Monthly Archives: October 2013

Reality bites for Bhamaa and Deepika

The story of Ganesh’s character in Auto Raja — which is based on a collection of tales about several auto drivers in Bangalore — is not the only one that has been inspired by elements of reality. The film’s female characters — who are played by Bhamaa and Deepika Kamaiah — are also based on real-life people.

(Bhamaa )
(Bhamaa )

Director Udayprakash says, “Deepika’s character is a strong corporate woman and I’ve met a person like her when I was working at a television channel. Our company started a radio wing and appointed a lady to head the channel. Her way of handling work was very different. She seemed more like a commanding person, and wanted to get work done at the earliest. However, this attitude didn’t go down well with her subordinates. But little did people know that she was a good-hearted person. I gave Deepika shades of her character.”

Bhamaa plays a village belle in the film, and this character has also been inspired by a real-life person. “Bhamaa’s role is loosely based on a girl who used to sell coconut water near a hospital in Rajajinagar. She later become an actress and did pretty well in the industry. I wanted someone who has certain innocence and Bhamaa fit the role perfectly. She comes in as a village girl and transforms herself by the end of the film. She has even lost some weight for the role,” says Uday.

The director also says that all the characters in the film are based on real-life people. “Even the supporting characters are based on real-life people. The film is a take on reality,” he says.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Regional> Kannada> Coconut Water / by Sharanya CR, TNN / June 17th, 2013

Tata Coffee opens extraction unit at Tamil Nadu’s Theni

Asia’s largest plantation firm Tata Coffee Wednesday unveiled its premium extraction plant at Theni near Madurai in Tamil Nadu to process the beans into freeze dried powder for exports to global markets.

Set up at a cost of Rs.80 crore with an installed capacity of 2,000 tonnes per annum, the hi-tech plant will produce spray dried, agglomerated and freeze dried instant coffee, retaining its aroma better.

“Freeze dried coffee retains aroma better and gives rich flavour, colour and appearance to the beverage,” Tata Coffee managing director Hameed Haq said in a statement from Theni, about 500 km from Chennai.

The plant is strategically located at the company’s instant coffee manufacturing facility, which is 170 km from Tuticorin port in the southern part of the state for export shipping.

“Our expertise in the bean to brew value chain, efficient processes and focus on sustainability has helped us maintain leadership position in the business. The expansion of our instant coffee facility demonstrates our commitment to provide premium coffees to customers worldwide,” Haq said.

As a 100 percent export-oriented unit, the instant coffee facility has an installed capacity of 4,000 tonnes per annum.

The Theni plant became a top exporter of soluble coffee to Russia and CIS countries last fiscal (2012-13).

As a subsidiary of Tata Global Beverages Ltd, the company produces 10,000 tonnes of shade grown Arabica and Robusta beans in its 19 estates across southern India and exports green coffee to Asia, Europe, North America and the Gulf region.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-IANS> Business-Economy / IANS / Bangalore – June 19th, 2013

Vivanta by Taj, Madikeri makes it to Conde Nast Traveller hot list

Mumbai :

Vivanta by Taj, Madikeri, Coorg, has made it to the Conde Nast Traveller US, UK and India’s Hot List 2013.

The Conde Nast Traveller list showcases some of the most authentic havens for travellers across the globe. The list is published every year.

Situated at an altitude of 4,000 feet within 180 acres of a subtropical rainforest, the review says the hotel is the perfect retreat for nature lovers and sybarites. It offers panoramic vistas of the mountains. The surrounding rainforest’s lush canopies are home to over 350 species of flora and fauna.

Each Vivanta by Taj hotel presents experiences rooted in the local culture. At the Madikeri hotel, guests can get their hands dirty in a 2500 square feet pottery studio, or interpret an elusive rainforest with the `rainforest insider’, or explore the Vivanta Conservatory: a living chronicle of the land of Kodavas, or enjoy a personalised 101 candles dining experience in a large outdoor amphitheatre, or listen in on Dr Belliappa, the noted historian of Coorg, as he narrates tales from Madikeri.

The two-year-old brand, Vivanta by Taj, was ranked 36 in the Top 50 most sought after hotel brands in the world in the World Luxury Index 2013, compiled by the Digital Luxury Group, in association with Ecole Hoteliere and the Luxury Society, which is an international ranking and analysis of the most searched for brands within the luxury industry.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / by The Hindu Bureau / Mumbai – June 25th, 2013

Encroachers volunteer to vacate forestlands in Kodagu dist

There is good news for the Forest department, which is striving to clear encroached forestlands. Villagers, who had encroached upon Subraya sacred grove, in Korangala village, near Bhagamandala, have voluntarily decided to vacate the land and have submitted a letter of consent in this regard.

