HDMC to implement Rs 30 crore road project by May-end

HDMC to implement Rs 30 crore road project by May-end

Newindpress.com
Friday November 25 2005 11:29 IST

HUBLI: The much ambitious Rs 30 crore road development project will be implemented completely in Hubli and Dharwad by May-end, said P Manivannan, Commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Manivannan said most of the roads in twin cities were damaged due to heavy rains. All roads, which were in bad condition, would be repaired under the project.

He said works on repairing and remodelling of roads in twin cities would be taken up in four phases. About 54 roads had been identified as worst affected which would be repaired under the project.

He further said that Rs 5 lakh would be provided to each ward for the beautification purposes including the development of gardens, painting of pavements among others.

Stern action would be taken against the contractor for executing substandard quality works, he said adding that the contractors concerned would be held responsible, if there were any damages or low quality works till two years.

Contractors would have to look into complaints of roads immediately for two years after executing works, he added. When asked about any financial assistance from the National Highway Authority, he said National Highway Authority and Public Works Department had consented to provide some financial assistance to Corporation to repair National Highways, which pass through Hubli-Dharwad.

He said a comprehensive plan had been devised to keep the city free from dust problems. As per the plan, pavements would be laid at all important places so that it could help in ending dust problem in city.

He also promised to end the menace of stray animals including that of pigs, cows by January next. Commenting on financial status of the corporation, he said it has been improving in recent days.

When compared to the earlier days, present financial position of the Corporation was sound. He made it clear that Corporation would not give any compensation nor relocate the people who were evicted during the anti-encroachment drive for encroaching corporation’s property and land.

S L Kushti, Superintendent of HDMC and Mathad, Assistant Commissioner of HDMC were present.

Passport Assistance Centre inaugurated

Passport Assistance Centre inaugurated

Newindpress.com
Thursday November 24 2005 10:33 IST

HUBLI: Passport Assistance Centre was inaugurated in Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissioner Office here on Wednesday.

Narayan Nadumani, Commissioner of Police, Hubli-Dharwad said the people of twin cities who aspire to fly abroad have now no need to go Regional Passport Office, Bangalore as Passport Assistance Centre has now been facilitated in the premises of Huibli-Dharwad Commissioner office.

He said the application form for passport would be given in the office and same would be sent to the Regional Passport Office after character and data verification of the applicant by Hubli-Dharwad Commissionerate.

It would work on the pattern of ‘Single Window Agency’ now being worked out in Regional Passport Office, Bangalore, he added.

Sunidhi charms fans in Hubli

Sunidhi charms fans in Hubli

The Hindu.com

Musical evening of `Dhoom Machaale' girl a hit

MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA: Sunidhi Chauhan performing at Nehru Stadium in Hubli.

HUBLI: At first producers of Kannada films who never thought of a place other than Bangalore for releasing audiocassettes of their films started looking at Hubli as a venue for the same.

Then it was the turn of charity shows, and now it is the corporate players that are looking at Hubli for their gala events. The recent musical evening by the "Dhoom Machaale" girl Sunidhi Chauhan as part of the Seagram's Imperial Blue Superhits concert is an example of the growing importance of Hubli.

The event, "Chhaya Sunidhi ka Jadoo," was a hit, with the people of Hubli expressing their liking for the Indi-pop diva in a boisterous manner. Nehru Stadium, the venue for the event, was full of fans of Indi-pop music.

Sunidhi began her concert with the song from Hindi film "Mast" through which she entered Bollywood at the age of 13. It was followed by "Mehboob Mere" from "Fiza" and other hit numbers.

In between there was also a dance number from the Kannada film "Jogi," for which Sunidhi lent her voice. Sunidhi wound up her show up with the song that has made her known as the "Dhoom Machaale" girl.

Special IMEI number for mobile set safety

Special IMEI number for mobile set safety

Newindpress.com
Wednesday November 23 2005 10:40 IST

HUBLI: Narayan Nadumani, Police Commissioner, Hubli-Dharwad, appealed to the mobile phone users to register International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number for its safety.

In a press release issued here on Tuesday, he said the police department usually found it hard to trace the stolen mobile set. Once the SIM card was removed there was no way to find out the same, he added.

He said the owners of mobile should press * # 06 # on keypad to get the IMEI number. That particular number would serve as a clue to trace the mobile in case if it was lost, he added.

He said with the help of mobile companies, stolen mobiles, which had been operational with another SIM card could be traced without any delay if owners had their IMEI number.

