PLASTIC BANNED IN TOURIST SPOTS;

Madikeri November 7, 2007

The district administration has banned using plastic in tourist spots and in towns, the Deputy Commissioner said.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, DC Niranjan said that plastic is banned in all the tourist spots in Kodagu, including Bhagamandala, Talacauvery, Abbi falls, rajas seat, Fort premises and other places.

He informed that a decision to ban plastic was taken in a meeting of the Single Window held recently. Instructions were issued to police, revenue and other departments to implement the order strictly. Those who use plastic would be fined on the spot.

FLAG HOISTING CONDEMNED;

Flag hoisting by the taluk administration at Somwarpet was condemned by the Taluk Panchayath meeting yesterday.

Meeting chaired by president Githa Basappa responded to the remarks by the members and passed a resolution condemning the act of officials led by Tahasildar in hoisting Kannada flag on Rajyotsava day.

Taluk Panchayath had supported boycotting rajyotsava celebration to press the demands of Kodagu and urging the government to take back the two circulars passed with reference to the Jamma land. Taluk administration held a function by hoodwinking the protestors. Former MLA Appachu Ranjan arrived at the spot and tore the speech copy of the tahasildar and tied a black ribbon to the flag post.

Meeting entered into verbal fight over the issue of fake land records issued to beneficiaries by the then Tahasildar and staff. Members shouted stating that houseless people are suffering with no houses even though they were allotted with houses. While the incident of misappropriation by the then tahasildar and officials is being investigated by CoD, members urged to provide houses to the suffering beneficiaries immediately.

Meeting discussed drinking water shortage at valnoor Tyagathur, distribution of seedlings to beneficiaries and other problems haunting the taluk.

FISHERIES DIRECTOR TACKLED IN TP;

The Virajpet taluk Panchayath meeting held at Ponnampet yesterday pulled the fisheries department assistant director Priya.

Priya was questioned by the president Sarita Poonacha as the members strongly objected to incidents of allotting rupees forty thousand to those who have houses whereas the scheme was to give it to the roofless people taking up rearing of fishes and other connected schemes. Priya denied having misused the schemes and said that one such file was passed during her absence and one Hottengada Ramesh was considered as a beneficiary. However his benefit was with held, she informed.

The meeting condemned the sub standard work by Nirmitha Kendra, Kushalnagar which has built the Anganavadi building. President said that the construction work would be handed over to the Zilla Pnachayath engineering department.

NOW, FATHER ATTACKS CHILDREN;

Close on the heels of a mother killing her daughter at Siddapur, a father tried to kill his two children and wife at Pemmadu village near Virajpet.

The incident occurred on the night of 5th. For a reason yet to be known, a sword wielding father T.Poonacha barged into house and tried to kill his wife preetu by attacking her with a sword. Preetu escaped. But her two children were asleep. Poonacha hit his two year old baby Rohith and four year old Yashaswi. Rohith has deep cuts at his neck and face and Yashaswis jaw is cut. Both are hospitalized and Rohith is fighting for his life.

Police arrested Poonacha and sent him to judicial custody.