called Capital Avenue very close to the DC office making a mockery of the inaction of the authorities.
Even a written complain to the city corporation needs months together for consideration. Then another few months for the order to be enforced. But, by the time the eviction or demolition order is issued, the ownership of the building would have changed hands.
Here, one can give instance of an illegal construction (survey number 75-102(13) at Jeppinamogaru. The state government had ordered demolition of the illegal constructions and even the corporation had prepared a document to state that the building has been demolished by the corporation while no action was actually taken. Many such instances can be cited and such irregularities are only a means for the authorities to earn some extra income.
Hanumanth Kamath, President of the Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi, has since the past one year, filed over 100 complaints against illegal constructions in the city. In case of most of these complaints, the authorities have issued orders to vacate. But, non of the building has been vacated and he now says the need has arisen to lodge complaints once again.
Even the officials are mum when asked as to when the order would be implemented.

Acharya, Sabhapathi- treading the same path

Udupi’s former legislator UR Sabhapathi and Udupi distict minister and MLC Dr VS Acharya, though belong to opposite parties, have one thing in common. The political style of both is the same. There is a chance for one to even come to the conclusion that there is some sort of understanding beween these two leaders. Both these can even stand as good examples to prove how politicians change colours in accordance to the changed circumstances. Acharya was dead against any thermal plant in Padubidri area when he was in the oppostion party, while Sabhapathi had in fact adopted an adamant stand to have the waste treatment plant at Alevoor itself, a few years ago.
Though the controversial stand adopted by these two leaders on the two pressing issues of Udupi district as of now, contradicting their earlier stands, would bring disrepute to themselves and also their party, both these men are very well aware that their adamant stand would yield result.
While for Sabhapathi the Alevoor waste treatment plant gave an issue to remain in news in Udupi prior to the TMC polls, Acharya’s backing the Nagarjuna project which is being opposed tooth and nail all over the district, has picturised him as scandalous.
Acharya in fact by backing the project which his very own party is opposing, reminds one of the old saying ‘Nero was fiddling when Rome was burning."
The protest launched against the waste treatment plant by the Alevoor residents, gave Sabhapathi a golden opportunity to join the protest though he himself had backed the project when he was the legislator. His stance now has shocked the people of Alveoor themselves who now very well know that Sabhapathi’s latest move was not in their interest, but his own interest.
If Sabhapathi is under the illusion that his projecting himself as a people’s leader in the Alevoor case, would get him a party ticket to contest from Udupi in the next elections, who can prevent him from being under such an illusion ?. But, the Congress leadership in Udupi as well as Oscar might be very well aware that issuing a ticket to this man who had only thought of amassing wealth while being the legislator or otherwise, was itself suicidal.
Acharya who had been in the opposition for over a decade and was known as a statement politician, now has got an issue in Nagarjuna to enjoy some publicity.
Acharya despite his anti-people stance, is using his ministership for cover up operation and the way in which he is backing Nagarjuna will make even Congress leaders ashamed. The fact that there is some undertanding between Acharya and Sabhapathi may somewhat be justified more so because these leaders have never attacked each other. It is a different matter that even Congressmen in the district are not uttering a word against Acharya. Even when Sabhapathi was the legislator, Acharya never was a staunch anti-Congressman.
Therefore, the truth may be that the understanding between Acharya and Sabhapathi is absent even between Acharya and his party. Politics makes strange bed fellows. This saying goes right to these two leaders.

Will the SC ruling serve warning bell to MCC?

The Supreme Court ruling on commercial establishments flouting zonal regulations, and its clear cut instructions to the Delhi Municipal corporation and the union government, should motivate all state governments to chalk out a definite and clear cut policy of initiating ation against illegal constructions in all towns and cities.
There is an urgent need on the part of the state government to immediately identify the cities having corporation rules and take steps to free the roads and footpaths from encroachments without any delay. The government should also be committed towards mercilessly razing to the gound all constructions that have come up sans any clearance.
Tbough the government has set up town planning authorities in prominent cities ,the tragedy is that these authorities have restricted themselves merely to the setting up of new layouts. These authorities have evenbecome toothless tigers sans any power to act independently and to put a brake to the haphazard construction of buildings by flouting all rules. In other words, the authorities have become mere show pieces. Even the corporations on their part turn blind eye to the illegal constructions and commercial establishments as if it was a matter not concerning them. This attitude in turn has led to an anarchy like situation in our cities.
Take the case of Mangalore itself. Here there is the town planning authority and also a city corporation. But ,even then there has been open flouting of zonal regulations with commercial establishments coming up in residential areas, right under the nose of the authority. As if this is not suffice, some buildings are raised sans any licence, while some others though have secured licence, forget the rules while constructing the building. But, the criminal negligence of the corporation to this flouting of rule, has done nothing but laid a red carpet for these unscrupulous builders.
In some cases, the corporation itself has shamelessly colluded with tbe builders who lack conscience.
When the state government had a year ago directed the MCC against permitting multi-storied constructions violating the national building bye-laws, a delegation of builders led by none other than the erstwhile mayor Ashraf had been to Bangalore to lobby for the builders. Can any discerning citizen tolerate such classic case of the fence grazing the crop ? But it has happened in case of Mangalore.
The lady mayor who has been recently elected has less than a year of tenure left. Therefore what is expected of her now is to chalk out clear-cut guidelines on the illegal construction issue.The corporation should pass a resolution in this regard and also see to it that the decision is strictly implemented.
Even the state government has a special responsibility in this regard. It should now set a deadline for all corporations to clear footpaths and roadsides of encroachments and illegal constructions. In order to achieve this enedeavour it should appoint honest and daring officers a commissioners for the corporations and see to it that its orders are strictly enforced. The commissioner should not be the one who bows to the dictates of the mayor and corporators. The commissioner should be empowered to such an extent that he need not wait for a council resolution before going in for eviction drive. Had Mangalore had such a powerful commissioner, then the city would not have been a witness to so many illegal constructions.
The Supreme Court ruling seems to have awakened the Bangalore city corporation from slumber as is evident from the eviction drive launched there. Now, there is no room for the Mangalore city corporation to lag behind in this direction.

Bid to have addl TPO post for city

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Reliable sources have indicated that presently a hush hush attempt is on in the Mangalore city corporation town planning division to create an additional post of town planning officer.
What has come to light is that this attempt to elevate the assistant town planning officer Shivaraj to the post of town planning officer though one such post already exists and is occupied by Balakrishna Gowda, is to see that works which Gowda refused to do , could be got done easily through Shivaraj.
It has been learnt that such an attempt was on since the past two years with the MCC middlemen said to be the masterminds. Already, the lobby has made several appeals to the minister and officials in this regard.
Last year, even the corporation council had sent such a proposal to the state government though no two posts of town planning officers existed in any other corporation of the state.
The government, then very well understanding the ploy, had dismissed the proposal and had made it clear that no additional post could be created and there was no scope for the elevation of the assistant town planning officer as of now.
The main reason being that the sitting town planning officer Balakrishna Gowda, is learnt to be very much strict and disciplined and strictly adhered to the government guidelines on matters pertaining to illegal constructions and had even refused licences to illegal constructions.
The main intention behind the bid to elevate Shivaraj to the post of town planning officer was to secure licence for the illegal constructions, through him, sources said.
An MCC broker, it is learnt, had also forwarded a memorandum to the government in this regard, with due signatures of a few builders saying the additional post was needed in public interest !.

Action likely against VSA’s clinic

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The state health and family welfare officer has directed the Udupi district health officer to initiate action against the Geetha Clinic of the Udupi district minister Dr VS Acharya at Kalmady on the Malpe road. This was informed by Usha Ganesh, chief secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department recently when scribes drew her attention to the unauthorised clinic of Acharya.
Interestingly, ever since Acharya was inducted into the cabinet, the patients arriving at his Geetha Clinic are diagnosed and treated by a certain Shivananda, a compounder in the clinic who does not even hold any medical degree.
Though Dr Acharya’s name is mentioned in the nameboard of the clinic,he has not chosen to visit his clinic even once in the recent years.