Cinema halls vanishing from city

Cinema halls vanishing from city

Newindpress.com
Tuesday November 22 2005 10:53 IST

HUBLI: Hubli city, which once boasted of 19 cinema halls is now losing it one after one since the owners of theatres converting them into either marriage halls or complexes.

For many decades, the city remained as an ‘entertainment hub’ for the people of North Karnataka only because of well equipped and big cinema halls, which attracted the movie goers and film producers.

Because of good number of talkies, city also became a safe place for many producers whose movies could make at least average business here.

But today, about four well-equipped theatres in Hubli and one in Dharwad have been closed. They have been converted into Kalyan Mantaps and complexes.

There were only a few people in twin cities and entire North Karnataka who know about ‘Sangeet’ talkies, which screened Dharmendra starrer ‘Jugnu’ more than 100 days and set a new trend by screening Telugu film Chiranjivi starrer ‘Gharana Mogudu’ for more than 25 weeks.

It was the only theatre, which also screened some Marathi films.

It was ‘Ganesh’ talkies, which first started screening of Tamil and Malayalam films whereas ‘Mallikarjun’ talkies on Koppikar road succeeded in drawing people particularly those fond of Hindi movies.

All new Hindi movies of those days used to be screened here and Sanjay Dutt starrer ‘Inaam Dus Hajara’ was one of the main attracted films.

Besides, Sudharashan talkies situated on the busy station road, was once ‘favourite’ theatre for people who were fond of Kannada movies.

Many of the Kannada films including ‘Shabarimale Swami Ayyappa’ Vishnurvardhan starrer ‘Krishna Nee Begane Baro’, Sudeep starrer ‘Hucchha’ and others were screened here for more than 100 days.

Apart from this, ‘Modern’ talkies in Dharwad, the only theatre that gave an opportunity to people of Dharwad and surrounding Taluks to watch Hollywood films by starting screening of English movies first time in the region.

This theatre was even used for shooting of some scenes in Ananthnag starrer ‘Minchina Otaa’. It set records in screening of ‘Mccain’s Gold’, ‘Titanic,’ ‘Baby’s Day Out,’ ‘Terminator,’ ‘Mummy’ and many other Hollywood hits for long time.

All these cinema halls vanished from the city as ‘Sangeeta’ and ‘Modern’ talkies were converted into marriage halls, ‘Mallikarjun’ and ‘Sudharshan’ turned into complexes and ‘Ganesh talikes’ into a hotel.

Chammankhan Pathan, owner of Modern Talkies (now converted to Kalyanmantap) and other owners said the number of people coming to talkies had come down considerably in the recent past due to dearth of good quality films like earlier days.

Apart from this, menace of video piracy, easy availability of CDs and DVDs of new films also resulted in people not coming to theatres.

All these factors left many owners of cinema halls in heavy loss.

“To survive ourselves and to feed our families, we are being forced to convert our cinema halls either into kalnyamantapas or complexes,” they said.

Movie buffs may not be surprised, if some more cinema halls are converted into complexes or marriage halls in days to come.

Bangalore now gets wake-up call from Kalam

Bangalore now gets wake-up call from Kalam
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

President: ‘City as development facilitator being eroded, needs 11-mission charter to get in shape’

BANGALORE, NOVEMBER 20: Presenting his vision for Karnataka, President A P J Abdul Kalam today advocated a charter of 11 missions to turn it into a developed state. ‘‘Karnataka’s contribution goes beyond satisfying the mind and the ears,’’ Kalam said in his address to the special session of the state legislature to mark the golden jubilee of the formation of Karnataka state.

Focusing on the state’s development in his PowerPoint presentation to a packed Legislative Assembly hall, where he was heard with rapt attention by members and dignitaries, Kalam called for increasing the existing per capita income of Rs 26,000 of 2004-5 to Rs 75,000 by 2009 by creating an investment friendly climate, leading to employment for two million unemployed.

Karnataka, which has a literacy rate of 67 per cent, should aim at realising the goal of 100 per cent literacy by 2012, he said. Based on the core competence the state has, it should undertake 11 missions in the sectors of textiles, energy, horticulture, agro processing, water management, tourism, preparing paramedics and technicians with quality training, creation of industries for knowledge products, grid connectivities for sustainable growth, establishment of PURA (Providing of Urban Infrastructure in Rural Areas) and development facilitators, Kalam suggested.

Touching upon the development facilitators that need to be created, Kalam suggested that Karnataka accord priority for road development and initiate the metro rail project for Bangalore.

