Kodagu Deputy Commissioner B.C. Satish on Monday said 359 acres of government land has been identified for government projects, allocation to ex-servicemen and homeless people.
At a meeting in Madikeri, he said 1,300 applications seeking sites were pending while a decision has been taken to set aside 10-20 per cent of the land for ex-servicemen.
He told the meeting that the list of people without sites can be finalised at the gram sabha meetings for the allocation.
The DC told the tahsildar to immediately sanction land in Madikeri for the construction of Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / byThe Hindu Bureau / December 26th, 2022
“Unfortunately, I am the only top-100 doubles player in the camp”, says Bopanna, as he points out that Ramkumar Ramanathan (71), Saketh Myneni (84) and Yuki Bhambri (96) are missing the camp.
Photo of Doubles tennis camp in Dubai. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Rohan Bopannais the best doubles player in the country, by a mile. Ranked 19, the former world No.3, is busy tuning the quality of doubles in the country with a preparatory camp in Dubai.
“Unfortunately, I am the only top-100 doubles player in the camp”, says Bopanna, as he points out that Ramkumar Ramanathan (71), Saketh Myneni (84) and Yuki Bhambri (96) are missing the camp.
“Ramkumar has his own reason. Saketh and Yuki were scheduled to join but are injured”, observed Bopanna, who has channelised support from Pune Metropolitan District Tennis Association (PMDTA) and KPIT for the camp.
The support ensures that the players just about buy their ticket to Dubai which Bopanna felt was important as he keeps insisting on players investing on their tennis to get better.
“We are having the camp in Dubai so that the players are out of their comfort zone, away from family distractions, and focus on best preparation for the season. Apart from the ATP event in Pune, there are a few Challengers in the country”, said Bopanna.
Purav Raja, Divij Sharan, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, Sriram Balaji,Anirudh Chandrashekhar, Vijay Sundar Prashanth, Arjun Kadhe would all be in the camp along with Toshihide Matsui of Japan and Fernando Ramboli of Brazil.
“Parikshit Somani and Sai Karteek Reddy wanted to join and we agreed. The leading singles players are having their coaches and plans”, said Bopanna, as he explained the reason for having a doubles camp.
Most of the players have the ability to break through to the next level but the idea is to help them sustain a good level.
“They all know how to play doubles. They can improve their technique and work as a team. The camp basically gives them a different perspective”, he said.
Interestingly, four courts at the Sania Mirza Academy in Dubai are being utilised, with the camp being conducted during midday to avoid disturbing the regular training schedule. Jeff Coetzee and M Balanchandran are the coaches, along with physios Gaurang Shukla and Manish Singh, apart from strength and conditioning coach Ashish Borkar.
“Some Kazakh players are also training in Dubai in a different place. We will have some matches, sets etc.”, remarked Bopanna.
“My coach Scott Davidoff is here in Dubai. We assembled yesterday. We could have started earlier, but waited for the players to finish their league commitments. The camp will finish on December 23, so that players can reach Pune and get acclimated to the conditions for the ATP event. Or reach home for a few days before starting the season again”, said Bopanna.
In the absence of Matthew Ebden, Bopanna would be partnering 35th ranked singles player, Botic van de Zandschulp of Holland for doubles in Pune.
source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Tennis / by Kamesh Srinivasan / December 13th, 2022
The verification process is still ongoing to confirm if the event has broken the previous world record.
Over 6000 people gathered to break the world record for the largest family gathering in Bittangala. (Photo | Special Arrangement)
Madikeri:
With an aim to create the Guinness World Record, over 6000 people from the Kodava community got together at Bittangala in Virajpet on Saturday.
They gathered to break the world record for the largest family gathering under a single roof and the initiative was organized by the Kodava Clan Portal. The initiative was called ‘Okoota’.
“Nearly 6500 people gathered under the same roof to prove that we all belonged to the same family,” shared G Kishoo Uthappa, the founder of the Kodava Clan portal. He explained that people from three generations gathered for the event and the same was monitored by the representatives of the World Record Association.
The verification process is still ongoing to confirm if the event has broken the previous world record.
The Kodava Clan portal was started to help the Kodava community connect with the ancestral lineage and the portal has succeeded in creating the largest family tree of over 21,000 Kodava individuals.