On survey number 106, behind Subramanya temple, in Korangala, there is sacred grove of 59.34 acres. Six persons, who had encroached upon 8.70 acres of land, have decided to vacate it voluntarily.
N S Bojappa (two acres), N J Somanna (1.5 acres) N N Kalappa (1.50 acres), J S Subraya (two acres), B N Lokanath (1.5 acres) and N N Jnanashekar (0.20 acre) have handed over the land to the Forest department. In a meeting held in front of Nangaru Ainmane, the villagers handed over a letter of consent to ACF C Shashi. Following the development, T B Somappa (0.50 acre) and K D Seetha (two acres), who had encroached upon Ayyappa sacred grove at Sannapulikotu, have also decided to vacate the land.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, J S Subraya said, “Our ancestors had encroached upon the sacred grove land, knowingly or unknowingly, and we were cultivating coffee and cardamom. The forest officials brought the issue to our notice. So, we decided to vacate the land and help conserve forests.”

There are approximately 13,371 acres of sacred grove lands in Kodagu district. Some of them have been encroached upon by local farmers. There is no exact statistics on the encroachment.

However, we can identify the encroached land, said Shashi. “We are trying to convince the villagers to vacate the land on their own. Basavanna Devara Bana Samithi had issued notices to farmers, through its lawyer, urging them to vacate the encroached land at Valnoor-Thyagathur Basavanna Sacred Grove.

Now, we have written letters to all sacred grove committees, seeking details and have asked them to vacate encroachers. If the encroachers fail to vacate voluntarily, we have to do it legally,” he said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Srikanth Kallammanavar, Madikeri / DHNS / October 24th, 2013

All districts to be brought under ESIC

Mangalore :

Soon all employees in the 30 districts in the state will be under Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) cover.

At present, over 17.70 lakh employees attached to 55,000 factories and business establishments in 27 districts are benefiting from the ESIC scheme. ESIC has plans to expand the scheme benefits to workers in Bidar, Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts.

Union minister of state for labour and employment Kodikunnil Suresh said after inaugurating the sub regional office (SRO) of ESIC here on Thursday that a survey in this regard has begun in these three districts. “While Bidar will be brought under Bangalore SRO, Chikmagalur and Kodagu will come under Gulbarga and Mysore SROs respectively,” he said. He added that ESIC has disbursed 50,000 payments amounting to about Rs 10 crore in 2013 in the state.

He said that the corporation has tie-ups with 85 reputed hospitals and nursing homes for providing cashless super specialty treatment in the state. “A total of Rs 126.45 crore has been spent towards super specialty treatment of employees in 2012-13,” he added.

Suresh said that government-level discussions are on to introduce national floor level minimum wages (NFLMW). “The cabinet has already approved the proposed amendments to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 that will make NFLMW statutory. The matter has been forwarded to the law ministry for its nod. We will pursue the matter to ensure minimum wages for all workers in organized and unorganized sectors in the nation. A Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) will also be added to the basic wage to neutralize the effect of price rise. At present, VDA is non-statutory and revised generally twice a year. The new act will make VDA mandatory,” the minister said.

Labour minister PT Parameshwara Naik presided over the event, while MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was the guest.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangalore / TNN / October 25th, 2013

Govt gives green signal for high-tension power lines

Amidst opposition from the environmentalists, the State government has given green signal to the Kodagu district administration to re-start the work on Mysore-Kozhikode 400 KV high-tension electricity supply lines.

In a letter written to the the Kodagu DC, State Forest, Environment and Ecology Dept Principal Secretary S Sivashailam has said, “If the electricity wire, that passes through 55 km area in Kodagu is laid above 15 metres above the ground, it would not harm the elephants. Therefore, the electricity wire laying work can be re-started.” It can be noted that normally electricity wires are laid 9 metres above the ground.

The letter, has evoked opposition from the environmentalists. Recalling the recent High Court judgement which had directed the government to re-consider all the work that passes through elephant corridors, an environmentalist said that Lingapur, Maldare, Thithimathi, Kanur, Nalkeri, Kutta and surrounding areas where the proposed hi-tension wire passes through, are habitats of elephants. Several trees will have to be cut for laying the hi-tension wire, which will adversely affect the animal habitat, the environmentalist said.

Following the opposition from the environmentalists, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari had written to the government on October 21, requesting the government to re-consider the matter. In reply, forest department principal secretary has directed the DC to start the work.

Government’s letter

The letter by the forest department chief secretary, states further, “the State government while giving permission to the work on March 1, 2012, had imposed a condition to the Powergrid Corporation that the hi-tension wire which passes through reserved areas of elephants in Kodagu and Mysore, should be laid six metres above the normal height.

The elephants even if they raise their trunk, can not reach the wire at 15 metres height. Therefore, laying wire at this height, would not harm elephants.”

Further, the letter clarifies that the High Court in its judgment on October 8, too has imposed a condition that the electricity wire should be in such a height that elephants should not be able to reach it. Hence, laying wire at 15 metres height would abide by the HC directive too.

