Karnataka clears 4 SEZs of TCS

Karnataka clears 4 SEZs of TCS
Business Standard.com

BS Reporter / Bangalore August 28, 2006

The Karnataka government on Monday cleared IT major Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) proposal for special economic zones (SEZs) at four locations in the state with a combined investment of Rs 1,150 crore.

In all, 40 projects, involving an estimated investment of Rs 62,864 crore, were cleared by the state high level clearance committee (SHLCC) headed by the Chief Minister today.

Some of the projects had been approved, in-principle, at the previous SHLCC meeting. The final clearance was given to these projects by the SHLCC, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy told reporters today.

TCS has proposed SEZs at Devanahalli, Bangalore (Rs 500 crore, 100 acres), Mysore (Rs 410 crore, 50 acres), Hubli-Dharwad (Rs 120 crore, 50 acres) and Mangalore (Rs 120 crore, 50 acres). The employment generation expected from the four projects is 23,200.

Shapoorji Pallonji & Company’s proposal for a hardware park at Devanahalli on 1,450 acres with an estimated investment of Rs 5,779 crore was also given the final clearance. Similarly, an SEZ for electronic hardware and software, including ITeS, proposed by Ittina Properties at Hoskote on Bangalore’s outskirts with an investment of Rs 534.58 crore was cleared.

Another SEZ proposed by Suzlon Infrastructure for hi-tech engineering industries at Udupi with an investment of Rs 246.08 crore was cleared.

‘Launch ‘Suvarna’ celebrations from Dharwad

‘Launch ‘Suvarna’ celebrations from Dharwad
The Newindpress.com

Sunday August 27 2006 12:55 IST

DHARWAD: At a time when Kannadigas had no thought of unifying Kannada speaking regions and forming a separate state for themselves, people of Dharwad had dreamt of Karnataka. So, the State Government should begin the ‘Suvarna Karnataka’ celebrations from here, said Patil Puttappa, president of Karnataka Vidyavardhak Sangh.

Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, Papu said Dharwad had been the source of inspiration to unify the Kannada speaking regions into a State.

November 1 would mark 50 years of the state’s formation. During the initial stages of the unification movement, Mysore-Bangalore had not favoured the same. Unfortunately, the government had decided to launch the celebrations from Bangalore-Mysore, which was sheer historical irony, he added.

He likened launching the said celebration in Bangalore instead of Dharwad, to a ‘marriage ceremony without the bridegroom.’

Administrators sitting in Vidhana Soudha, should remember that Karnataka was formed involving Belgaum, Karwar, Gulbarga and Bellary regions, not only with the Old Mysore region, he said.

Questioning the government’s commitment toward safeguarding the interest of Kannada and Karnataka, he said it had failed to appoint Kannada language teachers to Urdu and other lingual minority schools in the state even after repeated pleas from people concerned.

He said that chanting hymns in the name of Kannada, could not develop language, people at the helm of affairs must be aware of culture, language and geography of the State and be committed to protect the same, at any cost.

Papu said mere organisation of the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, Vishwa Kannada Sammelan, Mysore Dasara, Hampi-Utsav and other such grand programmes would not serve the purpose of protecting Kannada from the onslaught of globalisation.

Condemning the Kannada Sahitya Parishad’s proposed plan to demolish the old Parishad building in Bangalore, he demanded the government to construct an Art Complex, in Dharwad and Belgaum.

Prof B V Gunjetti, Siddalingaih Desai and others were present.

EUROPEAN FIRMS TO SHIFT TO SEZS IN INDIA

EUROPEAN FIRMS TO SHIFT TO SEZS IN INDIA
Star of Mysore

Mysore, Aug. 26 (NMG)- Many Europe-based industries have expressed their willingness to relocate to Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in India which has the best facilities for their growth, said, C.J. Mathew, Development Commissioner of Cochin Special Economic Zone.

Speaking at an interaction programme on SEZ in CII here yesterday he said that a number of industries from Europe were ready to shift to SEZs in India and China because of the ready availability of skilled human resource. The Union Government had approved 150 out of 388 proposals and half of them are reserved for IT. The sanctioning of 150 SEZ will result in a loss of Rs. 90,000 crore as the developers of SEZ will be exempted from customs duty and VAT for a period of three to five years, he added.