Sri Rama Sene-Bhajrangdal to merge?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : If reports are to be believed, there are all indications of a likely merger between Sri Rama Sene and the Bhajrangdal in the near future.
As if to justify the above speculation, several leaders of the Sri Rama Sene have recently tendered their resignation to the organisation. It may be mentioned here that the Sri Rama Sene is nothing but a split group of the Bhajrangdal.
Anand Shetty Adyar, divisional co-convenor of the Sene, Sudhaker Nambiar, district convenor, Madhusudan,city unit convenor, Harish Padil, Ganesh Padavinangady, co-convenors, have tendered their resignation to the state chief Pramod Mutalik after duly holding discussions with their leader Praveen Valke.
These leaders have revealed that they are quitting the Sene fed up with the internal tussle in the Hindu organisations which has only led to strife among Hindus which is ultimately detrimental to the interests of the community.
It may be recalled here that resentment within a particular section of the Bhajrangdal had led to a vertical split resulting in the formation of the Sri Rama Sene. Following this, leaders of both the organisations have begun fighting to retain their existence and had also resorted to allegations and counter allegations.
In the meantime, it remains no secret that even the district minister Nagaraj Shetty had tried to put a brake on the Sri Rama Sene in a bid to back the Bhajrangdal. But at the same time, the minister through his style of functioning had also invited the wrath of the Dal men on a few occasions.
This development again brought the Sri Rama Sene and the Bhajrangdal together. Just recently, Praveen Valke had hinted at his decision to remain away from any post in the organisation. Now, it is all indicative that there are chances of the Dal-Sene merger in the near future.

HC stays Kalsanka road widening

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : It has been learnt that the High Corut has stayed the Kadiyali-Kalsanka road widening works, following a petition filed by around 15 persons who are affected by this widening project.
The petitioners had opposed the decision of the government to widen the road upto 80 feet while their demand is to widen the road only upto 40 feet.
The government has already released Rs 10 crores for this project. The stay has come when the survey works had been completed and the process of land acquisition was underway.
The locals are now requesting the government to take steps to vacate the stay order at the earliest and in the meantime an appeal is also heard to widen the road only upto 40 feet.

Cong expels 2 corporators for flouting party whip

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Congress has expelled two corporators namely Kavitha Sanil, the town planning standing committee president and James D’Souza, for going against the party whip during the election to the standing committee of the city corporation, held recently.
In fact Kavitha Sanil had contested for the town planning standing commtitee presidentship against the official Congress candidate, and had emerged victorious securing the votes of the BJP members and also the Congress corporator James D’Souza.
The expulsion order was issued by the DCC chief Blasius D’Souza as per the directive of the KPCC chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
In the meantime, political observors feel the chances of these two corporators losing their corporatorship are also high in case the district committee of the party moves the deputy commissioner seeking disqualification from membrship as per the Anti-Defection Act.
On the other hand, the party high command decision has come in for criticism within the party itself with some corporators contending that such decisions only gave scope for groupism.
The main reason for the wrath of these corporators is the party’s failure to take any action agaisnt S Appi, the erstwhile standing committee on health president who was elected for the post, after she contested by violating the party whip. Similarly, no action had also followed against corporators Nagaveni and Gilbert Pinto who had then backed Appi.

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  Expulsion unconstitutional?
  In the meantime, some veteran Congressmen as well some legal experts have opined that the expulsion of two corporators from the Congress was undemocratice and a clear-cut case of misuse of power.
  Experts are of the view that there is also no scope for cancellation of their membership. Reports say the two corporators and their bandwagon are lilely to complain to the party high-command in Delhi thus to create embarrassing moments for the state leadership.
  It may be mentioned here that politics ruled roost in the election to the post of the town planning committee presidentshop which is the highest yielding post next only to the post of mayor. This time however, the tussle took place publicly.

Violence victims return cheques to tahsildar

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : An incident wherein the victims of the recent violence at Badrianagar near Mallur, returned the cheques disbursed to them by the tahsildar, was reported in the city recently.
The affected people of the area who came to know that the cheques were disbursed to them on the grounds that they were victims of group clashes immediately left to the tahsildar’s office to return the same. The fact was that they were not victims of group clashes, but victims of police atrocities.
They also made it clear to the tahsildar that during the violence some police personnel had barged into their houses and had attacked the inmates including men and women thereby injuring several.
They even contended that then the Kankanady police had even refused to accept their compaint. The tahsildar however initially refused to accept the cheques saying no compensation can be provided in the name of police atrocities.
Finally, he had to accept the cheques and informed that he would bring the matter to the notice of the deputy commissioner.

Has Shetty lost hold over officials?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Is it true that the district in-charge minister B Nagaraj Shetty has lost hold over the offiicals of the district ? Yes, says government department souces here.
The minister’s warning and deadline set for highway repair went unheeded. Another directive to the auithorities to see that there was uninterrupted power supply also met the same fate. His warning only led to frequent power cuts much to wrath of the public. It is said even in matters pertaining to transfer of police officials the district minister had virtually no say or his words had no weightage. What is happening as of now is the police officials themselves prevailing upon the government to have their say in matters of deputing police officers of their choice.
Asif this is not suffice, the minister, is learnt to have even lost hold over his very own department. The directive of the minister to commence the third phase works of the fisheries port has still not been implemented.
There is no denying that the Mangalore violence and its aftermath has blemished the minister’s image. The government officials are also heard saying in a lighter vein to Shetty that ‘Your district’s in-charge minister is Vasanth Bangera."
Today, forget any police officer, Shetty is in no position to even transfer an ordinary police personnel. Even Shetty’s hold over the party is not that strong as in the past and all the latest developments are surely a setback to our district minister.

Vested interests stall shifting of trading to APMC yard

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The process of shifting the trading in the Bunder area in the city to the APMC yard at Baikampady, set up several years ago, has been suffering a setback thanks to a few vested interests which are dead against shifting of the trading.
The APMC yard at Baikampady has been set up at a cost of Rs 30 crores in an area spread over 85 acres by the government several years ago, in the better interests of farmes, traders and middlemen. Even the president of Mangalore APMC Krishnaraj Hegde is keen on shifting the trading to Baikamapdy and has also constituted a separate committee for the purpose.
The committee headed by Hegde himself has Vinaykumar Soorinje, Melwyn D’cunha, Ahmed Bava and Ratnaker Nayak as members while Shantharm Shetty and Gangadhar Ullal are honorary members.
However, the few vested interests are of the view that if trading is shifted to Baikamapdy, it would have severe bearing on the traders and the trading in Mangalore whch has a history of over 500 years.They are also of the ocntention of the nearly 15000 workers and their families would also face problems.
It is also surprising to hear the statements of the headload workers’association leaders like Ivan D’Souza, Azeez Kudroli and others that the headload workers in the Bunder area would be rendered destitutes if trading is shifted to Baikampady.
Interestingly, just as the committee formed to hasten the shfiting process has leaders of all parties, even the opposition group has leaders of all parties. Even one of the committee members Ratnaker Nayak is said to be against the shifting process.
It is a fact that the government efforts to shift the trading of agriucltural produce to Baikampady has not met with success till date mainly owing to the lobbying of the Bunder traders who are dead against shifting least botherd about the fact that their shifting was much more essential in order to ease congestion in the area.
If at all the traders in Bunder are allowed to carry on business there itself it would only benefit the traders and not the farmers or growers of agricultural produce. The farmers in fact want the trading to be shifted to Baikampady itself .
It cannot be forgotten that the agricultural marketing department of the government is aimed at protecting the interests of farmers and not the traders. Let the government give its green signal to the commencing of trading in APMC yard within a time frame as a next step of the denotification of the Bunder area.

Plaints galore against police atrocities at minorities’ meet

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : "The Ullal police barged into our house by breaking open the back doors. They caned me and my children inside the house and outside. When children asked why they were hitting, they told them to sned their mother and they will reply . Is this proper sir ? Is it that we were subject to all this atrocity merely because we are Muslims ?," when a person from Ullal, a victim of the recent violence questioned so with tearful eyes, the whole meeting was stunned.
It was the meeting convened by the State Minorities Commission Chairman KSM Masood at the DC office meeting hall recently.
Most of the complaints were against police atrocities.
The person who raised the above questuon even said the nearly 10 to 15 police men who had come to his house had covered their faces to hide their identity.
Muslim Central Committee members Ibrahim Kodijal, Hameed Kandak, C Ahmed Jamal, Muzaffar Ahmed and others demanded a probe into the police atrocities in Ullal.
Hameed Kandak questioned why only the faults of the Muslims were highlighted. He said the Muslims do not want protection or compensation but justice. He was also all praise for the Westren Range IGP Satyanarayana Rao saying had it not for Rao, Muslims would have suffered much more during the violence.
Members of the Muslim community from Ullal, Bajal, Padil, Mallur Badrianagar and other areas aired their woes before the Commission chairman on the occasion.

