We are making a 'Go Green' statement: Zoo Director

Mysore, July 29 (JP)-"On one hand, the addition of four more battery-operated vehicles to the Zoo's fleet of five such vehicles means that more tourists, particularly the elderly, little children and those pressed for time will now be able to fully see the Zoo and on the other hand, we are sending a message that these vehicles are eco-friendly, non-polluting and being soundless do not distress animals," said K.B. Markandeya, Zoo Executive Director.

Speaking to SOM, he said the idea is to encourage more people to go in for environment-friendly vehicles instead of petrol or diesel vehicles. On being asked whether these vehicles would also be used for conservation education trips for visitors, Markandeya said that as of now, this had not been thought of. "We already have a Zoo Outreach Programme apart from the regular environmental education programmes. But we may think of more such options in the future."

The battery-operated vehicle is silent and it can turn in tight corners with effortless ease. The natural tendency of prey animals is to stray to the far side whenever visitors crowd against the railings. But when the viewer is in the vehicle, he or she can view without the animal becoming distressed and moving away.

The seating capacity is between 7 and 14 and each vehicle covers 3.5 kms in an hour. The tariff is Rs. 80 for an adult and Rs. 40 for children and seniors.

The battery-powered vehicles were launched yesterday by Nanjundaswamy, Chairman, Karnataka Zoo Authority.

Later, Nanjundaswamy accompanied by M.N. Jayakumar, Member Secretary, Markandeya and others took a ride in the vehicle.

According to Markandeya, some 300 persons make use of the battery-powered vehicles everyday fetching the Mysore Zoo a revenue of Rs. 1.2 lakh daily.

Mysore, July 29 (KCU)- With a view to celebrate this year's Dasara in a grand manner, Mayor Sandesh Swamy has announced that a special Dasara grant of Rs. 20 crore will be sought from the Chief Minister.

Addressing a press meet here today at his office, Sandesh Swamy however regretted that the special Dasara grant was usually released at the last moment, thus hampering the preparations for the festival. He sought an early release of funds for better planning and execution.

New concepts

Highlighting the new concepts on the anvil for Dasara, Sandesh Swamy said, "It is proposed to commission about 12 mobile toilets for the benefit of tourists and to maintain hygiene. Tenders have been invited for the supply of battery-operated bicycles for tourists to commute freely. Introduction of Sarots will be a boost to the heritage."

Bangalore, July 29 (MRS)- Karnataka State Lorry Owners Association President Shanmukhappa today announced that lorry owners in South India will go on strike from midnight of Aug. 1. They are demanding reduction in the toll rate which was hiked recently.

Addressing the media here today, Shanmukhappa said that lorry owners throughout India would join the strike from Aug. 6 if the governments in South India did not respond to the demands of lorry owners.

The strike would indeed hit the commercial activity in South India and may lead to hike in prices of essential commodities.

Chamarajanagar, July 29 (MRS)- Here is a Swamiji who himself dances and makes his disciples to dance while learning yoga in a special camp.

Sri Basavananda Swamiji of Mahamane in Managundi of Dharwad District is conducting a nature cure and yoga camp since July 12, which will conclude on Aug. 10.

More than 700 men and women, young and old, are participating in the camp enjoying the atmosphere as the Swamiji asks them to dance to the tune of popular Kannada film songs including "Hange kuniro, hinge kuniro..." from film 'Jogi'. Swamiji himself joins his disciples while dancing before the yoga classes begin.

Sri Basavananda says dance is an integral part of spiritualism. He quotes Lord Basaveswara who in one of his vachanas says, "Legs are not tired if one dances."

The camp is attracting people belonging to various strata of society and professions from neighbouring taluks also. Teachers, students, doctors, traders, government employees and housewives are attending the camp being held at Shivakumara Swami Bhavan.

The Swamiji teaches the method of fasting to lose weight and shed obesity. The Swamiji fixes durations for fast: for some it is 7 days, while for some others 9 days. There will also be durations of 11 days and 21 days. During the fast, the participants should consume only honey and water and nothing else. Swamiji's camps are popularly known as 'Upavasada shibira' (camp for fasting).

The camp begins daily at 5.30 am with yoga and pranayama classes which conclude at 7 am. There will be counselling by the Swamiji between 9 am and 11 am. The Swamiji delivers discourses between 6.30 pm and 8 pm.