The SEZ for Mysore has been sanctioned in principle for IT and a developer had offered to set it up, said Mathew.

Kalpesh Maroo, Manager, BMR and Associates has said that developers have come forward to establish SEZ in Hubli at an investment of Rs. 600 crore, in the field of power generation education and amusement parks.

The proposals will be cleared in the board meeting in September he explained and added that the existing industries will not be allowed to shift to SEZs as a lot of money has been spent by the Government to create infrastructure for their benefit.

The demand for SEZs in Belgaum, Mangalore and other parts of the State is on the rise he said.

Convenor of Economic Affairs and Public Policy panel of CII B. Jayaraman, General Manager of Corporate Finance and Taxation of the Prestige Group K. Madhusudhan and others spoke

Wishing all Readers "Happy Ganesh Chaturthi"

Wishing all Readers "Happy Ganesh Chaturthi"

From Moderator,



Dear Friends,

I wish you all a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi,May the Lord Ganesha give all the properity and health in the coming days.

I take this opportunity to wish all my readers of this blog.

Thank you, have a great year ahead,

regards,

Praveen

Set up IIT in twin cities: Bommai

Set up IIT in twin cities: Bommai
Newindpress.com

Friday August 25 2006 14:33 IST

HUBLI: S R Bommai, former Union minister for Human Resource Development, recommended for the Centre to establish the proposed new Indian Institute of Technology in south India, in Hubli-Dharwad, for which 300 acres of land is already earmarked.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a copy of which was released to the press here on Thursday, Bommai welcomed the decision of the Union Government to establish new IITs and IIMs to ‘prepare the country to meet the challenges in the field of knowledge.’

Bommai said the UR Rao Committee had recommended that the IIT in south India should be set up in Hubli-Dharwad. He said, “Now it seems that the PMO was trying to locate IIT somewhere near Bangalore, an area that was already highly congested with no more place for tranquility, essential for such centres.”

Bommai, as HRD minister in 1996, had set up an expert committee to go into the establishment of new IITs under the leadership of Prof U R Rao, a renowned scientist. The report was duly submitted in 1998 to the HRD ministry.

The Rao Committee had recommended IITs in north, north-east and southern India. It had categorically earmarked the twin cities for the new IIT in south India.

Stressing the need to open the new IIT in Hubli-Dharwad, he said the pleasant climatic conditions, strategic geographical position, readily available manpower and several excellent professional educational institutes, were in favour of the twin cities.

NSI to invest Rs 10 Cr in Hubli

NSI to invest Rs 10 Cr in Hubli
Source: HDMC Website

Hubli: NSI, a healthcare BPO Company will invest close to Rs 10 crore in the next one year in Hubli and employ over 500 professionals in the IT and BPO space.

In a press release here, Mr Santosh Huralikoppi, chief executive officer of NSI said his company has been selected, for their third consecutive time for the Karnataka Best IT Exports Award for the Software Technology Park of India-Hubli region by STPI. The award will be given on August 25 in Bangalore .

The NSI founded in 1999 and operational in Hubli and Bangalore with marketing offices in Michigan , Florida , New York and Ohio United States of America is expanding its operations in Hubli. The company will invest close to Rs 10 crore in the next one year in Hubli and employ over 500 professionals in the IT and BPO space.

Currently it had employed over 150 professionals both in Hubli and Bangalore . The NSI caters to the US healthcare market and also has a subsidiary company GEN, which is a premier business partner of IBM.

First mall-multiplex takes shape

First mall-multiplex takes shape
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

M L Kapur
25 Aug, 2006 0140hrs IST

HUBLI: People of Hubli and surrounding towns will soon be able to keep up with the Joneses, a la Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The city is going to have its first mall-cum-multiplex in the next two years, coinciding with the projected peaking of the IT boom.