Youth slaps 2 eves in public!

MOODBIDRI : Time and again we get to read in newspapers of young men slippered or slapped by girls for misbehaving with them in public or private. But an incident reported from Moodbidri recently could very well contradict the above.
The incident took place at the Moodbidri bus stand area. A youth who had come to the area for tyre repair noticed two young ladies staring at him. When the youth passed some comment at them through his friend, the young women, it is learnt, reacted positively and invited the youth to a particular spot. But no one knows what happened in between. By the time the youth arrived at the spot told by the girls, the two women with sullen faces rebuked him and told how he could comment at them in such a way.
This infuriated the youth, who forgetting that it was a public place, slapped the two girls one by one. The girls took to their heels by boarding different buses without uttering a word. Thus ended the episode.

Nagarjuna meet ends in confusion

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The meeting convened at the Manipal Engineering college recently to discuss the pros and cons of the proposed Nagarjuna thermal power project, ended amid confusion without arriving at any definite decision.
The Nagarjuna officials who had attended the meeting, utterly failed in clearing the doubts in the minds of the public regarding the proposed project.
The Udupi MP Manorama Madhwaraj, thundered in the meeting that the project would not be allowed under any circumstance. She also demanded a study on the carrying capacity of the district and demanded that any project should be undertaken only after taking the people into confidence.
When the Nagarjuna officer KN Balachandra claimed that the company had convened as many as 250 meetings in rural areas, Lakshman Shetty, president of the Jana Jagrithi Vedike alleged that he was lying in the presence of the Pejawar Swamiji himself.
The Kaup legislator Lalaji Mendon reiterated his opposition to the project questioning what the company which had assured 300 jobs to locals had to say about the 3 lakh fishermen who are liklely to be affected by the project.
Scribes who were initially barred entry into the meeting, later were allowed after the anti-Nagarjuna Samithi said it would not attend the meeting until scribes are allowed
The DC Ponnuraju who later allowed the scribes in however put forth a condition that the scribes can attend, but should neither report nor publish any photograph.
Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt was among others who attended the meeting.

DCIB undergoes minor surgery

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : A minor surgery has been performed on the District Crime Investigation Bureau (DCIB) with some members dropped and new faces inducted.
Narayan Maniyani, Seetaram, Ashok and Harish Padavinangady have been dropped and they are replaced by Narenda, Sunil Uchil, Balachandra and Shyam Sunder.
As per rules, the DCIB must have an inspector, two su-inspectors or two ASIs and eight head constables. But, by violating the rules, even police constables are inducted.
There is no doubt that many police personnel in the district are eyeing the posts in the DCIB, Anti-Rowdy Squad and the Highway Patrolling Squad -the main reason being that the mere induction into the squads are an easy way to earn more.
Now, the police officials themselves have to answer if the criteria for admission to these squads is their efficiency or political patronage which they enjoy. By the by, sources said while the SP was not that interested in performing a surgery on the DCIB, he was forced to do so following a directive from the IGP.

Cong leader who circulated 4-cr worth fake notes

From CT correspondent
VITTAL : A local youth Congress leader Ashok alias Vijay Anand (34) was recently arrested by the police near the Bangalore airport on charges of possessing counterfeit currency.
The youth was arrested when he was returning from the airport after receiving a parcel sent to a BangaloreZP member from Chandigarh. The police who chased the youth riding his new bike grew suspicious when the youth tried to escape. He however was arrested when his bike met with an accident. The police recovered nearly Rs 6.5 lakh worth fake currency notes from him.
Later, counterfeit currency worth Rs 40,000 was also recovered from his house.
It has now been learnt that this person along with his accomplices had circulated fake notes worth Rs 4 crores in the last four year period.
The accused who was initially working in a private firm in Mangalore , later shifted his base to Bangalore where he indulged in illegal activity. It is learnt, he had circulated the fake notes in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. Already complaints had been lodged against him in Mangalore, Madikeri and Mumbai police stations on charges of circulating fake notes. Reports said the accused used to often return hometown only to distribute the fake notes to his accomplices who would circulate the same.
In the meantime, it has been learnt that his accomplices in Vittal have gone undergroud no sooner they received news of his arrest in Bangalore.

Shetty’s latest misadventure is here

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : District minister Nagaraj Shetty’s latest misadventure- of meeting the accused in the murder of Boliyar Ibrahim of Polali during the recent riots, in the Bellary jail,has now kicked off a controversy. The minister who reportedly had been with the accused for over an hour, also extended financial aid to them to meet their expenses in the prison.This latest news has created uproar in political circles in the district and this incident is eventually expected to pave way for Shetty’s exit from cabinet.
That a minister of cabinet rank has visited the Bellary jail just to meet those arrested under the Column 302 for the offence of murder, is suffice to stake the prestige of the government and the needle of suspicion in Ibrahim’s murder is now even pointing towards Shetty.
Shetty reportedly visited Bellary jail on November 5 on his return to home district from Hampi where he had been to participate in the Hampi Utsav. The minister who arrived at the jail sought permission from the jail authorities to meet the accused in the murder that took place in his constituency limits. When the jailer refused permission the minister reportedly reprimanded him saying " I am a cabinet rank minister. The murder accused belong to my constituency and are party workers. They are not the real killers but have been framed. I must be given an opportunity to meet them."
But when the jailer again refused permission stating that none is allowed tio meet the undertrials on a Sunday without special permission from higher ups, the minister reportedly threatened him and forced in and remained with the accused for over an hour and consoled them saying "I am there, do not fear." Eyewitnesses even said Shetty passed on several currency notes to the accused.
In the meantime, even the chief minister and home minister who came to know of the incident, have reportedly sought a report from the police department. Latest reports indicate that HD Ramesh,additional DGP (Prisons), has served a notice to the Bellary jailer seeking report on the incident.
Condemnations galore
Shetty’s latest misadventure has invited a series of criticisms. UK Ibrahim, former president of the Ullal Darga, in a statement has said Shetty has done something that is unforgivable and that he will consider it seriously. Such a step was expected from Shetty who had said he would make Mangalore another Gujarat, Ibrahim added. Haneef Haji, the general secretary of the Muslim Central Committee has urged the government to consider this issue seriously and seek Shetty’s resignation failing which he should be expelled.
District JD(S) president Vasanth Bangera, reacting to the incident, has demanded legal action against Shetty as well as the jailer who permitted Shetty to meet the murder accused.
Ullal youth Congress president UT Khader has said Shetty by visiting the murder accused in the jail has brought disrepute to his post and should immediately resign.

Rajyotsava awards: What’s the criteria?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The district level Rajyotsava awards were presented to 42 persons on November 1 as usual. The award this time has been conferred on people both youngsters and veterans for their outstanding (?) contribution to variosu fields. But what’s the yardstick frr the selection for the awards ? This is a million dollar question. Also the question arises as to who should choose or select the awardees -whether the district administration or the district sahitya parishat.
As the district unit of the sahitya parishat has become a private body of its president Pradeep Kalkura, naturally doubts arise over the selection of awardees.
According to one source, Kalkura prepares a list based on the recommendations of his close circles. Then, he convenes a press meet and announces the list of awardees.
The achievers (?) who want to get their names included in the list have to undertake sufficient work. They should first write about themselves in a post card or else make others write about them, or convey the message through Kalkura’s close circles and shower praises on Kalkura. Those with money power can even bear a part of the expenses of the award function.
There are some who even say that if the selection process was that transparent, then veteran writer Hosabettu Seetarama-charya who passed away recently, need not have had to wait this long to secure the award. Considering his achievements, he ought to have received the award long back itself. All this may not be understandable to Kalkura and his group. But one thing is for sure, there has been politics behind the selection of awardees.

