A campaign to create awareness among the rural masses to help them overcome malnutrition has been launched in Hassan district by the Department of Information, Government of Karnataka.

Eight publicity units, 10-12 streetplay troupes and around 24 department officials, besides local publicity officers are engaged in the campaign. During the publicity campaign, eight publicity units are visiting two villages a day to cover all the 160 villages in eight taluks and are creating awareness on nutritional issues through streetplays, film shows, exhibition and folk songs, Assistant Director of Information of Mysore G Chandrakanth said on Sunday.

Power utilities accused of not adhering to electricity rules.

Recommends withdrawal of forest clearance

The Elephant Task Force constituted by the High Court has recommended cancellation of the lease granted to mushrooming mini hydel power projects in the Western Ghats, particularly in Sakleshpur region. Contrary to the contentions that there is not much forest cover in Sakleshpur region where some mini hydel power plants have been permitted, the report states that 65 per cent of the landscape is under forest cover and lies along the crest line of the Western Ghats.

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday ordered issue of notice to the State and Union governments on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions for fixing minimum support price (MSP) for all agricultural crops and also for setting up agriculture price commission.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikaramjit and Justice B.V. Nagarathna passed the order on the petition filed by H.T. Huchchappa, a farmer from Hassan. The petitioner pointed out that MSP had been fixed only for turmeric and copra.

Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), a subsidiary of Lanco Infratech Ltd, has commenced commercial operation of its second unit of 600 Mw in Udupi district of Karnataka. The company had synchronised the second unit a month ago with the grid and was waiting for the completion of 400 Kv transmission line between Nandikur and Hassan.

According to Panduranga Rao, Director and CEO, UPCL, the power project was completed about one and a half years ago and there was no evacuation of power due to the absence of 400 Kv transmission line.

Agitation for cultivators’ right to land ownership yet to reach logical end

The death of Bagair Hukum cultivator Thimmaraju at Mekerahalli in Sira taluk of the district on Wednesday has rekindled the agitation in the Bagair Hukum farmers (those cultivating land sans legal ownership). Thimmaraju had consumed poison along with three other farmers who are demanding that they be given title deeds of the land they have been cultivating for over two decades now.

It emphasises growing less water-intensive crops, fodder during low rainfall and soil testing

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) has come up with a contingency crop plan for southern Karnataka to tackle drought. UAS Vice-Chancellor Dr K Narayana Gowda said the contingency crop plan submitted to the State government lays stress on growing alternative crops and cultivating choices that are in tune with rainfall and soil fertility in the region. “The focus of the plan is on south interior Karnataka as the region accounts for a major share of State’s agriculture production. Moreover,

Life affected in many parts of State; standing crops damaged

Heavy rainfall has been lashing the entire Kodagu since Sunday paralysing normal life in the district even as major rivers Cauvery and Lakshmanateertha are in spate threatening to flood the low-lying areas. A few houses have collapsed. Water from the Lakshmanateertha and Kakkattu rivers have entered certain villages in Srimangala and T. Shettigeri areas and vast areas of paddy fields and coffee plantations have been inundated. Some people who were stranded at some houses were rescued by the river rafting team members in Srimangala on Monday. Inflow has increased into Irpu river at Irpu falls following heavy rainfall.

Maruthi Power Gen diverted from original plan, says PCCF report

The Maruthi Power Gen (India) Private Limited which is setting up a mini hydel project near Hongadahalla in Sakaleshpur has tried to mislead the High Court on the extent of the project site, according to a report of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The High Court on June 18 directed the Forest Department to take a decision on cancelling the land lease of the private agency for alleged violation of green norms.