Promoted by Raiker Entertainments, leading film distributors and exhibitors of the region, it will come up over a prime commercial site in Vidyanagar, the educational hub of the city.

In the next phase, a three-star hotel is also planned in the same complex on Hubli-Dharwad road. Designed by Kembhavi Architecture Foundation, it will have two underground levels plus five upper floors; with a total built-up area of 2.5 lakh sqft.

It will be the first centrally air-conditioned mall-multiplex with full power back-up, outside of Bangalore and Mangalore in Karnataka.

Ramesh Raiker of Raiker Entertainments told The Times of India: "The mall-multiplex will have five theatres with capacities ranging from 150 to 350 seats.

It will be the first such facility in North Karnataka to have escalators from the ground level atrium to the top two floors housing the theatres."

The underground levels will have parking space and a hypermarket for groceries and green groceries. The parking area will have elevators up to the upper floors.

The mall will accommodate anchor stores, retail stores for branded products, and food outlets of various sizes and formats to suit varying budgets. Raiker said "a garden will separate the mall multiplex from the proposed three-star hotel. There will also be additional open parking area between the two.We are short-listing facilities management firms for efficient maintenance and housekeeping services."

He said: "The building plans are being given the final touches. Construction will start within six months and the facility will become operational in another 18 months. We are already getting a lot of inquiries from Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. The response is very encouraging."

Raiker Entertainments at present owns 10 cinema halls in Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Bijapur, Dandeli, Sirsi, Ankola and Kumta.

It is their first foray into retail space development. The mall-multiplex aims at providing a complete family shopping and entertainment experience.

Roads posing threat to motorists, pedestrians

Roads posing threat to motorists, pedestrians
The Newindpress.com

Saturday August 19 2006 13:07 IST

DHARWAD: The incessant rain that has been lashing Dharwad, has exposed an ugly face of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation that has failed to keep the city’s roads in a good condition.

The HDMC got a boost when it had launched an anti-encroachment drive. However, the substandard quality of works executed by it in repairing roads has come to the notice of the people.

The quality of work is so low that most of the roads that were repaired recently, are damaged beyond repair after the rains lashed the city.

Stretches of roads from Maratha galli to Super market, Old SP office to Corporation, Vijay road to APMC, Subhas road to end of Hebballi Agasi and Bhusappa Chowk to Kamankatti are so pathetic that the public is scared to use the same.

Dharwad, which once wore the look of a developed urban city, is now wearing that of an undeveloped and uncivilised remote village, following the defacement of all important roads.

The task of laying water pipelines in the city being taken up by private agencies at the behest of the Corporation, to supply 24-hour drinking water, has added to the woes of people and also ruined good roads.

According to people, well constructed and recently repaired roads, in all streets were being dug and after laying the pipelines, the agency concerned was not bothering to reconstruct those roads, resulting in slush all over the city.

The condition of these roads, poses a threat to motorists and pedestrians. Innumerable accidents on slushy roads, are being reported every day.

In Hubli, too, most of the roads including those at Cotton market, CBT, Gouligalli, Old bus terminus road, Gadag road, etc, are facing a similar fate.

People of the twin cities hope that the HDMC might bail them out of all these infrastructure problems by expediting the work taken up under the Rs 30 crore-road development project, for remodelling all important roads and complete the works on time.

Hubli IT park fails to attract investors

IT park fails to attract investors
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

20 Aug, 2006 0024hrs IST

HUBLI: The conditional package announced by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy while addressing the IT investors' meet here in May has failed to attract any new investor to the Hubli IT Park.

Even one company from Pune that set up base here on the eve of the meet is not happy with the services provided by Keonics.

The Hubli IT Park, developed at a cost of Rs 45 crore, has been lying unoccupied for five years as Karnataka Electronics Development Corporation (Keonics) rates were not competitive enough to attract investors.

The park has nearly 25,000 sq ft of ready for occupation space. Keonics claims it has broad band connectivity and full power back up. It was normally offering space at the rate of Rs 18 to 20 per sq feet. The package announced by CM offered it at Rs 10 per sq feet provided the investors took up a minimum of 10,000 sq feet. The offer was valid for six months.

