RAIN RELATED DEATH TOLL TOUCHES FIVE;

MADIKERI August 11, 2007

A villager was swept away by floods in Kodagu raising the toll to five since the onset of monsoon.

Ganesh, 57, son of late Manjapura Cariappa was swept away by current at Narianda village yesterday evening. The incident occurred as he was crossing a make shift wooden bridge. The stream he was crossing was overflowing.

MLA K.G.Bopaiah, Zilla Panchayath president Ashok visited the spot. Bopaiah assured to release rupees one lakh to the bereaved family from the government.

Meanwhile Flood situation in the district is calming down as the pressure of rainfall is reduced since last night. But reports of damage are continuing with two house damage at Madikeri. An overnight landslide has damaged the house of one Vasanth at Mangaladevinagar and another house belonging to Arul Das in the town.

SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTRE TO KODAGU;

A sub regional science research centre will come up in Kodagu according to Vidyashankar, state secretary to Kodagu.

Touring the rain affected places today, Vidyashankar said that the science centre will be started at Madikeri and the district in charge minister Ramachandra Gowda will lay foundation stone on August 15th at Karnangeri, near Madikeri.

Addressing scribes he said that the centre is a joint project of centre and state governments at a cost of rupees 2.6 crores. 2.4 acres of land is identified for this purpose, he said.

He opined that the district has incurred heavy loss due to flood situations. Cardamom, the main crop in Shanthalli area is almost perished and it needs replantation. Stating that he has received request from the planters for cardamom re plantation, he said that the proposal has to be sent to central government.

Referring to the shifting of private bustand to Agriculture Research station land at madikeri, he said that the Sation has put forth certain conditions and a decision will be taken in the senate meeting.

Deputy Commissioner Niranjan and other officials were present.

KODAGU TO BOYCOT INDEPENDENCE DAY PROGRAMME;

Madikeri August 11, 2007

Kodagu Astitva Horata Samity (Kodagu existence committee) has decided to boycott all government programmes on Independence Day to protest against the forest circular.

Holding a meeting yesterday in Bangalore, the leaders of Kodagu served an ultimatum of August 15th to reverse the forest department circular barring right of owners over the tree grown in their lands. The regretted that though the chief minister had announced in the sessions that the circular along with that of Jamma land would be reversed, the government did not keep up the promise.

Former minister M.C.Nanaiah stated that people of Kodagu do not wish to listen to the Independence Day speech of the district in charge minister, when the government is not practical. He urged the members to boycott such functions.

MLA K.G.Bopaiah stated that it is inevitable that they should fight for a separate state.

M.C.Nanaiah and MLC Arun Machaiah vouched their support to this statement.

ELEPHANT ATTACK CONTINUES;

While the forest department is going in and out of the Kodagu – Hassan border forest areas to catch two rogue elephants, herds of elephants are continuing damage to crop and trying to kill people in many parts.

Close on the heels of a Gram panchayath secretary was attacked by an elephant at nanjarayapatna few days ago; another person was attacked at Siddapur yesterday.

Thimmaiah, 30, was attacked by a tusker at his maize farm in the wee hours. He was guarding the maize plantation from elephants while the incident occurred. The tusker lifted him with its trunk and threw him to a distance. He was brought to madikeri with multiple fractures.

The natives of Siddapur – Karadigodu said that the elephant has killed a person just a month ago in the same region and forest department has to find a permanent solution to rid them of elephant menace.