Through the portal, one can even find out how they are related to FMKM Cariappa or anyone else from the community. The portal had won the India Book of Records for the largest family tree and it has now attempted to break the Guinness World Record.
“We are now linking everyone who was part of the event to the family tree in the portal to find out if we all belong to the same family,” explained Kishoo. A total of 4514 people from the same family gathered in France earlier to create the world record for the largest family gathering and the Kodava clan aims to break this record.
Meanwhile, the event provided a platform to the Kodava litterateurs to exhibit their works and enabled sales of the same. Over 30 outlets in the vicinity promoted the Kodava culture even as various entertaining events including the ‘valagathat’, singing and other programmes were organized.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Express News Service / December 25th, 2022
Mahouts, Kavadis unhappy as they are emotionally attached to pachyderms
Siddapur (Kodagu):
The Karnataka Forest Department has begun the transfer of 13 elephants in batches from various elephant camps in the State to Madhya Pradesh. The purpose is to assist the Forest Department of that State in reducing the human-animal conflict and also ease the pressure on the identified elephant camps of Karnataka.
The camps that are giving the elephants are in Mysuru, Kodagu and Shivamogga. Following a letter from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh, seeking transfer of camp elephants from Karnataka to Madhya Pradesh, the Karnataka Forest Department initiated the process to shift the identified elephants.
A team of Forest Department from Madhya Pradesh visited the elephant camps at Ramapura in Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Gundlupet taluk, Dubare Elephant Camp at Siddapura in Kodagu and Sakrebyle Elephant Camp in Shivamogga where they identified the 14 elephants (12 male and 2 female). Though 14 elephants were identified for transfer, one male elephant died, reducing the number to 13 — 11 male and two female.
Subsequently, they submitted a detailed report to the Madhya Pradesh Government for consideration of their transfer from Karnataka. Following up on the matter, the Karnataka Government sought the opinion of field officers who approved the transfer and later, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change permitted the shifting.
The name of the selected elephants are: Krishna (21 yrs), Gaja (7 yrs), both male elephants, Marsiha (7 yrs) and Pooja (9 yrs), both female elephants — all four lodged in Ramapura camp of Bandipur Tiger Reserve; General Thimayya (8 yrs), Field Marshal (General) Cariappa (8 yrs), Valli (40 yrs), Lava (21 yrs) and Maruthi (20 yrs), all five male elephants from Dubare camp; Ravi (25 yrs), Shiva (6 yrs), Manikanta (35 yrs) and Bengaluru Ganesha (36 yrs), all four male elephants of Sakrebyle camp.
As per the agreement and the orders, yesterday, the five elephants were shifted from the Dubare Elephant Camp in trucks and the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department took possession of the elephants. They will subsequently reach Bhopal. The shipment includes Mahouts and Kavadis who will stay in Madhya Pradesh for some time till the elephants are acclimatised with new surroundings and new handlers.
The Ramapura camp gave four elephants instead of five as the male pachyderm Ganesha (17 yrs) that was identified to be shifted died due to illness. The remaining four elephants have already been sent to Madhya Pradesh.
Now with the shifting, the Ramapura Elephant Camp has been left with 14 elephants, Dubare Camp with 27 and Sakrebyle Camp has 15 elephants.
Kodagu Chief Conservator of Forests B. Niranjan Murthy said that there are elephant camps at Dubare, Harangi, Mathigodu, Bheemanakatte and Balle in Kodagu with a total of 70 tamed elephants and two of them from Mathigodu camp have been sent for capture and taming of wild elephants and other departmental purposes.
Mahouts, Kavadis unhappy
Even as the process of shifting began, the Mahouts and Kavadis have opposed it as they are emotionally attached to the elephants. This apart, they are scared of losing their livelihood as they will be left with no job after the elephants are shifted.
Pointing out that they are not permanent staff, Dobi, State Vice-President of Mahouts and Kavadis Association, said that it is the Mahouts who have captured and tamed these elephants in deep forests and their livelihood is now under threat.
