1. Disqualified MLA Demands Division of Mysuru
With an eye on the December 5 byelections, disqualified MLA AH Vishwanath on Monday urged the government to carve out a new district with Hunsur as its headquarters by dividing Mysuru district. He also urged the government to name the new district after former chief minister Devraj Urs.
Vishwanath met chief minister BS Yediyurappa in Bengaluru and submitted a memorandum stating that dividing Mysuru district would benefit people besides providing administrative convenience. “With eight taluks and Mysuru city population crossing 12 lakh, officials are finding it difficult manage day-today administration,” Vishwanath said.
He said the new district could comprise Hunsur, KR Nagar, Periyapatna, HD Kote and Sargur taluks. He also suggested carving out new Saligrama taluk by dividing KR Nagar taluk. The former minister said he would discuss the proposal with elected representatives from these five taluks.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. ED Summons Shivakumar’s Wife, Mother
Congress leader DK Shivakumar’s troubles appear far from over. Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, who grilled his brother DK Suresh, a Congress MP, and daughter DS Aishwarya, have now summoned Shivakumar’s wife Usha and mother Gowramma for questioning in connection with the money laundering case registered against the former minister.
While Gowramma has been asked to appear in Delhi on Tuesday (October 15), his wife Usha has been told to appear on Thursday (October 17). Gowramma, citing her age, has reportedly requested the ED to conduct the interrogation in Bengaluru. She is 80.
“There has been no reply from ED officials yet,” said a close confidante of Shivakumar.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Airtel Booked for Damaging Asphalted Road
A case has been filed against Airtel by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for damaging Bannerghatta Road, which was asphalted recently, to lay an optic fibre cable (OFC).
Based on a complaint by BBMP’s engineer from the Road Infrastructure Department, the Hulimavu police on Sunday filed an FIR against the telecom company, charging them under Karnataka Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and also under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
In his complaint, H.C. Krishna Kumar, BBMP engineer, said the particular stretch that was dug up to lay OFC was widened and asphalted around six months ago.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Heavy Rains Cause Partial Collapse of Hampi Heritage Structure
Heavy rains in Karnataka’s Ballari district over the last few days have damaged one of the structures at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi. According to police officials, a portion of the 16-pillar salu mantapa, located near the Virupaksha Temple, collapsed on Sunday.
An official at the Hampi Police Station said, “Due to the recent rains, eight out of the 16 pillars of the structure have fallen. There was continuous rain for 2-3 hours, which led to the loosening of the soil beneath the structure. There are no barriers or supporting structures. Even before the rains, the pillars had started leaning.”
He added, “We will be informing the Archaeological Survey of India. No restoration work has begun as of now.”
(Source: The News Minute)
5. Rats, Bedbugs Haunt Corridors of Power
The stench of dead rats had some visiting dignitaries as well as Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa scurrying for cover at the Vidhana Soudha on Monday.
Four official meetings of the Chief Minister had to be shifted from an air-conditioned committee room (313) to the Chief Minister’s official chamber because the stench of dead rats and bedbug menace made it impossible to sit there.
As per the agenda of the Chief Minister, four official meetings were fixed at the committee room located on the third floor of the Vidhana Soudha between 10.30 a.m. and 11.45 a.m. But it was abruptly shifted, as senior officials felt it would be wiser to do so than subject the Chief Minister and the dignitaries to the smell and possibly bites too.
(Source: The Hindu)
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