The 120 km long 400 KV hi-tension wire from Mysore to Kozhikode will pass through 55 km land in Kodagu. Of this, 4.45 km is forest land, while the remaining is private land and plantations.
The wire laying work has been completed from Mysore to Lingapur (Mysore-Kodagu border) on the one side, and from Kozhikode to Manandavadi (Kerala-Kodagu border) on another side. As the work faced severe opposition from environmentalists in Kodagu, the work was halted for sometime. If the project is implemented, it would provide 520 MW power to Karnataka and 260 MW to Kerala from Koodankulam nuclear power plant.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Srikanth Kallammanavar, Madikeri / DHNS / October 24th, 2013

Promoted as Dy. Director

Dr. Kannanda P. Aiyappa, Assistant Director, Animal Husbandry and Vet. Service, Veterinary Hospital, Virajpet, Kodagu, was recently promoted as Dy. Director of the Polyclinic in Madikeri.

Dr. Aiyappa, who passed out in 1976 from Veterinary College, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, joined government service on 8.4.1976.

He had been serving as Asst. Director since 1.6.1998.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Brief / October 21st, 2013

Lakhs throng Talacauvery

Devotees thronging Triveni Sangama at Talacauvery in Bhaghamandla on Thursday | Express photo
Devotees thronging Triveni Sangama at Talacauvery in Bhaghamandla on Thursday | Express photo

The Madikeri- Bhaghamandla- Talacauvery Road was jampacked from early Thursday as lakhs of devotees arrived for the ‘theerthodbhava’ near Brahmakundike.

It is believed that every year on this day at a specified time water from the Cauvery springs up in the form of a small fountain from ‘Brahmakundike’ at Talacauvery. And this water from this temporary fountain is considered to be holy.

A team of archakas, led by Ananthesh Kedilaya, announced the arrival of theerthodbhava at 12.01 pm, following which they sprinkled the holy water on the devotees near the Bramhakundike.

Kodagu police had enforced strict monitoring around the region to ensure that people do not enter Bramhakundike until after the theerthodbhava to prevent any untoward incidents such as a stampede.

SP M N Anucheth was seen standing near the pond and personally supervising arrangements with his subordinates.

Cultural programmes were performed by various artistes throughout the day. Ninada from Ponampet sang Kodava devotional songs while B A Ganesh from Shanthalli rendered Kannada devotional songs. Padmanabha and team from Melkote played the Nagaswara and Ramanajneya Bhajana team from Madikeri sung bhajans.

For the second consecutive year, the temple committee provided lunch for the devotees. MLA K G Bopaiah and Kodagu ZP vice-president B Usha Devamma supervised the catering arrangements.

The theerthodbhava was witnessed by the temple Thakka’s Kodi Madappa, Kodi Motaaiah, Balladka Appaji, MP A H Vishwanath, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari and others.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service – Madikeri / October 18th, 2013

Re-elected to Orange Growers’ Co-op. Society

ArunMachaiahKF26oct2013
Kodagu :

Former MLC C.S. Arun Machaiah has been unanimously re-elected as the President of Kodagu Orange Growers’ Co-operative Society for the term 2014-2018.

Kodagu Cooperative Association’s Deputy Registrar R. Sridhar was the election officer.

Rest of the office-bearers too were re-elected unanimously and they vowed to revive orange cultivation in Kodagu, which has seen improvement in the past few years.

K.G. Appaiah of Mekoor village is the Society’s Vice-President. The Directors are: Sunil Madappa of Gonikoppa town, K.U. Arun Poonacha of Devarapura, Arvind Kuttappa of Gonikoppa, S. Vishwanath of Mayamudi, C. Somanna of Balele, A.R. Krishnakumar of Devarapura, Sumi Subbaiah of Aruvathoklu, Shobha Kuttappa of Mekoor, K.K. Dinesh of Hathur and S.S. Suresh of Mayamudi.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / October 21st, 2013

Girisha, Poovamma honoured by SWAB

PoovammaKF24oct2013
Karnataka’s athletes and sports writers came together at the Sports Writers Association of Bangalore Awards ceremony here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday to celebrate their long-standing relationship.
The achievers of 2012-13 were felicitated by former world professional and amateur billiards champion Geet Sethi, who was also the chief guest.

HN Girisha, who won a high jump silver medal at last year’s London Paralympics, was awarded the Best Male Sportsperson while athlete MR Poovamma received the female Best Sportsperson award for her exploits in the 400M.

“To come from a small village in Hassan and go on to be a legend is not something I had ever expected,” said Girisha.

Arvind Savur, the flag-bearer of cue sports in Karnataka for close to four decades, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award.

List of awardees: Best sportsperson (male): H N Girisha (paralympian); Best sportsperson (female): MR Poovamma (athletics); Best junior sporstperson (male): Girish A Koushik (chess); Best junior sportsperson: Prema Huchannavar (wrestling); Coach of the year: Raman Vijayan (football); Team of the year: Karnataka State Senior Tenpin bowling team (both men and women); Behind the scenes: KS Rajshekar (volleyball) and Mohan Kumar (basketball); Lifetime achievement: Arvind Savur (cue sports).

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / DHNS / Bangalore – October 06th, 2013