To ensure that economic activity was equitably distributed across the state and for homogenous growth, taking into consideration the core competence of the regions, the state should develop Tier II cities around places like Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Gulbarga and Madikeri, the president said.

For improving the connectivity and enabling the existing industries to disperse and new industries to be created, the first requirement will be to create reliable air connectivity to and between all the Tier II cities, he said. ‘‘I have seen Bangalore in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and now. Bangalore’s economic growth has far exceeded the growth of the development facilitators,’’ Kalam observed, and cautioned that ‘‘the core attraction of Bangalore being a development facilitator is getting slowly eroded’’.

In this context, Kalam also underlined the need to establish commercial airports through BOOT schemes at Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga in the next three years. Similarly, he said, an international airport has to come into existence in Bangalore by 2008. Kalam hailed the strides achieved by the state in the IT and BT sectors.

CM Dharam Singh said Karnataka was a fore-runner for democratic governance.

Rs 84 lakh for twin cities development

Rs 84 lakh for twin cities development

Newindpress.com
Monday November 21 2005 10:56 IST

HUBLI: C T S Alliance, an international body for urban development has given consent to sanction Rs 84 lakh for the over all development of Hubli-Dharwad.

Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation had earlier submitted a report containing twin cities development plan seeking Rs 1.4 crore grant to CTS Alliance.

Infrastructure development, slum area development, poverty eradication and public health are the priority areas in the HDMC’s plan.

P Manivannan, Commissioner of HDMC said it was first time an international body like CTS Alliance came forward in association with World Bank with the intention of developing the twin cities.

He said Asian Development Bank has also shown interest in sanctioning grants for the development of cities.

Hanumanthappa Betageri, Mayor of HDMC has thanked CTS Alliance for providing economic support to HDMC. Further, an extensive plan of twin cities development would be prepared jointly by HDMC, district administration and the state government to seek more funds from foreign funding agencies.

HDMC’s novel idea of encouraging girl child

HDMC’s novel idea of encouraging girl child

Newindpress.com
Sunday November 20 2005 09:36 IST

HUBLI: If every thing goes well, Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation will soon become the first local body in the state and the country as well in encouraging the birth of girl child.

When the incidents of killing of girl child and female foeticides are on the rise, the HDMC has hit upon a idea of encouraging woman, who gives birth to girl child in all government hospitals of Hubli-Dharawad.

As per the innovative idea, Corporation will give a silver coin to the woman who gave birth to girl child after giving fitting felicitation to her.

Women belonging to Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe or other backward caste will be given food grains and other essential commodities worth around Rs 1,000 besides the silver coin at the time of delivery.

This facilities available only to women who give birth to girl child in their first and second delivery only at government hospitals including corporation maternity hospitals in Hubli-Dharwad.

Women if they gave birth to boy child in first delivery and girl child in second delivery will also be entitled for the scheme, but women who give birth to only boy child in her first and second delivery will not be entitled for any benefits under the scheme.

This plan has been accepted by all the members during the recently held Corporation’s general body meeting and green signal given to this scheme.

Commissioner P Manivannan has been fully authorised by all the members in the corporation to finalise this plan and implement it by January 1, 2006 as a New Year gift to the people of twin cities.

Talking to this website’s newspaper, Commissioner said that after seeking suggestions from various members and persons from the health department, corporation has planned to give a silver coin.

He said, ‘‘We have been thinking of depositing some amount upto Rs 1,000 in the form of ‘Vikas Patra’ in the name of newly born girl child for 10 to 20 years so that it would help the child to pursue her education, instead of giving a sliver coin.

Within two or three days, we will decide whether to give silver coin or deposit money in the form of Vikas patra. ‘‘But it is sure that we are going to give some incentive to mother who gives birth to girl child in her first two deliveries,’’ he said.

Parking ban to ease vehicular movement

Parking ban to ease vehicular movement
The Hindu

The order is being enforced near the Kittur Channamma Circle

HUBLI: With a view to ensure free vehicular movement at the Kittur Channamma Circle, the Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissionerate has declared an area of 300 metres around the circle as non-hawking zone and banned vehicle parking in the area.

Narayan Nadamani, Police Commissioner, Hubli-Dharwad, has in a release said at present vendors are using the footpath around the circle for their business and vehicles are being parked haphazardly which is leading to frequent traffic snarls.

The Commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation had also requested for an order to ban parking of vehicles at the circle and declare it as non-hawking zone. The decision has been taken after an inspection, Mr. Nadamani has said.

