RUPEES ONE CRORE SANCTIONED TO SAINIK SCHOOL;

Madikeri September 8, 2006

The government has sanctioned rupees one crore for Sainik school to be built at Kudige, MLA K.G.Bopaiah said.

Receiving guard of honor in the taluk level sports meet of Primary and High schools at Chettalli yesterday he said that the government is all set to start the Sainik School at Chettalli in the agriculture campus. He also disclosed that another one crore is also sanctioned for the indoor stadium at Madikeri. He opined that the sports talents at Kodagu are rid of opportunities to grow and the indoor stadium will work as a boon to the youngsters here.

Bopaiah disclosed that the Sainik School will start functioning from this December in a private building and the construction work will begin soon.

Meanwhile, Vandemataram was sung in chorus to mark its centenary.

Lt.Col.K.T.Ponnappa presided over the meet. Taluk Panchayath president Kishore Kumar inaugurated the sports meet. DDPI Mohammed Basheer lit the lamp.

ELECTION FOR PLANNING COMMITTEE HELD;

Ten members were elected yesterday for the district p[lanning committee.

In a closely fought election,. BJP secured 5 seats, Congress 3 and JDs 2.

The election was conducted by the Zilla Panchayath.

Tension prevailed in congress circle as one of their official candidate, M.K.Nanjappa was defeated, much against the agreed pattern of voting. However, another member from congress replaced his place.

ZP members K.Anitha, Manu Muthappa, K.Dhrmaja, Lokeshwari Gopal, Meena Kumari, Sanjay Jivijaya, Deergakeshi Shivanna, K.R.Sundaramma and P.B.Manjula are the elected candidates.

The committee which will function with ZP president in chair will have Mp and MLAs as its members.

FOREST DEPARTMENT ACCUSED FOR WILD LIFE ATTACKS;

In a mass discussion organized by a private TV channel “TV 9” here yesterday, the participants felt that the dual decisions by the forest department and negligent attitudes are the main causes for the wild life menace in the district. Elected representatives, politicians, journalists and merchants took part in the discussion.

Speaking on the occasion, former minister M.C.Nanaiah told that increase in the population of both men and animals is the main reason for the problem. MLA K.G.Bopaiah stated that the forest department has converted thick forests into Teak forests, lending animals food less. Obviously they are entering into villages and towns, he observed.

MLC Arun Machaiah stated that though Kodagu has about five thousand hectares of forest, it is not remaining like forest andlooks like plantation due to the dual acts of the forest department.

The participants spat fire against the forest department and said that it has failed to implement several schemes since decades, sanctioned to control elephant menace. There is no proper drinking water or food for the animals inside the forest, they observed.

TV programme anchor Radika and Bharadwaj were present.