Anti- Nagarjuna protest on Nov 20

UDUPI : Another massive protest has been planned against the proposed Nagarjuna thermal power project at Ellur on November 20, according to K Somanath Nayak, principal convenor of the anti-Nagarjuna committee. The protest,he said has been organised to urge the government to shift the proposed project to some other place outside the district.
The protest would be inaugurated by Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt. There would also be a district wide campaign agasnt the project, he said.
On December 2 there would be another protest in front of the DC office and the protest would be participated among others by fishermen and farmers.
Nayak said the agitators are now demanding the Udupi district minister VS Acharya to arrive at the protest venue on December 2 and declare his opposition to the project, failing which the Committee would demand his resignation.

Titledeeds sans land

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The nearly 45 perople of Bajpe are facing a piquant situation. They have titledeeds in their hands, but no land to build houses. They are still running from pillar to post with title deeds.But, how can the panchayat authorities or the government understand their plight ?.
Four years ago, the then legislator Vijaykumar Shetty had issued title deeds to 57 people to construct houses under Ashraya scheme. Of them 12 had constructed houses at Bajpe Oddidakala. The rest are strill struggling to construct houses for want of suitable site.
Though there are several vacant government lands in Bajpe, the adjacent land owners are learnt to have objected to construction of houses there. Even the panchayat authorities are not taking any step to end the problem and the plight of these poor seems unending.

Jayaprakash accused of cheating Koragas

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : Baikady Suprasad Shetty, the presideet of the Brahmavar unit of the BJP has charged the Brahmavar legislator Jayaprkash Hegde of cheating the Dalits by transferring the land allotted for the Koragas to some other person.
Shetty has also demanded the resignation of the legislator and also legal action against him.
According to Shetty, the 80.95 acre land at Shiroor near Mandarthi in Brahmavar that was earmarked for Koragas was transferred to one Joy Varghese under the Akrama Sakrama scheme when Hegde was the committee chairman by colluding with the tahsildar Mary Mathias.
It has been gathered that Joy had applied for the land in 19 benami names and the land duly transferred within 17 days.
Shetty is now questioning how the land could be sanctioned to Varghese who was not at all eligible to be a beneficiary under the scheme. Shetty has further threatened that the BJP would resort to a massive protest if the land was not transferred to Koragas within one month.

Udupi Cong serves notice to unrelenting TP chief

UDUPI : The Udupi district congress committee is learnt to have served a notice to the taluk panchayat president Shyamala Sudhaker of the party who has not vacated her seat on November 1 as per an agreement reached upon earlier. The party leadership has directed Shyamala to immediately hand over charge to the next incumbent.
As per the agreement reached upon within the party earlier, Shyamala was to occupy the post for the first ten months while she has to vacate her seat for Bhagyalakshmi who would be the TP chief for the remaining ten months.
On the other hand it has been gathered that Udupi’s former legislator UR Sabhapathi is pressurising the party leaedership to allow Shyamala herself to continue in office.
The Udupi TP administration is jointly run by the Congress and the group of independents loyal to Jayaprakash Hegde. The independents who are disgruntled with Shyamala are urging her to quit now.

Malpe port -a haven for thieves!

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The Malpe port which is in the forefront among all other ports of the state as far as fishing is concerned, however lags behind others on another account -that of security. This port has been a witness to several fire mishaps which have claimed hundreds of boats worth lakhs of rupees in the past, thereby striking a severe blow to the lives of the poor fishermen. Still the government until now has not thought it fit to have a sub-fire service station here, at least in the interests of the fishermen community.
The spree of thefts in the port had begun three years ago with the missing of a tempo parked inside the port ; then there were serial thefts in the nearby petty shops and recently a computer and cash has also been stolen from a private office inside the port precincts .
Over a thouand small country boats and also an equal number of mechanised boats harbour in the port and the theft of nets, diesel and other equipment from these boats has become very much common. Even the space allocated for a police outpost here has not yet been occupied, thanks to the apathy of the government.
Today, people who are depending on this port to earn a livelihood have placed forth their list of demands. They want compulsory identity cards to the port workers and for all those having dealings with the port ; restriction on entry to the port after a particular time limit, prohibiting strangers from sleeping inside the port, appointment of at least four guards to oversee the security of the port and to step up police patrolling operations in the area. Providing ample security to this important port is not impossible if the fishermen and all traders and others organisations concerned make a united demand to the minister. Even the port authorities must give a serious thought to this problem and try to redress the same at the earliest.

ONGC to set up full-fledged township for SEZ evacuees

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : MRPL general manager AG Pai has said that the ONGC would be setting up a full-fledged township spreading over an area of 109 acres from Kulaigudde to Maindaguri for those villagers of Bajpe-Permude and Kalavaru who are to be evacuated under the SEZ scheme of the ONGC.
The MRPL general manager also recently visited the proposed township area along with membes of the Hithaakshana Samithi of the affected villages.
The MRPL officer said the KIADB would be acquiring 109 acres and would be sanctioning 12 cents to each evacuee and added the ONGC which will personally take up the project work aims at developing the township as a model township in the whole of the state.
The proposed township will have a hospital, proper approach road to each house, garden, playground,library, market, school and various other amenities.
Already, the process of land acquisition for the SEZ project has commenced and villagers of Bajpe, Permude and Kalavaru have been served notices.
The ONGC has fixed the land value at Rs 8.5 lakh for agricultural land and Rs 8 lakh for barren land, per acre.

Udupi city bus crew threaten stir

UDUPI : The Udupi city bus employees’ association has threatened to resort to severe means of agitation if steps were not taken towards the development of the city bus stand within November 30.
The main demands of the association are repair of all roads of the city, development of the bus stand, provision of basic amenities like lavatory, drinking water facility and prohibiting opening of petty shops or operating of mobile shops inside the bus stand precincts. The association has also urged the TMC against raising any new building in the bus stand area.

Gaonkar eyeing Mulki

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The erstwhile Bunder inspector Vinay Gaonkar who was expelled in connection with the case of illegal detention of a person over the Gurupur Jangama Mutt asset case, and is now posted at Bangalore in a non-executive post, is presently said to be eyeing the Mulki circle inspector post.
Gaonkar who failed in his attempt to pressurise the district minister B Nagaraj Shetty in order to have his way, is presently after the former Moodbidri legislator Amarnath Shetty.
Gaonkar who is not enjoying his new posting, though initially had tried to get reinstated in Bunder itself with Shetty’s help has now eyed Mulki after his first attempt failed. In fact, Gaonkar had once earlier even served Mulki.
On the other hand, even Amarnath Shetty is said to have revealed to his close circles as to why not post Gaonkar in Mulki. This fact has now become an open secret.

Helmet’s ok, but what about hair loss?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Perhaps, now one can find it difficult to trace any bike rider sans helmets anywhere in the city, and probably the government can very well claim that the helmet ruls has been strictly implemented. Today every bike rider has accepted the government decision and is wearing helmets and his head is safeguarded in case of accidents. But, two-wheeler riders now have another complaint -that continuous wearing of helmets would lead to hair loss.
Usually, bike riders will have to wear helmets for two to three hours daily and this means accumulation of sweat in the head which in trun leads to problems like hair loss and dandruff. Even doctors point out this fact.
Today, many bike riders say it would be better for the government to exempt Mangalore from the helmet rule as is done in case of Bellary on the grounds that the excessive heat would make wearing of helmets difficult.
On the other hand, some are even appealing to make helmets mandatory in rural areas where too the incidences of road accidents are high. In toto what can be said is that the problems faced by the helmet wearers would gradually backfire the government and already demands are heard from some corners to revole the helmet rule. A JD)S) keader DM Aslam has recently even appealed to the state home minister MP Prakash to exempt Mangalore from the helmet rule, on lines of Bellary.

Highway repair still eludes M’loreans

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The failure of the authorities in repairing the bad highways and other roads of the city, is slowly turning the people of Mangalore impatient. Today people are questioning why the National Highway Authority, city corporation as well as the PWD have not initiated the repair works of the roads coming under their purview.
The project of widening the 37km stretch of road from Suratkal to BC Road, has still not been taken up. This distance which could otherwise be covered within 35 minutes, is now taking two hours and one hour for the mere 19 km stretch of road from Mangalore to Suratkal, courtesy the extremely bad roads.
The non-repair of the road only means cumbersome travel for the people and extra expenditure for the motorists towarfs spare parts apart from higher fuel consumption.
As if the existing problem is not suffice, it is a smoke of dust on majority of our busy roads as well as highways in turn posing respiratory problems for the nearby shopkeepers.
It is now left to be seen if the authorities would make up their minds to repair the roads at the earliest.