He has also said that the police officers have been asked to take action against violations.

The step is being viewed as a complementary measure to the efforts of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation to give a facelift to Kittur Channamma Circle and also streamline vehicular traffic.

The municipal corporation has begun constructing pedestrian overbridges at several places to help commuters cross roads safely. It has also chalked out a plan to beautify the Kittur Channamma Circle. A few days ago, a structure that was used for parking vehicles was removed.

Plans to upgrade Hubli station reach dead end

Plans to upgrade Hubli station reach dead end
The Hindu

HUBLI: The grand plans of South Western Railway to develop the Hubli Railway Station have hit a roadblock for want of land.

South Western Railway General Manager Trilok Nath Perti told presspersons here on Monday that space is a constraint in developing the station. The goods shed abutting the station has to be shifted for the plans to be implemented. The goods shed can be shifted only if alternative land is allotted.

The State Government has promised to make the land available for the purpose at Navalur (midway between Hubli and Dharwad stations). But nothing has been done so far. This despite the issue being considered and promise made at a recent meeting presided over by district in-charge Minister S.R. Morey, Mr. Perti said. He said South Western Railway is pursuing the matter.

"We have big plans for Hubli station. The station has to be revamped. It has to have new tracks, additional platforms, bigger and better waiting rooms and it is even planned to have air-conditioned retiring rooms. Only then we will be able to have newer trains for goods and passenger traffic. It is a five-year plan, if the necessary land is made available," Mr. Perti said.

South Western Railway has taken steps to refurbish the Bangalore Railway Station, which is a premier railway station in the zone and has taken steps to develop Malleswaram and Yeshwantpur stations in Bangalore, he said.

Mr. Perti said as far as the Hubli-Ankola railway line is concerned, the Railways has been working on 48 km of the track.

Of this, 7 km runs through forests for which clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment is yet to come.

"We are ready for the joint presentation required to be made before the Environmental Advisory Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment," Mr. Perti said. The State Government is yet to sign the memorandum of assistance on sharing the cost of the Rs. 1,000-crore project, he said.

Mr. Perti said the gauge conversion of the Bijapur-Gadag line will be completed up to Bagalkot by March and further work of taking the broad-gauge line up to Gadag depended on the financial participation of the State Government. The Railways has overspent its share of money, Mr. Perti added.

The State Government has begun to give its share but the full share has not yet been given, Mr. Perti said.

Making it safe for pedestrians to cross busy roads

Making it safe for pedestrians to cross busy roads
The Hindu


HUBLI: Hubli will soon have three pedestrian over-bridges at places where pedestrians have a difficult time crossing busy roads.

The important thing is that these over-bridges will come up without causing any burden to the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, as the cost of construction will be borne by private companies.

Being built on BOOT (build, operate, own and transfer) basis, these over-bridges will come up near the Old Bus Stand, Kittur Channamma Circle and near the railway station.

The pedestrian over-bridge near the Old Bus Stand will help the commuters to cross the busy Old National Highway, the other one between Prapancha Office and Ganesh Vilas Hotel will help people cross KC Circle.

The third one, which will be built across the Station Road from Railway Station to Kamat Hotel, is meant to help railway passengers, sources in the corporation said.

These places, which have high traffic density, have been identified by the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation with the assistance of the Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissionerate.

Each pedestrian over-bridge is expected to cost around Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 lakhs, according to an estimate.

These over-bridges will be of fabricated structure and the company or the person bearing the expenses will have to maintain it for 15 years.

They will also be given the hoarding/advertisement rights as per the specifications laid down by the corporation, the sources said.

Fabricated structures

These bridges will have a roof of plastic sheets. And another important thing is that as these will be of fabricated structure they can be easily dismantled, they said.

Bhoomi puja

Bhoomi Puja for the first of these over-bridges near the Old Bus Stand was performed by Vijayanand Hoskoti, former Mayor and Council member, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Corporation has sent two designs of the over-bridges submitted by the sponsors to the BVB College of Engineering and Technology for technical comments, the sources said.

Corporation confers Dheemantha awards on 73

Corporation confers Dheemantha awards on 73
Thursday November 3 2005 09:30 IST

HUBLI: Hubli-Dharwad Muncipal Corporation has conferred Dheemantha award on 73 people as part of Suvarna Karnataka Rajyotsava here on Tuesday.

Minister for Muncipal Administration and District Minister S R More inaugurated the colourful ceremony held at Indira glasshouse.