Urging the Government to regularise their service and also to hike their wages, he wanted the Government to address the issues concerning daily wage Mahouts and Kavadis, who are serving the Forest Department for years without any job security.
source: http://www.staromysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 23rd, 2022
Keekira Naila Thammaiah (Kuttanda), wife of late Keekira A. Thammaiah (Thammi), who was the first Asian Mayor of Harrow, London, passed away this morning in London, UK.
She was 78.
She leaves behind her son Ponnu, daughter-in-law Sunali and grandsons Adit and Alok.
Funeral service will be held at London, according to family sources.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obiturary / December 10th, 2022
Kodagu Model School celebrated its 14th Annual Day on Dec.17 at Jilla Shikshakara Sadhana near Milk Dairy, Mysuru.
N.A. Malleshwari, BEO, Mysuru Rural, Rajini Annaiah, Corporator, H.R. Mahadevaswamy, Cluster Resource Person and Dr. M.R. Jayaprakash, retired Principal, were the chief guests.
The celebrations started with the lighting of the lamp by the guests. School President P.S. Devaiah presided. The annual report was readout by Mary Anitha, Head Mistress of the School.
The guests gave away the prizes to the students for their outstanding performance in various curricular and co-curricular activities. The SSLC topper of the academic year 2021-22 K.
Chandana Urs was felicitated by the BEO.
Speaking on the occasion, Malleshwari appreciated the performance of the School in academic and non-academic activities while Rajini Annaiah said that the School was a boon to Alanahalli cluster.
Dr. Jayaprakash said that parents and teachers must equally share the responsibility of instilling values in children at a very young age. The students gave an enthralling cultural performance and the function came to a close with the National Anthem.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 22nd, 2022
While the team is currently equipped with four vehicles, two more four-wheelers will be allotted to the team to address the conflict efficiently.
The newly appointed Elephant Task Force team. (Photo | Special arrangement)
Madikeri :
To address the issue of wild elephant conflict, Karnataka had ordered the establishment of Elephant Task Forces in four conflict-affected districts. Similarly, the task force has become functional in Kodagu and assures to scientifically tackle the increasing movement of wild elephants.
“The Elephant Task Force team and office have been established at Madikeri, Virajpet, Somwarpet and Thithimathi divisions. A sub-station has been established at Srimangala and the task force will be alert 24X 7 to fight the conflict situation,” confirmed BN Murthy, the CCF of Kodagu division forest department.
Each task force has been appointed a Deputy Conservator of Forest, an Assistant Conservator of Forest, a Range Forest Officer, eight forest guards, forest watchers and Rapid Response Team members.
The department will provide the team with a transport facility and equip them with improved guns.
A control room will be functioning 24X7 and residents can call 8277124444 to alert the Elephant Task Force team about the movement of any conflict wild elephant at any time. CCF confirmed that the teams will be in touch with the wireless connection facility and will stay updated on the movement of conflict wild elephants.
While the team is currently equipped with four vehicles, two more four-wheelers will be allotted to the team to address the conflict efficiently.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / December 20th, 2022
For centuries, the Kodava people have been self-reliant on their cuisine, depending on the indigenous local produce; the concept of slow food comes naturally to the region’s communities. Most popular dishes of the Kodagu cuisine utilise naturally grown ingredients making it not just sustainable cooking but also one of the fantastic cuisines of India.
As a culinary researcher, I am not biased towards any cuisine per se; however, the cuisine of Coorg has been an aspirational cuisine for me to explore. In the very first session, I attended on the regional cuisines of India, the discussion on the Kodagu cuisine was the highlight of the session, my mentor Dr P.S Sandilya explained to us the uniqueness of the food from the landlocked and less connected place of Coorg, its rich forests, spices, and the coffee plantations, and I was transported in my imagination to the beautiful region of Coorg, which I visited in December this year.
The only way to reach Coorg is by road. For centuries, the Kodava people have been self-reliant on their cuisine, depending on the indigenous local produce; the concept of slow food comes naturally to the region’s communities. Most popular dishes of the Kodagu cuisine utilise naturally grown ingredients making it not just sustainable cooking but also one of the fantastic cuisines of India.