VSA now wants son as Home Guards Commandant

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The Udupi district in-charge minister and state minister for medical education VS Acharya, right since his induction into the cabinet has been in the news for wrong reasons.
First, he tried to shield his son in the journalists’ attack case and now in a latest move, is trying to project his son and is mounting pressure on tthe state government to appoint his son Dr Kiran Acharya, a doctor in Manipal KMC, as the Udupi District Home Guards Commandant.
The post has now fallen vacant following the demise of the erstwhile Commandant Dr Ramkishore Rai last month.
Already, Acharya is learnt to have made several appeals in this regard to chief minister Kumaraswamy, deputy chief minister Yadiuyurappa and home minister MP Prakash.
On the other hand, even the JD(S) is trying for the post and is interested in getting appointed either Dr YN Shetty of Padubidri or Leeladhar Shetty, social worker of Kaup, to the post. The party is even learnt to be making efforts to see that Achaya did not have his say and is adamant on giving the post to its candidate itself.

Udupi BJP complains against VSA with high command

UDUPi : The Udupi district minister VS Acharya seems to be facing a rebellion of sorts within his party in Udupi itself as is evident from a recent complaint lodged by the party men in Udupi with the high command, complaining against the unwelcome style of functioning of Acharya.
It may be mentioned here that Acharya by picking up some quarrel with scribes during every visit of his to the district, was creating embarrassing moments for the partymen in Udupi and has proved a bitter pill for them to swallow.
It has been gathered that a meeting of the Udupi district unit of the BJP would be held shortly to nooze Acharya. Moreover, the party learders are also learnt to have apprised the high command that such sort of behaviour from Acharya, particularly when the Udupi TMC election is round the corner, would prove detrimental to the interests of the party.

Chikungunya fears in city

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Chikungunya fears have pervaded the city too in the backdrop of several people suffering from Chikungunya like symptoms. However, the district health department and corporation health department sources say not even a single Chikungunya case has been reported from anywhere in the city.
In the meantime, the death of a young lady at Kasaba Bengre, who was reportedly suffering from Chikungunya has given rise to fresh fears.
It is learnt, the girl Shabana (17), daughtrer of one Kunhimonu recently died at a private hospital in Deralakatte. Though it is said she had contracted Chikungunya, it has not yet been confirmed.
It is also being said that hundreds of people in Bengre area are also suffering from Chikungunya lke symptoms, with some admitted to the Wenlock Hospital and other private hospitals. Reports now say the corporation health officials have visited the areas in Bengre which are reportedly affected by Chikungunya, and were enlightening the masses about the disease.

Has Shetty forgotten his kar seva promise?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : "The development and repair of the highways is the responsibility of the union government. The time limit set by the Highway authorities to repair the road has expried. We will wait for another two days. If the National Highway Authoity fails to repair the road then the same would be done through kar seva." This was what the district minister B Nagaraj Shetty had said a few days ago.
It is now almost over a month since Shetty made such a statement and it seems he is in no way interested in translating his words into deeds.
A few days after Shetty issued this statement, Mangalore witnessed riots. Then it would not have been proper for anyone to remind Shetty of his promise. Now that everything has cooled done, the issue has been raised.
The roads are in a much worser condition. It is now imperative for the district minister to go in for kar seva.
Though for the minister most of the problems seem to be just a bubble in the water, it is sure that the district roads have haunted him. Particularly, the stretch of the National Highway 17 from Kottara Chowki to Suratkal is unfit even for pedestrians let alone motorists.
While Congress used this road issue to gain political mileage, the BJP workers were disiillusioned.The road isuse haunted the minister wherever he went and a frustrated Shetty summoned the highway officials and warned them.
He set a 72 hour deadline. But, that proved immaterial for the authorities with the problem remaining unsolved even after 72 days let alone 72 hours.
Just to avoid public attention the minister secretly inspected the condition of the highways once in the dead of the night and even made news when this inspection became public.
Finally, he said the highway repair was the responsibility of the union government and that kar seva would be embarked upon if the roads were left unrepaired.
It is not known if the minister’s statement reflected his helplessness or if it was just a tactic to win public confidence. Whatever it is, people wish to remind him of his words. Will Shetty keep a step ahead ? Let us wait and see.

Consumer court raps firm for selling defective product

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Dakshina Kannada District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has penalised a firm in the city for supplying a defective xerox machine to a customer.
The case : Ashalatha Shetty, wife of Jagannath Shetty of Padavu, who runs a xerox shop at Nantur, had purchased a xerox machine of the Hindustian Copier Services from the Prabhat Automobiles near Jyothi in the city on December 8, 2003. Shetty had paid Rs 80,000 for the new machine and had adjusted the balance Rs 35,000 by returning her old xerox machine to the firm.
But,the new machinery operated well only for 15 days and began to give problems later on, forcing Shetty to incur a loss of nearly Rs 80,000 in ten months.
When a technician Raviraj Shetty was summoned on August 15, 2004 to test the machine, it was found that there was some defect. The customer immediately lodged a complaint with the consumer court seeking refund of the Rs 1.15 lakh being the cost of the machinery apart from Rs 80,000 towards the losses incurred by her.
However, the respondent contended before the court that the complainant cannot be considered customer as the shop did not belong to her but her husband.
However, the court which went through the case came to the conclusion that as the bill was isused in the name of Ashalatha who managed the shop owned by her husband, she herself was the customer and directed the firm to refund the Rs 1.15 lakh being the cost of the machinery with 12 per cent interest apart from Rs 1000 as court expenses within one month.
The court has also directed the firm to take possession of the defective xerox copier.

Violence probe: Addl Chief Secy coming on Nov 6

MANGALORE : State Government’s Additional Chief Secretary AK Agarwal will be arriving in the city on November 6 to investigate into the cases of loss of property, deaths, atrocities etc during the recent violence that broke out in various parts of Mangalore and Bantwal taluks.
Complaints can be forwarded to the officer at the DC office hall from 3 pm to 5 pm on November 6 and from 11 am to 1 pm on November 7.
Members of the general public can furnish information to the officer on the cause of the riots, those involved, about the functioning of the police department during the riots and the action taken by the district administration. The statements must be in written form along with an affidavit.

It’s time Shetty, VSA are shown the doors

With the chief minister and deputy chief minister floating the news of a probable cabinet reshuffle shortly, the people of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have begun to question "Why not replace the existing ministers in-charge of DK and Udupi by new faces ?.
Both Nagaraj Shetty and VS Acharya somehow became ministers when the BJP-JD(S) government came into existence. But anyone noticing their style of functioning ever since then, can easily come to the conclusion that both were functioning in such a way that contradicted BJP’s claims of being a ‘party with a difference’ and that their remaining in the cabinet has in no way benefitted the people of the two districts and also the party.
Party workers in the district and leaders of the Sangh Parivar cadres have already drawn a conclusion that if these two remained in power, then the Congress need not put in any special effort to make the BJP bite the dust in the next elections.
If the party leadership in the state neglects this and fails to bring in any change, then it will have to pay a heavy price for it in the near future.
Shetty’s continuing in office as a minister could in no way be justified particularly after the home minister MP Prakash himself hinted at his (Shetty’s)role in the recent Mangalore violence.One cannot outrightly neglect the allegation of some political parties and other organisations that during the recent disturbance the district minister had made the SP dance to his tunes and thus in a way contributed to the anarchy like situation then.
It is indeed a matter of grave concern to note that Shetty as a minister had even tried to demoralise the police machinery, through his attitude and behaviour.
Already, there are several instances to prove that the district minister had misused the district administration and the police machinery to boost his private interests and business. One recent instance is his mafia style action to take control of a trade union in Karwar port.
The reports that appeared in print and electronic media in this regard can in no way be considered lightly and the CM and the BJP leaders must take note that this style of functioning of Shetty has only brought disrepute to the state government.
As far as tjhe Udupi district minister is concerned, his tuglaq durbar has been carried out to such an extent that the party leaders in the district have themselves complained against him with the party high command. Acharya is a minister who came in the way of police investigation into the complaint against his doctor son who had attacked scribes and then instead saw to it that the counter complaint was lodged against the victims themselves. His backing the controversial Nagarjuna project and his acts against the media which was exposing his misdeeds, have already created a new milestone in anti-people politics. Today his main intention has been to flare up against the media wherever he goes.
What can now be said is that this minister duo are acting in no way less than the erstwhile ministers Ramanatha Rai and Vasanth Salian. These ministers have now proved a bane to the BJP and are sure to face backlash from the electorate.
Considering their style of functioning till date, it is better for the BJP-JD(S) coalition government to find an alternative for them before it is too late. If the BJP leadership as well as the CM fail to read the writing on the wall, then they will just have to wait till the next elections to know the price which they have to pay for their folly.