Already three months have elapsed since the investors meet, but Keonics has failed to clinch any deals. Industry sources say that the condition of minimum 10,000 sq feet space has become a major stumbling block. Many of the start-up ventures planing to move to Tier II cities like Hubli require much less space.

Only one Bangalore based ITeS company—First American— has made concrete inquiries with Keonics. Their teams has visited the facility twice during the past one month but there is no deal as yet. A Birla Group BPO has also evinced interest, but they are still exploring other options as well.

Sources said that Neilsoft, the engineering software major from Pune which is setting up a development centre in the park, are sore with the services provided by Keonics, which has posted only an assistant manager there as caretaker. He has to take clearance from his bosses in Bangalore for even minor maintenance problems like repair of a lift or fixing an AC duct.

As many as 19 contenders are, however, queuing up for a piece of land in the IT area earmarked by Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation at Rayapur.

All of then cannot be accommodated there. If Keonics relaxes the minimum 10,000 feet condition, some them would be interested in negotiations.

APMC land proposed for TCS

APMC land proposed for TCS
Source: HDMC Website

In the wake of TCS company seeking allotment of over 50 acres of land to set up its unit in Hubli, Dharwad district administration is seriously contemplating to allot additional land held by Agricultural Producers' Marketing Committee (APMC) at Amargol on Hubli-Dharwad Road . A proposal to this effect has been sent to the state government for its nod.

Highly placed sources told Deccan Herald that the representatives of TCS company had already seen the land in APMC market yard at Amargol but they have not yet given their decision so far. In the present circumstances, there was no large tract land available on Hubli-Dharwad Road except the one in the sprawling APMC premises. Besides, the APMC owes crores of rupees to various agencies and it was badly in need of money.

The APMC authorities had already given their consent to dispose off additional land held by them for setting up of the IT based companies in their premises. But the government's permission was needed to sell that land to any private companies.

Bone of contention

The sources pointed out that the bone of contention was fixation of land price to sell that land. No company may agree to buy land at market price and it expects the government to give concession. It was to be seen whether the APMC authorities were ready to sell land at the rate fixed by the government.

Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) had fixed land rate for the both TCS and the Quest Companies at Rs 8 lakh per acre whereas actual market price was around Rs 10 lakh to 12lakh per acre. The corporation had kept land price intentionally in order to attract investment in IT/ITES in twin cities.

The sources noted that the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) plans to acquire around 150-200 acre in between Hubli and Dharwad cities. But it may take some time because of various procedures involved in it. In the present condition the only land readily available was in APMC premises.

The government's intervention was badly required in fixing land price that was agreeable and profitable to both the company as well as the APMC. The proposal to this effect had been sent to the secretary, Department of Information Technology so that it could take up at the government level.

In all probability, the government may take decision at the earliest before the company changes its mind. "All efforts are being made to convince the government to remove all hurdles so that the company could be allotted 50 acres of land as required by them".

Mahindras may set up unit in Dharwad

Mahindras may set up unit in Dharwad
The Times of India - Bangalore Edition

By M L Kapur/TNN

Hubli: After having lost the race to West Bengal in attracting Tata's Rs 1-lakh car project, the state government has recently come upon a similar opportunity. This time it is auto major Mahindra & Mahindra which is planning to set up a unit in Dharwad.

Mahindras are believed to be scouting for a minimum of 1,000 acres of land near Dharwad to expand their tractors and high-end sports utility vehicle Scorpio capacity, with an eye on both domestic and overseas markets. Top officials of the company come here twice within a span of one month in connection with the project. The move was initiated sometime towards the end of June with a member of the North Karnataka Small Scale Industries' Association, Hubli, arranging a meeting between M&M president Vinod Goenka and Karnataka medium and large industries minister Katta Subramanya Naidu in Bangalore.