Chetan Guruji, a Yoga expert, is assisting the Swamiji. It is a free camp.

Sri Basavananda Swamiji has conducted 4,500 such camps all over the State and neighbouring States. It is not boring as the participants are encouraged to dance.

Cong. Padayatra Day-5

Tumkur, July 29 (MRS)- Congress leaders and activists continued their padayatra to enter Tumkur yesterday despite rains.

After meeting Dr. Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt and seeking his blessings, the leaders and activists stayed overnight in Tumkur.

The yatra resumed from Tumkur this morning. Folk troupes like dollu kunitha and veeragase accompanied the padayatris. Activists from Kanakapura participated in padayatra carrying huge flags. An open vehicle carried activists of Seva Dal rendering bhajans. After covering 23 kms, the activists will stay overnight near Sira.

The padayatris will have lunch at Kola village in the afternoon.

RVD's demand

KPCC President R.V. Deshpande has urged the Chief Minister to take action against Minister Sriramulu who is making obscene speeches after ton suring his head.

He wryly remarked that the Chief Minister was afraid of taking action against Sriramulu.

KPCC Working President D.K. Shivakumar claimed that the padayatra has been transformed into a people's movement.

Allege release of KRS water to TN

Mandya, July 29 (NKP&KMC)- A large group of farmers staged a road-block on the busy Mysore-Bangalore highway here this morning, protesting over the State Government's move to "stealthily release" water from KRS reservoir to Tamil Nadu.

The farmers, led by Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), burnt tyres and blocked the highway at Induvalu village, causing traffic to halt on both sides for almost an hour. The farmers, holding aloft sugarcane stalks, shouted slogans against the government and demanded that the existing water level be retained for irrigating the farms in the State.

Meanwhile, another group of about a hundred farmers began rasta-roko at Sanjay Circle here throwing traffic out of gear on Mysore-Bangalore Highway. They urged the Government to stop releasing water to TN and instead release it to Visvesvaraya Canal for agricultural activities.

The farmers led by Mandya District Raitha Sangha Vice-President Marichannegowda and General Secretary Suresh chanted slogans against the Government. Hundreds of vehicles from Bangalore and Mysore were stranded on either side.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists also joined the stir. After staging symbolic rasta-roko at Sanjay Circle led by their President Chidambar and Secretary Kodihalli Srinivas, they proceeded to Ashok Nagar and laid siege to Cauvery Niravari Nigam.

No water to TN: Minister Bommai

Bangalore, July 29 (MRS)- Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai today clarified that water from KRS is not being released to Tamil Nadu.

Reacting to the Mandya farmers' rasta roko today alleging release of KRS water to TN though the reservoir was not full, Bommai said that it was excess water that was being released for the use of Mandya farmers and drinking purpose for Mysore city. "We are stopping that also," he added.

Promising to protect the interests of the farmers, Bommai said, "The farmers should not be misled by rumours. There is no need for anxiety."

Mysore, July 29 (KK&DM)- State BJP General Secretary and Spokesperson C.T. Ravi has challenged the Congressmen who are demanding dissolution of the Assembly, making way for fresh elections.

Addressing a press meet at Hotel Guru Residency on JLB Road here this morning, Ravi alleged that illegal mining commenced during the Congress regime many years ago.

"The Congressmen, falsely claiming that illegal mining operations are going on during the BJP rule, have launched a Bangalore-Bellary pada-yatra," said Ravi.

"The BJP will hold massive conventions at four places to counter the Congress allegations and unmask its leaders," Ravi said.

"The first convention will be held at Davanagere on Aug. 2, which will be followed by conventions at Gulbarga on Aug. 5, at Mysore on Aug. 12 and at Bellary on Aug. 20," he said.

Continuing, Ravi said the State Government does not believe in the CBI as it is controlled directly by the Union government. "Also, there are many instances when the Congress has misused the CBI. As such, the CBI is often called as Chor Bazar Institute," he ridiculed.

MCC Commissioner clarifies to Dist. Minister

Mysore, July 29 (KMC)- "The practice of carrying night soil does not exist in Mysore city," clarified Mysore City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner K.S. Raikar to District In-Charge Minister S. Suresh Kumar yesterday.

The information was given by Raikar during a video-conference conducted by the Minister to review the progress of 7 City Corporations of the State simultaneously, during which the Minister sought information pertaining to reports in the media about the inhuman practice.

