My-Karwar-4-U

British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka -Richard Hyde to visit Karwar on March 7

2011-03-03T22:20:00.001+05:30

British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka, Richard Hyde, will visit Karwar on March 7, according to a press release from the British Deputy High Commission, Bangalore. He will meet senior government officials and those well-known in media and business circles and prominent citizens in Uttara Kannada.

According to the release, he will hold discussions on regional issues, political and social aspects of Karwar in general and Uttara Kannada in particular. This is to improve his understanding of the region's social, economic, cultural and political trends and developments. Officials of the British Deputy High Commission in Bangalore have visited Karwar and completed the formalities. They met the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and the zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer of Uttara Kannada and held discussions about the visit of Mr. Hyde.

News in SahilOnline and The Hindu

Earlier in The Hindu and in Times of India - British Deputy High Commission established at Bangalore

Bangalore: The city now has a new British Deputy High Commission which was inaugurated by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Thursday. British Deputy High Commissioner Richard Hyde told press-persons here that Bangalore and Karnataka, more widely, have greatly increased in importance to the U.K. “We have retained a strong trade relationship, but we also now enjoy wider and deeper academic and cultural links. The political economy of Karnataka is of tremendous importance to the wider bilateral relationship, and the State is well represented in the Union Government. A key part of my role will be to engage with political leaders and commentators of every persuasion throughout the State,” he said.

The U.K. had recognised the importance of Bangalore long before the others and invested in developing a strong commercial relationship. “But the wider political economy, culture, academic, science and technology communities in Karnataka are the key to Britain’s relationship with India. In the coming months, the British Deputy High Commission will focus on engaging with these groups,” he added.

About the High Commission’s Climate Change Programme in India, he said that the programme was focussed on promotion of a “low carbon, high growth” economy. “This includes supporting development and expansion of renewable energy, energy efficiency and enabling policies. We are assessing the feasibility of promotion of renewable energy in several States, including Karnataka. We hope to work with civil society organisations, think tanks and businesses to look at ways of using industrial innovation to mitigate the impact of climate change,” he said.

The British Deputy High Commission, he said, would organise more outreach events in cities across the State, including Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad and Mangalore. “We will be holding a British event in Mangalore in October, the first of what I hope will be many outreach events,” he added.

Later, the Governor welcomed the opening of the new Deputy High Commission. “The relations between India and the United Kingdom are historic. We are similar on various counts. For example, our legal system and civil services are gifts of the British. We also speak the same language,” he said.

Richard Hyde, British deputy high commissioner to Karnataka, visited Mangalore and met officials of the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office on Wednesday March 25 2009. - Daiji World

Uttara Kannada is ideal for tourism and health projects

Uttara Kannada district has several scenic spots that draw tourists. There is good scope for investors to invest money on tourism and health-related projects, said Richard Hyde, Deputy British High Commissioner to India. He was speaking to media persons on Sunday night during his visit to Karwar to explore the business opportunity in Uttara Kannada.
- Sahilonline.org

Another Govt Imposed Project on Karwar - with a Happy Ending...

2011-01-26T11:23:00.000+05:30

Fishermen on Monday owed to oppose handing over of the beach land to the Coast Guard and construction of a helipad there. They declared that they would launch a struggle to protect their right to use the seashore. They took out a silent procession in Karwar under the banner of Harikantra-Karvi Fisheries Cooperative Society. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, the fishermen said that they had been carrying out fishing activities for generations on the Karwar beach. The beach was being used to dry fish, and keep their boats and nets. The memorandum referred to the report of Swaminathan committee which favoured strict enforcement of CRZ rules. Even the Supreme Court had directed the Government to provide protection to people who lived in the forests and on the beaches and banks of rivers, it said.
http://www.sahilonline.org/english/news.php?cid=1&nid=10071

Several social and fishermen organizations have threatened to launch an agitation against handing over part of Karwar beach to the Indian Coast Guard. Members of 10 organizations on Friday said when thousands of acres of unused acquired land are with the defence ministry in Karwar, what was the necessity of handing over civilian area, that too without taking Karwar residents into confidence? They demanded that the order be cancelled immediately.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Karwar-fishermen-up-in-arms/articleshow/7288025.cms