Karnataka-Goa water war intensifies

Karnataka-Goa water war intensifies
The Hindu.com

JAISHANKAR JAYARAMIAH
Posted online: Monday, August 14, 2006 at 0000 hours IST

BANGALORE: The Centre’s delay in taking a final decision on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala water project has forced Karnataka to go ahead with it, with or without central nod. The state will start work on the project on October 2. However, political observers feel the Centre should immediately intervene in the matter to avoid unnecessary tension in the Karnataka-Goa border region.
Karnataka had designed the project in 2000 to divert 7.56 tmc of water from Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of Mahadayi river to Malaprabha reservoir to meet drinking water needs in northern Karnataka. The river originates in Karnataka and passes through Maharasthra and Goa and finally flows into the Arabian Sea. The Centre gave in-principle clearance to the project in April 2002. Subsequently, in September, the water resources ministry kept the clearance in abeyance following objections from Goa, which claimed that Mahadayi was a deficit basin and water diversion would impact the environment.

Talking to FE, Malaprabha Farmers Union president, Basavaraj S Bommai, said the report of the Central Water Commission showed that the yield in Mahadayi was 200 tmc. Karnataka’s share is estimated at 45 tmc, of which the state is seeking only 7.5 tmc for drinking water purposes. But due to objections from Goa, the entire 200 tmc is being wasted by allowing it to flow into the sea.

The JD(S)-BJP coalition government believes the Centre would not object when it starts project work since it is essentially a drinking water project for north Karnataka.

The government’s action comes in the wake of its plan to make Hubli-Dharwad the IT hub of north Karnataka. Acute water shortage in the Hubli-Dharwad area is threatening its industrial prospects.

The issue became sensitive after farmers of Malaprabha command area set a month’s deadline for the state to start the project. The farmers, supported by the state’s powerful seers from various Hindu mutts, have threatened to take up construction work on their own if the government delays.

Meanwhile, Goa has requested the Prime Minister to restrain Karnataka from proceeding. If Karnataka is not restrained, Goa may approach the apex court seeking directions for staying the project and the setting up of a tribunal.

After One year on this blog !!!

After One year on this blog !!!

From Moderator's desk

Firstly heartly wishes for the all the readers of this blog who have made this blog a success. It has been a great journey along the year. I have had a quite a good response at this blog, the site meter shows 2886 visitors as of now today. So it is growing day by day and hope it continous to do so.

This is first blog which gives the news to the people of dharwad-hubli.I hope to bring lot more stories and pictures from time to time.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Praveen Dodamani

‘Bendre Trust developing into a centre of learning’

‘Bendre Trust developing into a centre of learning’
The Newindpress.com

Saturday August 12 2006 12:00 IST

DHARWAD: The Bendre National Trust is slowly developing into a centre of learning with the government aid and the people’s participation, said M S Srikar, Deputy Commissioner and member secretary of the Trust.

He was speaking at a function arranged at the Bendre Bhavan in connection with the donation of an LCD projector to the Trust by the Karntaka Vikas Grameena Bank here on Thursday.

He informed that the government had released a sum of Rs 5 lakh to the Trust this year, and the amount would be fruitfully utilised. Lauding the bank for its gesture to the literary world, the Deputy Commissioner hoped that the tendency to rush to the help of the needy would be nurtured by the society.

Handing over the projecter to the Trust, General Manager of the Bank I T Sethuraman said that the Bank felt proud to be a partner in bringing the famous poets and writers closer to the people through the documentaries that could be viewed with the aid of the LCD. In this Suvarna Karntaka year, the bank had plans to host several social and cultural progammes at various places in its area of operation, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, former MLA Chandrakant Bellad praised the bank for its numerous social work, hoping at the same time that this would be a source of inspiration for others to emulate.

Presiding over the function, Dr M M Kalburgi, chairman of the trust, said that the trust was undertaking numerous activities, bringing it closer to the people. It has been recognised by the Hampi University and interested students could now enroll for acquiring a doctorate.

Senior Manager Shrinivas Wadappi welcomed, PRO Ullas Gunaga compered and Dr Shyamsundar Bidarkundi proposed a vote of thanks.

`State will go ahead with Kalasa-Banduri Nala project'

`State will go ahead with Kalasa-Banduri Nala project'
The Hindu.com

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The State will go ahead with the construction of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala diversion project on schedule from October 2, whether or not the Centre clears it.

Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa expressed the determination of the State to go ahead with the Rs.100-crore project a day after an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh submitted a memorandum on the project.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said the delegation led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy urged Dr. Singh to advise Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz to withdraw the order staying the clearance given for the project. It envisaged diversion of 7.56 tmcft of water from the Mahadayi to the Malaprabha to meet the drinking water requirements of Hubli-Dharwad and some of the districts of north Karnataka. Dr. Singh had assured the delegation that he would discuss the issue with the Goa Government.

The Centre was dragging its feet on withdrawing the order staying the in-principle clearance for the project. Goa had also pleaded for referring the dispute to a tribunal under the provisions of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act.

He said injustice had been meted out to the State by successive governments at the Centre, including the BJP-led Vajpayee Government.

The former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would be invited to dedicate the Almatti dam to the nation. To mark the occasion, a grand function would be organised at the dam site on August 21, he said.

Call-girls turn trade into hi-tech business

Call-girls turn trade into hi-tech business
The Times of India

MANU AIYAPPA
8 Aug, 2006 2321hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK

HUBLI: Prostitution in the twin-cities is getting organised and turning into a high-tech industry, with most prostitutes now operating from posh localities and using hi-tech gadgets to make initial contact with clients to offer their services.

Reliable sources in the police department confided that prostitution was no longer limited to dingy lodges located in Janatha Bazaar and Hosur areas.

Several high-profile colonies, which have come up in the recent past, were now earning notoriety as new hubs of prostitution. The growth in business can be gauged from the increase in the number of pimps always on the look-out to hook clients.

These pimps, instead of working clandestinely, are now openly approaching high-end hotels, restaurants and cinema halls to advertise their services.

They accost prospective customers who are well dressed and drive fancy cars. Call girls also try to lure such people by sending provocative SMSs or e-mails.

Pimps, using their contacts in banks and other offices, trace mobile numbers of such people and pass them on to the call girls. A majority of their targets are migrant employees working for banks and MNCs from Bangalore and other cities.

After agreeing on a price, clients pick up the girls and take them to their bungalows or any other place to continue their liaison.

One such racket was busted on Tuesday by the Hubli police, with the arrest of a 16-member gang operating from a two-storey bungalow located on Airport Road (Gokul Road).

Govt has open mind over venue of law varsity: Minister

Govt has open mind over venue of law varsity: Minister
The Newindpress.com

Tuesday August 8 2006 14:29 IST

GULBARGA: Minister for Higher Education D H Shankaramurthy has said that the State Government had not taken final decision on where to establish the proposed Law University in the State and that it had kept options open.

Speaking to the media at Sedam, about 50 km from here, on Monday, Shankaramurthy made it clear that although the previous governments might have taken a decision on the starting of the Law University at Hubli, the present government would look into all aspects of the venue for the university.

“We have an open mind in this regard. Whatever has been stated is not final. We will consider all aspects before taking a final decision,” Shankaramurthy said.

When it was pointed out that Gulbarga is the most suitable place for establishing the Law University as it was here that the legendary ‘Mitakshara’ legal treatise was written by Vijnaneshwara, paving way for the evolution of the Indian legal system, Shankaramurthy said: “We will consider emotional aspect and technical matters before taking a final decision.” Maintaining that he has not yet gone deep into the issue, he promised to look into it in detail.

Replying to a suggestion on the issue that the selection of a suitable venue for the new law university be referred to the Special Officer appointed for the purpose, Shankaramurthy said: “I can assure you one thing that the law university will not come up in Bangalore. On where it should be established, we will take a suitable decision.”

It may be recalled that the previous Congress-JD (S) coalition government had taken a decision to set up the law university at Hubli and had even appointed a Special Officer to submit a report for the establishment of the same. The government had pre-empted the issue of venue for the university by taking a uni-lateral decision to have it at Hubli.