He spoke on the preservation, protection and promotion of Kannada and culture. Veeranna Mattikatti, MLC, Hanumanthappa Betageri, Mayor, HDMC, Santhosh Hirekerur, Deputy Mayor, P Manivannan, Commissioner, HDMC and councillors were present on the occasion.

Following are the awardees and their field of exellency:

Dr Dekha (medical), Arur Laxman Set (literature), Dr Jagadish Hiremath (medical), N K Jogalekar (astrology), V G Mokashi (administration), Sandya Dixit (literature), V G Nadagowda (medical), Keshav Guram (Hindustani music);

Arun Kumar Habbu (journalism), Suresh Kshatri (photography), Ganapathi Gangolli (journalism), T H Chouvan (advocate), K S Ramanagoudar (medical), K T Patil (education);

S L Hiremath (Kannada activist), Venkanagowda Patil (social service), Professor Sheeda (education), Kiran Shinde (architect), Lata S Mallur (education), Mahananda Hullur (education), Prakash T Kanakapur (art);

Y D Madhurkar (business), Sunil Barade (technical), M P More (sportsmen), S F Mallad (sports), Gnaneshwar D Varang (music), Pandit Munji (environmentalist), Y B Mathad (social service);

D D Nelachnnavar (service for disabled), Amaresh Hippargi (social service), Prakash Bendigeri (rifles association), K E Miskin (technical), S A katawe (Freedom fighter), Sathyannavar (education);

Ravi Gaovankar (sports), F B Nagammanavar (artist), Dr Umesh B hallikeri (medical), Pradeep Desai (ayurveda), Madhukar Devdas (medical), Raviraj Raikar (medical), K R Patil (medical);

Ratna F Kulkarni (education), T B Chouwan (yoga), Dr M Ishwar (Reiki treatment), Dr Mutalik Desai B N (medical), Salomi Janumala (disabled sportswoman), N K Nalavadi (social service);

Vijay D Kamath (cricket), T M Kambar (sculpture), Shivaputrappa Chabbi (social service), B B Balabatti (social service), Kotresh Angadi (artist), Dr S P Hiremath (education);

P Raghvendra (karate), Sumathishri Navali Hiremath (theatre), P L Patil (folk), Devaraj Bhajantri (artist), C S Patil Kulkarni (artist), K Shantibabu (technical), Shashikala Joshi (TV artiste);

Tukaram Chitta (Vedic mathematics), V S Pujar (science), Shivaraj Ahmmed Kuduchivaale (sports), R G Nalavdi (social service), Gangadhar Kamaladdinni (social service), Rajesh Hongal (technical);

T N Guggari (social service), Veena Belgauvankar (special achievement), Sugnan Dani (music), Sushma Kelkar (sports), Pratik Shadambi (sports), Hami Dharmashri (swimming) and Veerabhadrappa Kanyal (special achievement).

HDMC prepares disaster management plan

HDMC prepares disaster management plan
Thursday November 3 2005 09:36 IST

HUBLI: Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation seems to have learnt a lesson from devastation caused by the heavy rains in Mumbai and Bangalore as it has come out with a comprehensive disaster management plan for Hubli-Dharwad.

The Corporation has devised a disaster management plan, first of its kind in the State to deal with the flood like situation in twin cities of in future.

Twin cities are located at a distance of around 420 km north of Bangalore and 550 km south of Mumbai. Dharwad is east of the famous Western Ghats and is surrouned by hills and lakes.

If rains lash the twin cities continusouly for one or two days most parts of city would be inundated.

With a view to keep the city safe and to protect the people from any natural calamities HDMC, under the able leadership of its Commissioner P Manivannan, has come out with a plan.

As per the plan, emergency situation has been classified into three categories –– emergency 1, 2, and 3. Flooding of the city and earthquake will come under emergency level 3.

The emergency levels would be delcared by the Commisisoner, in his absence the Joint Commisisoner and in his absence, Head of the Planning Cell, in his absence the Revenue Officer and in his absence, the Health Officer and in his absence the executive engineers.

The Head of the operations of the emergency is the Commisioner who is the City Emergency Officer (CEO).

The Joint Commsisoner and the Superintending Engineer are the Deputy City Emergency Officers (Dy CEOs) and all the other five offerencers (Revenue officers, Health and executive engineers are empowered to declare emergency, who will be called as Assistant Emergency Officers (AEOs).

Once emergency is declared, it will be informed to the control room and the control room will flash this by announcing in the wireless.

In case of emergency, the staff involved in the disaster management plan shall assemble at three sets of locations in the order of priority.