A few newspapers had reported about the existence of the practice in Mysore, following the incident of Bhangi community members staging a protest by pouring night soil over themselves in Savanur of Haveri district.

Raikar told the Minister that following reports about the existence of the practice in Rajivnagar, Mahadevapura and K.R. Mill areas of the city, he, along with the Mayor and other officials had visited the areas, conducted inspection and sought information from the residents. "Nobody has said that the practice exists here," he said.

Raikar further said that twin septic tanks had been provided even for houses constructed on the outskirts of the city, under the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Project and added that the tanks are cleaned years later after they become decomposed and dry. "This cleaning process cannot be termed as night soil carrying," he said and stated that cleaning of sewage drains had been mechanised, for which the MCC possessed the necessary equipment.

Educational programmes

"Under the educational programmes for SC and ST, a sum of Rs. 16.7 crore has been spent as against the Rs. 14.40 crore grant earmarked in the last financial year," Raikar said and claimed that Mysore city had attained 100 per cent progress under the programme to provide vocational training to the children of Pourakarmikas and other facilities.

"Under the Self-Assessment Scheme (property taxes), a sum of Rs. 2,129 lakh has been recover-ed. Rs. 410 lakh has been collected through water taxes, Rs. 19.95 lakh collected through selling advertisement spaces in the city and Rs. 133 lakh from building permits," Raikar told the Minister.

Mysore, July 29 (RK&DM)- The MUDA general meeting held yesterday gave the nod for MUDA's ambitious 'Namma Mane' scheme which envisaged housing for the poor.

The meeting held under the Chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Harsha Gupta, who is also the MUDA Chairman, unanimously gave its approval for the scheme. A project report on distributing houses proposed to be built in Lalitadripura, R.T. Nagar and Vijayanagar 4th Stage to the genuinely poor people, subject to certain conditions, was placed before the meeting.

The meeting also discussed the Rs. 11 crore Chamundi Vihar Stadium overall development project, following which it was approved to grant Rs. 5 crore for the project and to seek the rest Rs. 6 crore from the Government and MCC.

The meeting which also discussed recovery of balance money due to the MUDA out of the sale of CA sites and construction of buildings at these sites in violation of the norms, came up with a suggestion on taking up this issue at its next meeting.

MLAs H.S. Shankaralingegowda, Tanveer Sait, S.A. Ramdas and M. Satyanarayan, MLCs Sandesh Nagaraj, Marithibbegowda, Siddaraju, Thontadarya, Prof. Mallikarjunappa, Chikkamadu, G. Madhusudhan and other members attended the meeting.

MUDA Commissioner P.C. Jayanna, Secretary Ravikumar, Superintending Engineer Shivakumar, Executive Engineer Veerabhadraiah, City Planning member M.N. Kumar and other officials took part in the meeting.

Wordy duel

Meanwhile, it is learnt that MLCs Sandesh Nagaraj and Marithibbegowda had a wordy duel in connection with a CA site at yesterday's MUDA meeting.

Marithibbegowda took strong objection just as Sandesh Nagaraj came forward to explain his stand on the controversy over a CA site that was allotted during his tenure as MUDA Chairman, following which heated exchanges broke out between the two.

The situation calmed down when other members and officials intervened to pacify the two warring members, it is learnt.

Ramanagar, July 29 (MRS)- The aide of the controversial Swami Nityananda got more than what he had bargained for.

Nityabhaktananda, International Secretary of Dhyanapeetha, had to face the wrath of media persons for passing some remarks against the media on Monday.

Addressing the media, Nityabhaktananda alleged that the media was creating reports to tarnish the image of Dhyanapeetha which was established by Nityananda Swamiji to promote meditation, peace and tolerance.

He threatened to take legal action against the media which indulged in anti-propaganda.

Nityabhaktananda took to task some media persons for publishing false reports that the programme of distributing uniforms to 1008 school children on Guru Purnima did not take place.

He clarified that uniforms were distributed to kids who attended the programme. Remaining uniforms were sent to schools of the children who could not attend.

He regretted that some media persons were publishing or airing only negative reports about every activity of the Dhyanapeetha without verifying facts.

He criticised a Tamil TV channel which announced that it would telecast a CD to prove that the Swamiji had relationship with another actress.