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Driving with covered nose!

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The condition of the National Highway No 17 at Mulki, Suratkal, Baikampady, Kulur and other places has turned so worse that today bus drivers are forced to drive with covered noses on these roads.
The smoke of dust arising out of the bad roads has made it imperative for the drivers who have tp pass through this road several times in a day.
There is no need to mention that the innumerous potholes here have made driving a nightmare, for -a driver who avoids one pothole has to confront another one in no time.
The bad roads not only cause damage to the vehicles, but also to the daily commuters many of whom complain of body aches.
Protests galore were held for the repair of the road, there was mud-slinging by political leaders, the district minister even set a deadline for the repair of the roads-but nothing happened, with the roads remaining as they are but also turning worser with the passing of each day.

Kaikamba-Cargogate road turns tanker park

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : "The proposed implementation of the Special Economic Zone in Mangalore, would open the doors of heaven for the city which will witness alround progress"-so are the juicy words of our political leaders almost at any occasion or opportunity that they get to speak. But, in this land of intellectuals a village is being slowly transformed into a slum, right under the nose of the ONGC.
The Cargogate-Kaikamba road that was concretised with a grant of Rs 16 lakh from the Mangalore Urban Development Authority, has now been converted into a garage for the tankers, in Bala.
Though there are full-fledged yards in MRPL for these tankers, the absence of lavatory facilities there, have forced these tanker people to park their vehicles on roadsides itself.
The net result -not only the movement of other vehicles on this road is obstructed, but it has also created unhygienic conditions.
As if to top the problem, of late there has been unabated theft of diesel, petrol and tar in Bala area and it may be worth mentioning here that the MRPL had some time back complained of theft of hundreds of barrels of tar worth crores of rupees. The parking of these tankers in this area has virtually created a Tamil world right from Ganeshpura Kaikamba upto Kaana with the men almost seen in a drunkem state, picking up quarrels and misbehaving with passersby and also indulging in flesh trade and thefts.
Even the incidence of Malaria is on the rise in Bala and given the circumstances, it may be no surprise if Dengue and Chikungunya too make their appearance. The several appeal made by the general public and also various other organisations to end this tanker menace has so far fallen on deaf ears.
In fact, the local legislator Krishna Palemar had taken part in the inaugural of this road and now the legislator too has not paid any heed to the problem and locals are now forced to come to the conclusion that even for the legislator his personal interest only mattered and not public interest.

Bunglings galore in Udupi PWD office

UDUPI : A complaint has been lodged with the chief minister and higher officials of the state by a few charging one K Suresh Shetty, executive engineer in the divisional office of the PWD of resorting to widespread irregularities.
Listing out the misdeeds of the officer, the complaint stated that the officer was instrumental in purchasing a 15KVA capacity generator worth Rs 4 lakh for the Udupi PWD office though it was suffice to have a generator of 2 to 3 KVA, thereby incurring unnecessary expenditure and in turn misappopriating funds. It has also been complained that RCC name boards were unnecessarily purchased and the price shown as Rs 4500 though the actual cost ranged between Rs 500 and Rs 1000.
Another complaint was that a staggering sum of Rs 4 lakh had been spent towards the repair of the official quarters of the assistant executive engineer of Kundapur, while a new house itself could have been constructed with the amount . It has also been learnt that separate water tanks werw constructed and pumps installed fo each of the three quarters of PWD officials in Kundapur while a common well, tank and a pump was suffice to meet the requirements of the residents. This, the complaint said, was done merely to misuse funds in the process.
It has further been alleged that the PWD authorities even cheated the government of several thousands of rupees every month on the pretext of purchasing stationery, repair of computer and machinery, by showing higher bills.
Another serious complaint was that the engineers concerned instead of taking steps to repair roads etc, were only seeing to it that the bills of the non-implemented works were passed. Morever, a CoD probe has also been demanded into all the irregularities in the Udupi division of PWD.

RTO office- haven of corruption

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Of late complaints are heard against an RTO inspector named Tippeswami charging him of resorting to day light robbery. Just for the task of inspecting a vehicle involved in an accident, this officer, it is learnt,was demanding hefty bribe through his man outside.
According to eyewitnesses this officer asks the applicants to meet a certain Gopal outside the office and then contacts that person through mobile and even instructs him to collect a particular amount for the inspection.
Accordingly, this Gopala asks them to pay the particular amount and will not budge for a lower amount.
It is already a well-known fact that the Mangalore RTO office has proved a haven of corruption, with the officers and staff here being notorious for their greed for more bribe. It is the brokers who reign supreme all over the RTO office premises and compound. It is also true that senior RTO officials are fully aware of all these misdeeds which take place right under their nose and they prefer to be tightlipped and blind eye to all this, showing no interest in rooting out this menace.

Illegal sand mining unit bulldozed

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Geological Sciences and Mines Department authorities recently bull dozed a building constructed by illegal sand miners in Adamkudru area of Ullal police station limits.
The action followed complaints to the Department as well as Ullal police by locals citing the inconveniences caused to them due to the illegal sand mining since the past several years.
The bull dozed buildings, it is learnt, was used as a rest room for the labourers and also to store the equipment.
The operation was held in the presence of the deputy commissioner and the district superintendent of police.
The Geological Sciences and Mines Department officials have said that the sand miners have been warned from resorting to the illegal activity again.
The authorities have also seized all the equipment and machinery used by the miners.
Sand mining
policy urged
In the meantime, the South Block Youth Congress has demanded formulation of a new sand mining policy.
Referring to the recent action against sand mining activities in Adamkudru, the Block chief TK Sudhir has said while one building of the sand miners had been bulldozed, the authorities had left untouched another building nearby belonging to the legislator of a prominent political party, who too indulged in the same act, and charged the authorities of being biased in their action.
He has demanded a comprehensive policy on sand mining on the grounds that the activities also helped in checking flood menace in the vicinity during monsoons.
Sand mining was also essential in one respect that sand was required in abundance for construction works, he further said.

Now, it’s Tamil in city rly stn

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : It is the Malayalam language and Malayalam speaking people who have been reigning supreme in the Mangalore railway station over the past several years. This is an already known fact to Mangaloreans. Now, it seems the problem has doubled with Tamil too trying to gain an upperhand in this railway station in a Kannada land.
Majority of the officers and staff in the Mangalore railway station are Keralites. If enquired in Kannada, the reply is in Malayalam here. Now, another menace, of late Tamil too has creeped in.
Today, the railway booking slips are available in English and Tamil mixed language. When asked the reason, the officials here say they just do not know as it is received from the higher-ups.
Even the officials here are in no way bothered by these Tamil language slips. The already Malayalised Mangalore railway station is now slowly being transformed into a Tamil station even as the state capital is slowly turning into a Tamil land.
It is a tragedy that the Kannada Development Authority has preferred to ignore this blatant neglect of Kannada in the Mangalore railway station, though the Authority Chairman Siddalingaiah had recently thundered in the city against the anti-Kannada stance.
Even the Dibbana as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the unification of Karnataka had arrived in the city and left with its main intention being promotion of Kannada. But, the language is totally neglected in our very own railway station and surpisingly our Mangalore MP and other elected representatives have turned a blind eye and deaf ear to all these happenings.

File repairs in Udupi TP office on holidays?

UDUPI : Are the taluk panchayat officials in Udupi a model to several of their counterparts in other government offices, for the reason that some of them attend offices even on holidays ? Though this news may raise many a eyebrow, it is no joke.
Several members of the general piblic have recently complained that it has come to their notice that a few officials of the Udupi taluk panchayat were attending office on holidays and on second saturdays, merely to repair some files.
What has been gathered of late is that the officials recently made such a secret visit to the office during a Sunday just to hush up a computer scam that rocked the TP recently.

