BENGALURU :  The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to add 100 more Pallakki sleeper buses, following wide appreciation from public.

Pallakki buses that operate under the tagline ‘Happiness is travelling’ have been running to full capacity since their launch, the primary reason being that it is budget-friendly.

KSRTC MD Anbu Kumar said, “We introduced Pallakki sleeper buses in October and ever since it has been among the most sought-after services of KSRTC. We launched 40 buses this year and given the overwhelming response, we will be adding 100 more Pallakki buses in 2024.”

Further explaining factors that made the bus the most preferred, Kumar said, “We have many sleeper bus services– the recently introduced Ambari Utsav, Ambari Dream Class among others. These are premium and air-conditioned. The prices of these services are also dear. However, Pallakki on the other hand is a non-AC sleeper bus that is budget-friendly, thus rising its demand.”

Those who wish to avoid travelling in AC sleeper buses prefer Pallakki, he said and added that these buses help people reach long destinations without tiring themselves, Kumar said. Gradually, we will be adding 100 Pallakki buses and they will be pressed into duty to cover long destinations from Bengaluru and other districts, he added.

BENGALURU: The total of Covid active cases in the state touched 1,000 on Sunday. Bengaluru Urban topped the list with 517 cases, followed by Mysuru 83 and Mandya 42. Of the total active cases, 943 are in home isolation.

The state also reported 229 new positive cases, but no deaths. The Health Department carried out 3,527 tests across the state of which 2,972 were RTPCR and 555 RAT.  The positivity rate was 6.49%.

Since December 15, the state has sent 247 samples for Whole Genomic Sequencing (WSG) and the results of 60 have arrived till now. Of the 60 samples, 34 were identified with the new variant JN.1.

Also since December 15, the state witnessed 13 deaths in total of which three positive patients were infected with the new variant JN.1. The Health Department is awaiting the reports of the remaining samples. 

CASE FILES
Positive cases on Dec 31: 229
Active cases: 1,000
22 in ICU, 35 in general
Tests done: 3,527
Deaths: 0
Positivity rate: 6.49 percent

NEW DELHI: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to ensure the release of the stipulated quantity of flows as per the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

 According to the final CWDT award, Karnataka should release 7.35 tmcft water for the rest of December, at the interstate connecting point Biligundulu on an average daily flow of 2,744 cusecs. 

In the 91st meeting of the CWRC under the chairmanship of Vineet Gupta, the panel made a decision based on storage position, inflows and outflows of eight designated reservoirs and hydrometeorological conditions in the Cauvery basin. The next meeting will be held on January 9.  

“The state of Karnataka needs to ensure flows at Biligundulu stipulated by  CWDT,  as modified by the Supreme Court, for the remaining period of December 2023 and January 2024, when the hydrometeorological conditions in the Cauvery basin will be reviewed,” Gupta told TNIE. 

A good northeast monsoon has come as a relief to Tamil Nadu and also, the committee recognised the critical drought-like condition in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka. 

“After January 31, there is no need for extra water required as harvesting of crops would start in February in TN while Karnataka needs to maintain the environmental flow of the river,” Gupta added. The committee observed that the live storage in the four reservoirs of Karnataka is 42.546 tmcft, which is 40.69% of the total live storage. In  Tamil Nadu, it is 54.089 tmcft, which is 41.77% of the total live storage.

BENGALURU: The health department on Tuesday issued a Covid advisory with the number of cases increasing in neighbouring Kerala. According to the advisory, those aged 60 and above, and pregnant and lactating mothers should wear masks while venturing out. They should avoid visiting closed, poorly ventilated spaces and crowded areas. 

Those having respiratory problems, symptoms of fever, cough, cold and running nose should seek immediate medical help. The advisory was issued based on the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee’s (TAC) recommendations. According to the advisory, people should maintain hygiene, including frequent washing of hands. Those unwell should stay at home and avoid meeting others, especially the elderly. People travelling overseas should be vigilant and follow precautions such as wearing masks at airports.

 79 active cases in Karnataka

 “Testing of all SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infections) cases and at least one in 20 ILI (Influenza Like Illness) cases for Covid-19 at all private and government tertiary centres, including medical colleges, should be taken up,” Health Commissioner Randeep stated.