Coffee
All around Coorg, you will find coffee plantations adorning the hill slopes. Not only can you enjoy the flavourful and aromatic coffees brewed at the local coffee shops, but you can also shop for coffee beans from different estates to take home. Coorg produces 40% of India’s coffee and is known to have a mild tropical flavour owing to the shades in which they are grown. The big cup café is one of the popular cafes in Madikeri, where you can experience the fantastic coffee from their estate called ‘Sandalkad estate’. Coffees are roasted in Situ, and watching the process unfold in front of your eyes is an enriching experience for a coffee enthusiast. Arabica, as well as robusta varieties of coffee, are available, which one can also experience growing in the plantations situated just 5 minutes away from the café.
Markets in Madikeri, as well as the popular Kushal Nagar market, are beaming with shops selling coffee beans and powders from estates around the region, and makes for an ideal shopping experience to get hold of culinary gems from the region, known as the ‘Coffee Cup of India’.
Spices
Most visitors to Coorg stock up on the spices grown in the region. Coorg is one of India’s finest spice-growing regions, and one must buy a combination of different spices like pepper, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves etc. Most Spice sellers of Coorg grow the products in their plantations and have fresh produce of different quality, oil content, and aroma, owing to the time of the year they are grown in. Being locally produced, one can buy high-quality spices at low prices in Madikeri, Kushalnagar, and Virajpet. Do a thorough inspection and ask to taste some of the spices. The aromatic pepper and cardamom found in Coorg will undoubtedly enthrall you, and you will buy more than you were set out to.
Kachampuli
Image credits: Kachampuli
Coorg’s cuisine is bound to impress you with its unique flavours and high-quality, locally-grown ingredients. Your curiosity about the fantastic cuisine of Coorg majorly lies in the famed souring agent called ‘Kachampuli’. The dark fruity vinegar is extracted from the ripe fruits of a tree called ‘Garcinia Gummi- Guta’. Its unique flavour profile lends sourness to meat, chicken and vegetarian dishes alike and is used in dishes like Pandi curry and dry fry preparations like ‘Barthand’. ‘Kachampuli’s’ sour and astringent flavour combined with the flavourful spices makes for a heavenly combination, making Coorg cuisine one of the finest regional cuisines of India.
‘Kachampuli’ is also known for its health quotient, beneficial for weight loss, lowering cholesterol, and excellent digestive properties. One must buy a bottle of Kachampuli to try cooking ‘Coorgi’ dishes at home and celebrate your love for good food.
Honey
In an ecosphere like one of the nature-rich Coorg, bees play an essential role as effective pollinators, feeding on the rich flora of the surroundings. Resultantly, and with the constant effort of the beekeepers, the honey produced in Coorg has attained a special status, defining its unique taste, aroma and colour. Do not miss out on buying a bottle of ‘Coorgi’ honey to take home, along with the sweet memories of the picturesque Coorg.
Chocolates
Chocolates are another ‘Coorgi’ delicacy one must indulge in. If you are travelling with kids, it’s tough to ignore this decadent ‘Coorgi’ product anyways. Homemade chocolates are sold in every nook and corner of Coorg, with numerous flavours, stuffings, shapes and sizes; buying chocolates in Coorg is not just inevitable but is also a pleasure to your senses. Visit choci chocolate, a speciality chocolate store located in Madikeri, for an exciting experience gorging at the choco goodies; you will indeed be tempted to try the different varieties of spectacular tasting chocolates of Coorg.
Other Products To Look Out For
In Coorg, there is plenty of produce. Dry fruits like Raisins, Cashews, and Figs are of good quality in the region. Grapes and Oranges are of good quality as well. Grapes are used to produce homemade wines, which can be tried and then bought at very reasonable prices all across Coorg. Home-made wines come in different and unique flavours, from fruity to chilli and spiced wines. Bamboo shoots, also known as ‘Bimballe’, are grown locally and are a delicious choice for vegetarians to enjoy the ‘Bimballe’ curry, to be enjoyed with ‘Kadambuttu’, the steamed rice balls. ‘Sanakki rice’, the short-grained and aromatic rice grown in Karnataka, is used to prepare Akki Roti, Nool Puttu, Kadambuttu, Paputtu etc. One can also buy coarsely ground rice semolina called ‘Akki Tari’, which can be an ideal ingredient to prepare rice-based idlis, upmas, puttus, etc.