How long will be the wait for Udupi dist admn complex?

UDUPI : The Udupi district has several distinctions to its credit. It is the district which secures the highest number of ranks in tthe state level in public exams ; most of the hoteliers who have earned name and fame in Udupi and outside, have their roots in the district and it has also the maximum number of literates. But can anyone believe that easily that this very district is also a backward district from one aspect - for having the minimum number of industries in the state ?. One has to believe this. This fact has been revealed in a recent report of the state Industries Department.
As if this one black spot is not suffice, the district also does not have a modern, full-fledged district administration complex, even after a decade has passed since its formation. Isn’t this a blot on the otherwise good image of the district ?
There remains no doubt that it is none other than the Manipal Pais who have been a stumbling block in making the district administration complex a reality. In this endeavour, they are assisted through backdoors by the Udupi district minister VS Acharya and a few politicians like Sabhapathi. If that was not the case, then by now, the Udupi district administration complex would have started full-fledged operations in the 31 acre land allotted for the same by the government at the Manipal End Point, that too well before the formation of the district itself.
The main reason for the district being deprived of the distsict administration complex is the Manipal Pais who do not want the district administration to function right near them and for this reason they have tried to make best use of all the existing laws to have their way.
Amid all these, one has to really appreciate the Udupi legislator Rahgupathi Bhat, who is trying to swim against the tide, by stating that he would see to it that the complex comes up at Manipal End Point itself.
As at the outset, it is very much clear that the government has until now not made any honest effort to vacate the writ filed by the Manipal Pais in the High Court objecting to the raising of the complex at Manipal End Point.
The foundation for the complex was laid when Shyam Bhat was the DC. The next works of levelling the ground which had commenced, however had to be stopped abruptly following threats by the Pai side goondas. In the meantime, the Pais after securing a temporary stay to the works from the High Court came totally in the way of the continuation of the works.
The government which was not so keen in going ahead with the project at the Manipal End Point, had in the year 2002 had even earmarked a 6.5 are land near the SP office in the town for the complex. But, officials were unwilling on the grounds that the land was insuffice. Later on, another proposal to have the eomplex at Ajjarkad too met with the same fate following widespread protests.
But the fact is that there is no other land in Udupi and its vicinity that is ideally suited for the district administration complex but the Manipal End Point which has even enough space for any expansion in the later stages.
It is now left to the government to clear all obstacles in the way of the implementation of the project at the Manipal End Point which comes in the Udupi TMC limits itself.
Is it that our government is so incapabale that it cannot fight effectively against the Pai family ?
Let the government take neceesary legal recourse and initiate the district administration complex works at the earliest.
How long should the popele of Udupi wait for the district administration complex ?

Illegal petrol bunk demolished

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : A petol bunk and a commercial building in front of the KPT at Kadri in the city was recently bulldozed under the supervision of a team of officials led by the tahsildar.
In fact the tahsildar had ordered a year ago to vacate the illegal construction.This building had been declared illegal ten yeara go itself, following a petition in the court.
A certain Dulsin D’Souza had constructed the service station and commercial complex in the about ten cents land in survey no 10 266/3 A1 and had rented it out.
In the year 1997, few members of the general public including Satish Shetty had appealed to the city corporation, highway authority, tahsildar and deputy commissioner seeking to evict the construction. The corporation on its part shrugged off its responsibility by merely stating that raising any construction within the the 75 meter radius of the highway was illegal.
In the meantime, the encroacher D’Souza had appealed to the tahsildar requesting to lease out the land to him for 30 years. Even the Nattional Highway Authority had refused to issue a no-objection certificate to the building following which the countdown had begun for the demolition of the illegal structure.
Though the eviction order was issued on 16.10.2005, the same was executed exactly after one year, recently.

Ashraf comes under fire

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The erstwhile city mayor K Ashraf came under fire from opposition parties at the first council meeting held here recently after the election of new mayor and deputy mayor. The opposition members who launched a scathing attack on Ashraf blamed him for immersing the corporation neck deep in debt trap during his tenure.
Opposition member Mariamma Thomas said it has been two years since contractors who have undertaken various projects for MCC were paid their bills. Ashraf though had given approval for several works, had not cleared the bills of the same, she complained.
Stating that corruption was reigning supreme in all corridors of MCC, Mariamma Thomas said Ashraf had functioned without questioning anyone nor can one cite any such example of him taking action against those indulging in corruption.
"The city corporation is in debt trap and who will repay the same if mayors did not put in any effort ?", this was her question.
Opposition leader Shanker Bhat who also spoke said the corporation council meetings resembled no less than a market and suggested the new mayor to give top priority towards maintenance of discipline in corporation meetings.
Legislator Yogish Bhat who also spoke said only 20 per cent of the underground drainage works had been completed in the city so far.
Finally, the outgoing mayor who stood up to speak concluded the meeting seeking apology from all members if at all he had erred during his tenure.

Anti-Nagarjuna activists drive away co workers

From CT correspondent
PADUBIDRI : In what could be termed yet another major victory for the anti-Nagarjuna protagonists, the agitators led by the Udupi MP Manorama Madhwaraj recently, on finding that the company had opened an office in a room of a house in Ellur village, surrounded the house and erected a fencing around it after staging a protest.
The nearly 15 employees of the firm who were inside the house were forced to move out, with the workers too not retaliating in any manner.
The protest led by the Udupi MP was participated among others by the Kaup legislator Lalaji Mendon, Ellur gram panchayat president Yashwanth Shetty, fishermen leaders Sharath Guddekopla, Janardhan Tingalaya, Nandikur Jana Jagrithi Samithi President Lakshman Shetty and hundreds of villagers.
In the meantime, the Malpe Fishermen’s Organisation has informed that a meeting of fishermen’s associations would be convened shortly to discuss the situation arising out of the situation wherein the company was hell bent upon going ahead with the project despite stiff opposition.

A Hutch dog in Barkur!

From our Udupi office
UDUPI : It is models who reign supreme in the advertisement world. But, in the recent years, not only human beings even animals are used as models for some leading brands.
The pomerain dog used in the Hutch advertisement had become immensely popular with kids. Of late a similar Hutch model was seen in Barkur. But it was not a pomerian but a country dog. This dog with the name Hutch marked on its back is seen moving around much to the curiousity of the locals.
The poor animal is roaming around in the town totally unaware of the writing on its back and also about it being a centre of attraction.
But, it is still a mystery as to who painted the name Hutch on the dog’s back !.

Bhajrangdal demands axing of RSS leader’s kin from BJP

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : Reports of late have indicated that several Bhajrangdal leaders are demanding expulsion of a certain Jeshta Padivala, son of an RSS leader, from the BJP.
The main reason for this latest demand from the Bhajrangdal stems from the fact that the Dal is of the view that Jeshta Padivala had assisted the police in the arrest of some Bhajrangdal and Gosamrakshana Samithi leaders during the recent riots in Mangalore.
Another demand of the Bhajrangdal is that the BJP legislators and all office bearers are now answerable to Padivala’s move as he who had earlier associated himself with the Congress, during the recent violence had tried to personally avenge Bhajrangdal leaders.
A Bhajrangdal worker even points out how Jeshta Padivala saw to the arrest of some of the organisation leaders including Vinay Shetty by referring to the name of the Mangalore legislator Yogish Bhat and district minister Nagaraj Shetty saying the two leaders wanted the arrest of the Bhajrangdal leader.
In the meantime, the Bhajrangdal men are also planning to complain to the state BJP chief to distance Padivala from the party.