District surveillance officers should coordinate and send positive samples with Ct (cycle threshold) value less than 25 to Bangalore Medical College and Research Centre (BMCRI). All government and private hospitals should conduct mock drills to ensure operational readiness, the circular stated. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who held a meeting with top health officials, said that daily testing will be ramped up to 5,000 by this weekend. Union Health Minister Mansuk Mandaviya will hold a meeting of health ministers of all States on Wednesday.

A TAC member said, “We have submitted recommendations. There is no need to panic or impose any rigid restrictions as of now. We are closely monitoring how Covid 19 variant, JN.1, is behaving. While it is spreading in neighbouring Kerala and other countries, it is not yet listed as the variant of concern.” He said there are over 70 active Covid cases in the State and based on the situation, the government will be asked to take measures.

RULES FOR NY CELEBRATIONS NEXT WEEK 
Guidelines for New Year celebrations by the Bengaluru city police will be released next week, City Police Commissioner B Dayananda has said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said that meetings with the other departments concerned in this regard have taken place. A final meeting will be held with the police officers attached to Bengaluru Police Commissi-onerate before releasing the guidelines, he added. The previ-ous years New Year celebrations will be analysed to ensure more precautions and security this year. New Year celebra-tions at Brigade Road and MG Road will be as usual.  “All measures will be in place to ensure safety to the public and to those participating in the celebrations,” he added.  

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and sought Rs 18,177 crore as assistance for drought relief works in the State.

Siddaramaiah urged PM Modi to direct Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hold an emergency meeting of the high-powered committee and take immediate steps to release funds to tackle drought.

Addressing reporters, Siddaramaiah said the committee headed by Shah should have held a meeting by now. “We have submitted three memorandums, but the central officials did not convene any meeting,” he added.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.609.1_en.html#goog_1032962961Advertisement: 0:02Close Player

“We placed five demands and Modi responded positively to them. We hope to get central funds at the earliest. Farmers are in distress because of drought and they need help,” he said.

In his petition, Siddaramaiah stated that the State submitted its first memorandum three months ago. The inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) made its field visits in the State two months ago. Yet, the State hasn’t received any financial assistance from the Centre. 

 Crops have failed and farmers are in distress. There is a dire need to pay “input subsidy” to the affected farmers at the earliest, the CM added. Of the 236 taluks in the State, 223 have been declared as drought-hit. Of the 223 taluks, 196 have been severely affected, the CM stated in his petition.

On the Mekedatu reservoir project, the CM said that it has been gazetted. “There is no hindrance to the project. But it is yet to get environmental clearance from the Union Government. We have completed the project estimation. Only after getting environmental clearance, we can start work. This is why we have been urging the Union Government to grant it at the earliest,” he said.

On the Upper Bhadra project, he said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a Central grant of Rs 5,300 crore and the then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai announced equal contribution from the State. The Centre should release the grant soon.

Mekedatu is a drinking water project and it will also help the people of Tamil Nadu. “This will help us get drinking water as well as generate 400 MW of power. Tamil Nadu can make use of both. We have urged Modi to help the State implement this project,” Siddaramaiah said.

State’s demands

• Funds for drought relief works
• 150 MNREGA mandays
• Funds for Upper Bhadra project
• Environmental clearance for Mahadayi, Mekedatu projects

Kolar: Karnataka Social Welfare Minister Dr. HC Mahadevappa has suspended three staff members of the Morarji Desai Residential School in Malur taluk, including the principal and warden, under charge of getting students of the school to clean a septic tank.

Principal Bharathamma P, Stand-in Warden Manjunath and teacher Muniyappa of the Morarji Desai Residential School in Malur taluk have been suspended with immediate effect, said the minister, issuing the order to Executive Officer of the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society. The Departmental inquiry is pending.

Minister Dr. Mahadevappa has assured that the Social Welfare Department would take care to ensure that such an inhuman act does not recur.

Gadag: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said his government will not be a mute spectator to corruption and will initiate action against the corrupt.