Members of the fishermen community on Monday took out a huge procession in Karwar to protest against the construction of the Coast Guard office and helipad on Karwar beach. Fishermen under the banner of Harikantra Karvi Fisheries Co-operative Society began their silent protest march from Mitra Samaj ground and culminated at deputy commissioner's office. The protesters also wore a black ribbon as a mark of protest. In a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, the fishermen said they have been conducting traditional fishing activities for generations at the Karwar beach. Apart from fishing activities, the beach is used to park boats and store their nets. Most of the fishermen use the beach to dry their fish before selling it, they said. They said some vested interests were creating one problem or the other to the community by bringing new projects to the beaches and opposed the move of the district administration, which had sanctioned a part of the beach land to some private companies and the Coast Guard. The memorandum cited the report of Swaminathan Committee which had demanded the strict enforcement of the CRZ rules. Even the Supreme Court in its judgment in 2000, had directed the government to provide protection to the people who live in forests and near the sea and beaches and on the banks of the rivers, thereby protecting the bio-diversity and natural resources. The fishermen `alleged' that by handing over 16 acres of the beach to the Coast Guard, the fishermen community will be left in the lurch. The Coast Guard has put up the boards on the beach prohibiting the entry of the people on the land and has violated the fundamental rights of the fishermen, the memorandum said. Deputy commissioner B N Krishnaiah received the memorandum and assured them that he would take the issue to the notice of the government. Fishermen leaders Gaja Surangekar, Prasad Karwarkar, P M Tandel and Ravindra Pawar addressed the protesters.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Fishermen-hold-protest-against-land-allotment/articleshow/7356136.cms

Indian government notifies new coastal regulation zone

In a move that could protect the livelihood of seven million fishing families, promote economic activity in the coastal region and preserve coastal ecology, the Ministry of Environment and Forest notified the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 2011. The new notification replaces CRZ 1991. The minister for environment and forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh said that “In the latest notification the ‘no development zone' is being reduced from 200 meters from the high tide line to 100 meters only to meet the increased demands of housing of fishing and other traditional coastal communities. This is one of the major differences between CRZ 2011 and CRZ 1991.” Responding to a question, the minister said that any economic activity including power plants, ports and industrial enterprises could be permitted in the coastal area. He said that “India must get used to power plants being located in water areas. They require imported coal, gas and even uranium … all this necessitates that power plants be allowed in water areas.” Economic activity will, however, not be allowed in the no development zone in the high tide line. The new CRZ has special provision for Goa, Kerala, Greater Mumbai and critically vulnerable coastal areas such as Karwar and Kundapur in Karnataka, Vembanad in Kerala, Coringa, East Godavari and Krishna Delta in Andhra Pradesh and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu among others. For the first time a separate draft island protection zone notification has been issued for protection of islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Refuting charges that the latest CRZ Act was meant to benefit anyone, the Minister said that “violations of CRZ 1991 are not being condoned. What happened in Adarsh (society in Mumbai) and others will continue to be dealt with.” The Minister said that the Ministry will next week issue directives to Coastal Zone Management Authority in the various States and Union Territories to identify all CRZ violations within the next four months and initiate necessary action within four months thereafter. Mr Ramesh also announced that the Ministry was considering setting up of a River Regulation Zone to ensure that river beds are not destroyed by construction activity.

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Indian_government_notifies_new_coastal_regulation_zone/185789.html

India’s 7,500km-long coastline will be governed by a new coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification from Friday that seeks to balance the interests of fishing communities and business. Jairam Ramesh, minister for environment and forests, said the new notification will reconcile livelihoods with coastal ecology and the promotion of economic activity. In recent months, Ramesh has been in conflict with various ministries and industry over his strict implementation of environmental laws. He said the CRZ notification 2011 demonstrates a better balance between the environment and development.

http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07222258/Coast-gets-new-code.html?atype=tp

Under the new guidelines, the entire coastline has been divided into four zones.