"Instead of the CD, the channel covered Guru Purnima celebrations. It shows that there was a conspiracy to subject the Swamiji to character assassination," he alleged.

Nityabhaktananda advised the print and visual media to project the service programmes of Dhyanapeetha instead of indulging in sensationalism just to boost their circulation and number of viewers.

He threatened that the Dhya-napeetha would be forced to take action against those media companies which indulge in character assassination.

This threat angered the media persons who took Nityabhakta-nanda to task for attacking the media instead of giving clarifications. Nityabhaktananda, who did not expect this kind of reaction, remained dumbfounded.

Vokkaliga Welfare Committee District President Chikkalur Krishnappa, Dhyanapeetha Public Relations Officer Nityasevananda and Nityananda Swamiji's Personal Secretary Pranananda Swamiji were present.

Mysore, July 29 (Ab&KMC)- Shivaraj Thangadagi, Minister for Agricultural Marketing and Sugar, announced here the intention of opening an engineering college in Bangalore for students haling from Bovi community, which he said, was very backward in the State.

Addressing a meeting of the community members at Jaladarshini Government Guest House in city yesterday, the Minister called on the leaders of the community to strive together for the upliftment of their fellow community members.

"There are many educational institutions of other communities in the State which have been helpful for many. But the Bovi community has neither such institutions nor any Mutts or other religious organisations of their own," Thangadagi pointed out and assured of working towards the community’s progress whose population was barely 5,000.

"All the leaders of the community have to work together to bring the backward community to the mainstream society," he said and deplored the notion of constituting Associations as they would become politicised and turn counter-productive.

Pattabhisheka

It was decided at the meeting to conduct the much-awaited Pattabhisheka mahotsava and State-level convention of the Bovi community. Pattabhisheka will be held on Aug. 22 at Navanagara of Bagalkote district and Immadi Siddharameshwara Swami's Peetarohana will be held on Aug. 29 in Chitradurga, announced the Minister.

Corporator and President of the State Bovi Community Awareness Committee Somasundar, Vice-President Chandru, Secretaries Srinivas and Narayan and leader Ramakrishna were present.

Over 250 kids interact with clowns on stage

Mysore, July 29 (JP)- Over 250 children of all sizes witnessed the performance of the children's play, "The Clowns Cry for the Moon," yesterday at Bhoomigeetha. The play was performed by the well-known Delhi-based children's theatre company, Khilona in association with Rangayana.

This English play, directed by V.K. Sharma, is about a little girl, a single child of working parents. Since she does not have a sibling at home, she uses her imagination as a tool to fill the gap ! The play is fun-filled and in a unique departure, the audience were encouraged to get on stage and perform with the actors. The young audience were also taught songs as a part of the play and there was a sing-along session whenever a song was sung.

While the children were from Kautilya Vidyalaya, DMS and Vijaya Vitthala Vidyashala, there were also 40 children from the Mysore Spastic Society.

Khilona was the brainchild of three National School of Drama (NSD) alumni — Amita Udgata, V.K. Sharma and late Subhash Udgata. Established in 1987 in Delhi, Khilona has created a new movement for professional theatre for children in India.

It collaborated with NSD in 1989, to set up the Sanskar Rang Toli, a group of adults performing for children, leading to the emergence of at least 10 to 12 groups who have taken up the cause for promoting professional theatre for children by adults.

Khilona’s repertoire is eclectic ranging from Alexander Pushkin, Ibsen, Bhasa, Bertolt Brecht etc. So far they have done 3000 performances of its 12 productions in over 400 schools in 24 towns of India, catering to an audience of over 10 lakh children, teachers and parents.

Sharma has in various interviews said: "People don’t realise that there are two types of theatre for children — one is done with children performing in it, and another one theatre for children performed by adults."

Theatre done for children is more important as it gives children a unique exposure to professional theatre, which according to Sharma is the need of the hour.

"Theatre is the only form of art which teaches to think and live differently. If reached out to children, it would help them to grow in a very different way with a different approach towards life. It is a mere ritual. Children like adults should be offered regular theatre shows. Theatre enriches a child's emotional world and enhances aesthetic sensibility. Unfortunately, in India, children's theatre is the most neglected art form," he says.

Ranga Kishora

Speaking to SOM this morning, Rangayana Director Lingadevaru Halemane said the children's theatre Ranga Kishora will soon become a reality.