He said investigations are underway in ’40 per cent commission’ cases against the previous government and steps will be taken against the guilty.

“If any cases of corruption are found in the state, the government will not be a mute spectator. An investigation will be conducted and action will be taken against the culprits,” the chief minister said.

When asked about officials of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation demanding bribes from drivers to put them on duty, Siddaramaiah said an investigation against them would be conducted.

To a question on the allegations that the caste census was unscientific, the chief minister said the Backward Classes Commission has not submitted its report, yet some people are already commenting that the report is not scientific.

“Such statements are based on speculation without knowing the contents of the report. Let the report be submitted,” he said.

BELAGAVI:  As the Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Prohibition of Violence Against Advocate Bill, 2023, on Thursday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil allayed fears regarding misuse of law and assured considering the changes recommended by members while framing the rules.

Moving the Bill for passage, Patil said the crime in this regard has been subtly defined in the Bill and there would be no chance of misusing it. Violence means any activity which would endanger the life of an advocate or cause bodily harm or criminal intimidation to obstruct him/her from discharging their duty in respect of pending litigation or a case pending before any court, tribunal or authority.

Stating that the Bill has the backing of a verdict of the Supreme Court, the minister said it ensures the lawyers perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference. 

When the security of lawyers is threatened while discharging their duties, the Bill would be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.

However, BJP member Suresh Kumar suggested considering the inclusion of a compensation element to benefit advocates if they failed to pursue their functions lifelong due to violence, and recommended to Karnataka Bar Council whenever he/she is arrested by the police in respect of cognisable offence apart from president and secretary of the respective Advocates’ Association, as mentioned in the Bill.

Congress member AS Ponnanna stated that the same in Rajasthan has imprisonment for up to seven years, but in this Bill, it was six months to three years. He suggested increasing the imprisonment term in the coming days. 

BELAGAVI:  The State Government has said that 40 people have died in elephant attacks in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan districts. Replying to BJP MLC Harish Kumar in the Council, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said 18 people have died in such attacks in Kodagu since 2020.

Fourteen people have died in Hassan since 2020, 5 in Chikkamagaluru since 2021 and 3  in Dakshina Kannada in 2022-23.

 “Railway barricades are being installed in 300 km of forest fringes and another 330 km is being planned,” he said, adding that the government will appoint a district elephant task force in areas reporting human-elephant conflict.

Madikeri: Three individuals have been apprehended by the Kodagu police for orchestrating a fake marriage and subsequently extorting an unmarried retired soldier.

The victim, identified as John Mathew (64) from Ernakulam district in Kerala, was lured into a deceitful marriage scheme that led to threats and extortion.

The arrested suspects have been named as Abdul Basheer (29) from Bantwal, Sadiq (30) from Kadaba, and Faizal. While Basheer and Sadiq were captured by the Kodagu Police on Sunday, Faizal was already in custody in connection with a separate criminal case in Mysuru. Another accomplice, Amir, remains at large, prompting the police to initiate efforts to apprehend him.

The police confiscated three mobile phones used in the commission of the crime, along with Rs. 1,05,000 in cash and a cheque worth Rs. 2,10,000 from the possession of the arrested individuals.According to reports, Faizal, who served as a driver for John Mathew, convinced him to enter into a marriage by assuring him a happy life. On November 26, 2023, Faizal invited John to a homestay in Madikeri, falsely claiming that he would be wed to a woman he knew. Abdul Basheer, Sadiq, and Amir facilitated the fake marriage and arranged for their stay.

However, the situation took a turn when, on the same evening, the four accused blackmailed John, demanding Rs. 10 lakh and threatening to expose the fake marriage to his family. Distressed by the threats, John paid Rs. 8 lakh in cash and provided a cheque for the remaining balance. Realizing he had been deceived, John filed a case, leading to the subsequent arrests.

Madikeri Sub Division DySP Jagadish M, CPI Anoop Madappa, DCRB PI I.P. Medappa, Madikeri Town PSI Lokesh, and other law enforcement officials conducted a coordinated operation to apprehend the accused. Kodagu District Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan commended the efficiency of the police officers and staff involved in the case. A special team has been formed to locate the absconding accused, Amir.