‘Kaartha Masala’ is the regional spice mix of Coorg used in preparing traditional dishes such as the famed Pandi curry, chicken and fish dishes, the dark coloured masala is made of dry roasted spices of Coorg like coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, black peppercorns etc.
Of the many delicious indigenous ingredients growing in Coorg, the tradition of making pickles and chutneys is common to all households in that region. These amazing pickles can be bought from stores and markets, making it easy for you to relish the flavour of Coorg cuisine for a long time.
Writing this article has been a tease to my palate, as it is tough to discuss such delicious ingredients without your mouth being flooded with water. Having enjoyed these flavours over the period of two weeks that I have spent in Coorg has been one of the best culinary experiences of my life, and I would urge you all to explore this fantastic region of Coorg and treat your taste buds with some of the finest culinary produce of India. Coorg’s weather and beautiful locations will keep your senses and soul satiated with natural goodness. Coorg is waiting for you!
Sidharth Bhan Gupta, is a food writer travelling across India on a Cultural and Culinary Exploration.
source: http://www.slurrp.com / Slurrp / Home> Article / by Sidharth Bhan Gupta / December 19th, 2022
Suresh has harvested nearly 7000 kilos of ripened coffee beans from a total of 1220 dwarf varieties of Robusta plants.
Image used for representational purpose only.
Madikeri :
The coffee sector is not doing well. The reasons are many such as crop damage caused by incessant rains, disease outbreaks and overall changes in climatic conditions. However, a “progressive” farmer in Madikeri, Ponnachettira Suresh is doing well. Suresh has harvested nearly 7000 kilos of ripened coffee beans from a total of 1220 dwarf varieties of Robusta plants.
“A planter is also a doctor who treats the plants,” Suresh quips.
It was in 2020 that Suresh learnt about the dwarf variety of Robusta coffee from a friend in Kolkata. Always open to experimenting, Suresh availed five seeds of this dwarf Robusta variety and he developed them into seedlings.
“Out of the five seeds, one did not survive. However, from the four seedlings, I propagated 196 dwarf plants and I have now planted 1220 plants of the same species,” explained Suresh.
With 6 feet X 6 feet spacing, a total of three acres of land was developed with the dwarf variety of Robusta and Suresh planted Gliricidia Tree for the shade across the area.
“The plants are yielding after three years and I have picked 7000 kilos so far,” he said.
Suresh explained that the dwarf variety does not require any over-the-top maintenance. “The plantation was manured five to six times, irrigated in February and March with sprinkler irrigation and a chemical spray was carried out before monsoon to avoid dropping and rotting of the plants,” he added. He opined that the maintenance of the plantation varies and depends on the condition of the soil, weather and other variants.
“I do not use complex manure. Instead, I feed the plants with only the required amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. These nutrients are fed by hand as per requirement. While the labour charge might increase in this process, it will ensure proper health and growth of the plant as not all nutrients are required in equal amounts,” he shared. He provides the plants with nutrients depending on the weather condition, which has helped his estate flourish.
“However, the dwarf Robusta variety has not been certified by the Coffee Board and this might be due to the lack of interest in this regard. Nevertheless, I have marked five dwarf variety plants and I will be recording the yield of these plants for the coming five years. This data will be handed over to the coffee board,” he said.
Suresh has always been a “progressive” grower and he has a 400-year-old Robusta plant known as Robusta Peridenia, a 200-year-old variety known as Coffea Congensis and other rare varieties of crops that are still yielding. He is also an avid orange grower and has won a state award for best cultivation of Coorg Mandarin.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / December 18th, 2022
The Kodagu district administration has planned a Honey Festival in the gardens of Raja Seat in Madikeri on December 24 and 25.
The festival, which has been planned in association with Kodagu Zilla Panchayat and Horticulture Department, is aimed at encouraging apiculture in Kodagu in view of the worldwide demand for Coorg honey.
The festival is expected to bring together not only people engaged in apiculture, but also scientists, societies and companies engaged in producing honey.
The festival will also feature demonstrations on apiculture and other technical knowledge of the field by local researchers and scientists from the College of Forestry and government officials, and exhibition stalls.
More information can be obtained from the Deputy Director of Horticulture Chikkera Pramod on 94831-10621 and Vasanth B.D. on 94490-75077.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / December 17th, 2022
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