Rs 1.74 cr to develop tourist spots: DC

Rs 1.74 cr to develop tourist spots: DC
The Newindpress.com

Sunday August 6 2006 12:01 IST

DHARWAD: An action plan has been prepared to develop the tourist spots of the district at a cost of Rs 1.74 crore, said Deputy Commissioner M S Srikar.

Chairing a meeting of the Tourism Committee at the deputy commissioner’s office here on Saturday, Srikar told the officers to submit the plan to the State Tourism department for approval. The proposal intended to provide infrastructure needed for attracting tourists to the acclaimed tourist hubs of the district viz Unkal lake, Indira Glass House, Bhavani Shankar temple and Chandra Mouleshwar temple of Hubli, K C Park, Someshwar temple and Nuggikeri Hanumantha temple of Dharwad,

Rajisaheb Durga of Yamanur, Shambhulinga temple of Kundagol, Kalmeshwar temple at Kamadhenu village of Kalaghatagi, Basavanna temple of Tambur and Amrutheshar temple of Annigeri, he added.

He said besides this, the proposal had incorporated plans to construct lavatories, drinking water sheds and lighting arrangements at the said spots.

Kelageri Lake: Srikar said an action plan for a face-lift of the century old Kelageri lake was being prepared and the government had released Rs 10 lakh for the same.

The action plan would include boating facility, construction of resorts and providing other basic amenities, he added.

C M Noor Mansur, HQA, K H Kukanur, joint commissioner, HDMC, K H Channur, Kannada and Cultural department, Krishnaji Chavan of PWD and Hiremath of Tourism department were present.

Bangalore-Hubli flights from August 23

Bangalore-Hubli flights from August 23
The Hindu.com


Special Correspondent


Air Deccan decides to begin flight operations to mark its third anniversary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Airline introduces customer initiative
# Free tickets for passengers with PNR ending with 00 or 50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bangalore: Air Deccan will introduce a flight to Hubli from Bangalore on August 23, the date it launched its operations in India three years ago. To celebrate its third year of operations, the airline has introduced a customer initiative throughout August wherein any passenger whose PNR number ends with 00 or 50 will get a free ticket, which is transferable.

Air Deccan managing director Capt. Gopinath said, "India, as a country, got its independence on August 15, while the Indian, as an air traveller, truly got his independence on August 23, with the launch of Air Deccan. This is, perhaps, no coincidence, and we at Air Deccan are happy to share and celebrate the true spirit of independence with India's common man with our special offer."

Officials told to prepare plan for developing tank

Officials told to prepare plan for developing tank
The Hindu.com

Staff Correspondent

Rs. 10 lakh earmarked for tourism development to be spent on Kelageri Tank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Rs. 1.74-crore proposal has been prepared for development of infrastructure in tourist places
# National music festival to be organised in Dharwad on September 12
# Programmes to be organised throughout the year
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DHARWAD: Deputy Commissioner M.S. Srikar has said that the development of Kelageri Tank will be taken up out of the funds released for development of tourism in the district.

Chairing a meeting of the Tourism Committee here on Saturday, Mr. Srikar said the State Government had released Rs. 10 lakh for development of tourism and it would be used for developing the Kelageri Tank.

He directed the officials to chalk out an action plan for developing the tank into a tourist attraction.

The Deputy Commissioner informed said a Rs. 1.74-crore proposal had been prepared for the development of infrastructure in the tourist places in the district.

He directed the officials to submit the proposal to the Tourism Department.

Mr. Srikar said the proposal related to development of Unakal lake, Indira Glass House, Bhavani Shankar Temple, Chandramouleshwar Temple, Kittur Channamma Park in Dharwad, Someshwar Temple, Nuggikeri Hanumanth temple and places of tourist importance.

C.M. Noormansur, Headquarters Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner; K.H. Kakanur, Joint Commissioner of Corporation; K.H. Channur, Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture and others were present.

National music festival

Dr. Mallikarjun Mansur Trust will organise a national music festival in Dharwad on September 12 to mark the 14th death anniversary of Mallikarjun Mansur.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Mr. Srikar, who is also the president of the trust.

t was decided to conduct various programmes throughout the year in association with Srujana Rangamandir and Sitar Ratna Rahimath Khan Committee.