Caste politics rule roost in mayoral polls

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : There remains no doubt that it was caste politics that reigned supreme in the elections to the post of mayor and deputy mayor of Mangalore, that was held recently. But at the same time, it is equally true that the ruling party leaders have miserably failed in giving equal representation to all castes.
The ruling Congress in the city corporation, has corporators belonging to various cases and communities. The Congress which has the credit of ruling the MCC for the highest number of times, however has failed in giving due representation to all castes and communities while electing the mayor.
So far not even a single member of the Mogaveera community has risen to the top post. Not that the community lacked eligible candidates, but the party has not thought them as so.
This time with the post reserved for a general category, there was some scope to give the post to a lady belonging to backward caste, but no, with the caste politics reigning supreme, even that could not be materialised.
Christian too sore with Cong
On the other hand there is resentment among members of the Christian community too with many complaining that Christian candidates have been neglected while electing mayors during the past five year period.
The Mangalore city corporation has a total of 60 wards and of the 60 seats , 44 are occupied by Congress corporators, 14 by BJP and 2 independents.
Of the 44 Congress corporators, eight are Christians while in BJP there is one Christian corporator. In toto there are nine Christian corporators in the Mangalore city corporation.
But, during the present tenure, the Congress has not preferred to give the mayor post to a Christian candidate even once and this, many Christians believe was an insult to the around 2 lakh Christian population of the city.
Of the eight Christian Congress corporators, three have identified themselves with the Blasius faction while six are Poojari loyalists.
So far in the history of the Mangalore city corporartion, PM Castelino, Eunice Britto and Hilda Alva had occupied the post of mayor while Lancelot Pinto had once become deputy mayor.
Today, Christians in the Congress are of the opinion that the Congress should have at least offered the mayor post to their candidate this time keeping an eye on the next assembly elections.
There are many who even point out that while a Muslim corporator was made mayor last time, this time the deputy mayor’s post has gone to another Muslim corporator.
This time too as earlier, the Congress is sure to make a patch work attempt by offering standing committee presidentships to the Christian candidates.

SP facing axe?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : It has been reliably learnt that chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has intentions of transferring the Dakshina Kannada district superintendent of police B Dayanand who has been charged with failure to contain the violence that broke out in Mangalore recently.
Earlier, several JD(S) leaders of the district had complained to the chief minister that while the district minister was responsible for the violence, the SP had failed to contain it on time. It has even been gathered that the CM had also gathered information from senior police officials on the inaction of the SP.
At the same time, the chief minister, it is learnt, is not interested in transferring the SP right now and is awaiting the report from the Additional Chief Secetary who is probing the riots. Considered the present developments it may not be wrong to say that the countdown for the SP’s transfer has begum. Though SP Dayananda was considered the most courageous and efficientof all the SPs in the state as at present, he had only brought disrepute to himself by trying to please the district minister.

‘Let HDK stay in Suratkal’ Youth Cong invites CM

MANGALORE : The Admar Yourh Congress President Shashidhar Shetty has invited chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to stay overnight in Suratkal. In a press communique, Shetty said the Congress wants to know if the village which the CM chooses to spend a night would prosper and develop.
He has even said the deteriorating condition of the roads and highways are a reflector of the style of functioning of the district ministers and rebuked the ministers for blaming the Centre for the bad roads.

Praveen Valke to refrain from Sri Rama Sene post?

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : In an interesting development, it has been gathered that Praveen Valke who was instrumental in the formation of the Sri Rama Sene as a split group from the Bhajrangdal, has now decided not to continue as the state convenor of the Sene any further.
Sources close to him though said Valke has taken such a decision on personal grounds, rumours are doing the rrounds that he has taken the decision following dissidence within the organisation.
Whatever it is, this reported decision of his has created ripples in Sri Rama Sene and it was in fact Valke who was instrumental in strengthening this organisation in the district.
In the meantime, sources said there are also possibilities of the merger of the Sri Rama Sene and the Bhajrangdal.

Illegal water connection for Sebastian Church fountain

MANGALORE : Illegal tap water connection is learnt to have been provided to the new fountain with Mother Mary’s statue in front of the St Sebastian’s Church near St Agnes College in the city. Complaints are now pouring in that the church administration which has already invited the wrath of the laity for alleged misuse of funds donated by them, now through this latest instance of securing illegal water connection, has come under much criticism.
Though Mother Mary’s statue existed in front of the church building earlier, the same was demolished and a new statue with a fountain installed in its place to add to the attraction of the church. While bringing down the earlier statue, it was said that it was done as the old statue did not suit the church building. It has even been alleged that the Church Father Peter Noronha has misused the funds donated by the laity for such extrava-ganze of fountains. It is also said that the Church which resorts to extravagant spending, however does not chalk out any welfare programme for the poor and needy in the community. An appeal has now been made to the city corporation to take note of this violation of rule and initiate necessary action.

Fogging operations in city

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Mangalore city corporation health department has initiated fogging operations in the city to put a check to the mosquito and fly menace.
But, it is a tragedy that the corporation health authorities wake up from their slumber and embark upon fogging operations every year only after the fly and mosquito menace has had its impact on the health of the people.
Fogging operations have been particularly intensified in the Bengre area where the fish drying operation is on and is the root cause of the problem. The fact remains that fish is being dried in the area unscientifically and unhygienically giving rise to a number of problems.

Officer comes tottering to TP meet!

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Mangalore taluk panchayat meetings often make news, but for odd reasons. This time -thanks to an officer- an unusual incident took place in the meeting.
A senior officer of the department of agriculture who seemed to be drunk, came tottering to the meeting.
The officer who entered the venue at around one in the afternoon, tottering, somehow managed to grab a seat. A little later he was heard saying he had to speak something about the department vehicle and within minutes dozed off. The taluk panchayat president Gokuladas Shetty who noticed the officer asked him to walk out. A TP employee came to the officer, woke him up and the officer tottered his way back.
If this is one part of the story, there is something else that is quite interesting too.
Msot of the members arrive at the meeting venue late. Even after they arrive, they will be too busy attending to their mobile calls, while some others will be chatting. Most of the lady members remain tightlipped all through the meeting while only a few give voice to their oratory skills.
It is also interesting to note the same questions and issues raised at every meeting.

Officer comes tottering to TP meet!

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : The Mangalore taluk panchayat meetings often make news, but for odd reasons. This time -thanks to an officer- an unusual incident took place in the meeting.
A senior officer of the department of agriculture who seemed to be drunk, came tottering to the meeting.
The officer who entered the venue at around one in the afternoon, tottering, somehow managed to grab a seat. A little later he was heard saying he had to speak something about the department vehicle and within minutes dozed off. The taluk panchayat president Gokuladas Shetty who noticed the officer asked him to walk out. A TP employee came to the officer, woke him up and the officer tottered his way back.
If this is one part of the story, there is something else that is quite interesting too.
Msot of the members arrive at the meeting venue late. Even after they arrive, they will be too busy attending to their mobile calls, while some others will be chatting. Most of the lady members remain tightlipped all through the meeting while only a few give voice to their oratory skills.
It is also interesting to note the same questions and issues raised at every meeting.

Bangera once again blames Shetty for communal riots

MANGALORE : The DK district Janata Dal (Secular) president Vasanth Bangera, has waged a political war against the district minister Nagaraj Shetty by once again blaming him outrightly for the recent violence and riots witnessed in various parts of Mangalore. Bangera made such a statement for the second time in recent days. He said the Bhajrangdal which gave the bundh call was itself responsible for all the disturbances and charged Shetty of instigating Bhajrangdal to commit violence.

Farm officials jailed for fund misuse

MANGALORE : In a rare case wherein government officials were punished by the court for irregularities, the Belthangady court has recently sentenced three agricultural officers to three years of imprisonment apart from imposing a penalty of Rs 2000 for misappropriating government funds meant for programme implementation. The three officials who had forwarded a proposal for a vented dam in Uruvalu village in the year 1992-93,after securing funds for the same from the government, had created fake records to prove that the project was implemented, though in reality nothing like that had happened. The officers, it is learnt had misused funds amounting to Rs 49,827 in the name of the project.

Project sans MCC orders in Dongerkeri ward!

By CT reporter
MANGALORE : A project is learnt to have been undertaken in the Dongerkeri ward of the MCC limits without the prior approval of the city corporation.
It has been noticed that side drains on the road side near flower market in front of Bhagavathi Temple and some other shops in the area have been closed using cement slabs.
However, what has been learnt is that these works had been undertaken with due initiative of the local corporation but without securing the MCC approval for the budget estimate of this project.
It has even been gathered that the work presently done seems to be only for namesake and already the RCC slabs are on the verge of collapse. It has also been noticed that the old stones found in the area itself had been used and made to look new like using cement layer.
As per the existing rules, such works of covering side drains with cement slabs has to done with due approval of the council meeting and only after an order to that effect was issued. But MCC records prove that no such order has been issued with regard to this work.
The locals are now requesting the MCC to look into this project that has been undertaken without inviting even tenders.