Staff to assemble at Kalabhavan ground, inspection bungalow - PWD, JSS college ground, S P Office and premises of M G Bank in Dharwad.

HDMC office premises, Keshwapur reservior, Unkal lake garden, Nehru nagar reservior and Ambedkar Bhavan, Navanagar in Hubli North and Lamington high school ground, HDMC cattle shed, P B road, Old Hubli reservior, Nehru college ground in Hubli South.

After assembling in the above said points, team members of the plan as per the instruction of their heads will swing into action to rescue the lives and property of the people immediately.

Since there is shortage of some equipment including ambulances, first aid kits, search lights, fire brigade etc to deal with situation, HDMC has requested the State government to provide other necessary equipments to deal with any disasters immediately in twin cities.

According to the plan, the emergency period is declared as normal after the joint supervision by the Deputy Commissioner, the Comissioner of Police and the Commissioner of HDMC.

Work on footpath, drains delayed in Hubli-Dharwad

Work on footpath, drains delayed in Hubli-Dharwad
The Hindu

HUBLI: The construction of footpaths and drains, which the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation had begun immediately after the demolition drive, is being delayed because of an alleged nexus among some contractors.

The corporation, after the demolition drive, chalked out an action plan involving an expenditure of Rs. 5 crores for the construction of footpaths, drains and widening of roads.

It even had mobilised funds for the work covering 24 roads in the twin cities.

The action plan included footpath and other related works which were taken up by some contractors on request by the corporation immediately after the demolition drive.

But now except the works that started immediately after the demolition drive, most of which have been completed, no other beautification work has been taken up so far because of the alleged nexus among some contractors.

As works worth Rs. 1.5 crores have begun, the corporation has called for tenders for the remaining works under the action plan and the tendering process is to have been completed by the end of this month.

Immediately after the tenders were finalised, the corporation planned to issue work orders with a condition that it should be completed within one and half month. But that has been ruled out with the corporation officials smelling a rat in the tendering process. Although the contractors submitted their bids in time, the high rates quoted by some and the lack of requisite documents and other related issues have made the officials suspect foul play.

Under the circumstances, the corporation either has to finalise the bids with high rates or call for fresh tenders.

"Going by what has happened it seems that there is some sort of secret understanding between the contractors. The corporation will not give any scope for anybody to indulge in unfair practices in the works involving public money. If it is found that there has been foul play, we will call for fresh tenders," said P. Manivannan, corporation Commissioner.

Now it appears that the corporation may call for fresh tenders in connection with the remaining works under the action plan. And, in that case the process of the roads getting a facelift will be delayed. But there are not many who are complaining.

Security beefed up

Security beefed up
Tuesday November 1 2005 14:03 IST

HUBLI: In the wake of serial bomb blasts in Delhi, Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissionarate has beefed up security in the twin cities.

In a press release Narayan Nadumani, Police Commissioner, Hubli-Dharwad the police had left no stone unturned in stepping up the security.

As people of twin cities were busy in festive shopping, red alert has been sounded in all markets, shopping mals, multi-storeyed buildings, bus and railway stations and areas that are considered to be sensitive.

In view of Deepavali and Ramzan festivals, police personnel have been patrolling in and around the cities. To ensure safety, police are inspecting the vehicles entering the city and commuters carrying the suspicious luggage. Police personnel were directed to keep a strict vigil on the movements of certain organisations.

K`taka to implement report on imbalances

K`taka to implement report on imbalances
Press Trust Of India / Gadag November 01, 2005

The Karnataka government would ‘sincerely’ implement the Dr Nanjundappa report on regional imbalances to ensure overall development of the state, chief minister Dharam Singh said.

The government had initiated relief works in the flood-ravaged areas of Belgaum, Bijapur and Bagalkote at a cost of Rs 400 crore, Singh, who declared open the new North Western Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus terminus here, said.

Singh said he had requested the centre to release Rs 1,167 crore as tsunami-type assistance in view of the rain havoc in south Karnataka.

He would be calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in two-three days to seek more central assistance.

He said the state government had already release rs 46 crores for laying of broad guage line between bagalkote and gadag and another rs 20 crores would be released.

Singh instructed the dcs of dharwad and gadag to intervene and arrest the fall in prices of onions and chillies to help farmers.

On the demand for a bench of state high court bench at hubli-dharwad, the chief minister said he and the law minister would meet chief justice of karnataka high court and discuss with him commencement of the circuit bench and gulbarga.