A selection committee was constituted for selecting artistes for youth awards given by the Trust. Gangubai Hangal will be the president of the selection committee and Rajashekhar Mansur, Sadanand Kanavalli and Ustad Bale Khan will be its members.

The meeting decided to nominate Prof. Kanavalli as president of the committee for selecting artistes for the music festival. Mr. Rajashekhar Mansur, Ustad Bale Khan, Neelambika Kodli and M. Venkatesh Kumar will be members and K.H. Chennur will be the member-secretary of the committee.

Construction of building for Dharwad Circuit Bench begins

Construction of building for Dharwad Circuit Bench begins
The Hindu.com
Staff Correspondent

Basavaraj S. Horatti performs groundbreaking ceremony on WALMI premises

AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING: Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj S. Horatti performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the building to house the Circuit Bench of the High Court on the Water and Land Management Institute ( WALMI) premises near Dharwad on Friday.

DHARWAD: The construction of the building for accommodating the Circuit Bench of the High Court of Karnataka on the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) premises began on Friday.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj S. Horatti performed the groundbreaking ceremony. MLA R.B. Shiriyannavar, Deputy Commissioner M.S. Srikar, Police Commissioner Narayan Nadamani, Superintendent of Police of Dharwad District B. Srikanthappa, Public Works Department Chief Engineer Prabhakar Chini, president of the Dharwad Bar Association B.D. Hiremath and Zilla Panchayat Vice-President B.B. Gangadharmath were present.

In 18 months

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Horatti said the construction work of the Circuit Bench building had to be completed within 18 months.

Work order

The Minister clarified that the State-owned Karnataka State Construction Corporation would begin work and the contractor would continue it after getting the work order. Expressing happiness over the starting of the work after several years of pursuance and agitation, the Minister said the fulfilling of the demand had made the people of north Karnataka happy.

He clarified that there was no dearth of money for the construction of the Circuit Bench buildings at Dharwad and Gulbarga.

Appeal

To a question, he said the Government would appeal to the Chief Justice of the High Court Cyriac Joseph to make the Circuit Bench functional at the earliest by using the available infrastructure at WALMI. As the Minister performed the groundbreaking ceremony, the Dharwad lawyers, who were in a jubilant mood, celebrated "Vijayotsava". They burst crackers and distributed sweets.

They even carried Mr. Hiremath on their shoulders for some time.

VRL Bus goes mobile with Reliance PCO

VRL Bus goes mobile with Reliance PCO
The Vijay Times Epaper

Anand Sankeshwar, MD VRL, and Vinay Singh, Communications, Karnataka circle, inaugurating the PCO in the Bus - VT photo

Hubli:Karnataka circle of Reliance Communications launched Mobile PCO in buses here on Thursday to facilitate passengers on long distance travel. The PCO (public call office) facility has been installed in buses of Karnatakas premier bus service provider Vijayanand Road Lines, an arm of VRL Group. The first such PCO installed in a Hubli-Bangalore bus was inaugurated by VRL Group managing director Anand Sankeshwar on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters prior to the launch, Reliance Communications Karnataka circle chief executive officer Vinay Singh said that PCO in moving buses was a revolutionary service being provided by the company and is the first of its kind in the nation. The service has redefined the convenience from the point of view of travellers, he said.The intention of the company is to provide round-the-clock connectivity without levying any roaming charges. It will also be the most convenient method to track vehicles for transport service providers, he revealed.

Local calls made from the mobile PCO will be charged at the rate of Rs 2 per minute and STD calls will be charged at Rs 4 per minute. ISD calls will range from Rs 10 to Rs 15 per minute depending on the destination for which the call is made. "It is a boon for national and international passengers who require constant connectivity," he said. VTN

Why Launch in Hubli
Vinay Singh stated that as the largest passenger transport service provider of the nation, VRL Group, is stationed at Hubli, the company felt it will be an ideal place to launch the mobile PCO service. As VRL has maintained a gold standard in providing service and front runner in the sector, the company wanted to move along the footprints of the VRLs success, he said.