In zone I, which are ecologically sensitive areas such as mangrove areas of Sunderbans or turtle nesting sites, horse shoe crabs habitats and nesting grounds of birds no development activity will be allowed.

The zone II, where development has taken place close to the coasts, repair or reconstruction of old buildings and construction on landward side of existing roads will be allowed.

The third zone would be up to 200 meters of high tide line, where no new development will be allowed, except fishermen, who will be allowed development up to 100 meters of the high tide line. Repair of old structures and construction public utility services will be allowed. The zone also includes area between 200 to 500 meters of high tide line where new regulated development will be allowed.

The fourth zone would be the areas relatively undisturbed, which does not fall in zone I or II, and are mostly in rural areas. Here, all activities impugning on the area and tidal influenced water bodies will be regulated except those necessary for fishermen to carry on their traditional work.

However, the new regulations provide relaxation to special areas such as Goa, Kerala and Greater Mumbai, where environment protection has to be balanced with existing development. Here construction of roads and repair or reconstruction of old buildings will be allowed. The development works will be carried out as per town planning regulations. The state coastal zone management authorities will be required to development coastal zone management plans for these areas.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Coastal-regulations-devised/Article1-647638.aspx

Coast Guard removes board from Karwar beach - The Hindu

Bowing to pressure and agitation by fishermen, the Coast Guard on Tuesday removed the signboards put up by it on the Karwar beach.

The Coast Guard had a few days ago put up signboards on the Karwar beach, declaring that the land belonged to the Defence Department and the area was prohibited for the general public. This had kicked up a row with the public protesting against the intrusion of the Defence establishment in a civilian area. The Coast Guard had now clarified that it had availed the land on the beach legally and it would not create any problems for the public and fishermen who used the beaches. Meanwhile, some miscreants had defaced the signboards by painting it black. On Monday, the fishermen in Karwar took out a procession against the taking over of the beach by the Coast Guard authorities. The Uttara Kannada district administration had reportedly informed the Coast Guard to go slow on the issue, as public agitation and law and order problems were expected. Although the boards were removed, it was not clear whether the Coast Guard would change its idea of building the office in Karwar. Meanwhile, in a press release, the Coast Guard clarified that providing protection to fishermen and providing assistance to them at sea while in distress and to preserve and protect the maritime environment were all its duties. For fulfilling these duties, Coast Guard needs land. The Cost Guard clarified that the Rabindranath Tagore Beach did not fall under the 9.36 acres of land allotted to it by the Government. It had no plans to impinge upon the rights of the local fishermen. The presence of Coast Guard Station would cause no hindrance to the normal activities of the public on the beach. The Coast Guard Station in Mangalore was situated along the Panambur beach and Coast Guard had never caused any interruptions to fishermen or the public. Most stations of the Coast Guard functioned alongside fishing harbours or on beaches since it was the primary duty of Coast Guard to safeguard property and life at sea. It said the fishermen of Karwar need not worry about losing their livelihoods because of setting up of Coast Guard station. The beach would be out of Coast Guard's purview of operations since Coast Guard ships and boats would be berthed at Naval harbour and Karwar Port. The presence of Coast Guard Station near the fishing area or the beach would be highly helpful to the fishermen community and also to the general public in terms of coastal security.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/26/stories/2011012657180300.htm

Coast Guard cautions people against trespassing near Karwar beach Land transfer

2011-01-14T20:34:00.000+05:30

Coast Guard cautions people against trespassing near Karwar beach Land transfer

The action of the Uttara Kannada district administration of handing over the middle part of the Karwar beach to the Defence department has kicked up a new controversy. The Defence department has put up a board restricting entry to the beach.

Fourteen acres of revenue land on Karwar beach was handed over to the Coast Guard to build an office there, said K.. Narasimhamurthy, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada.

What surprised people was the secrecy maintained by the Revenue Department officials on the whole process, said Rajesh Nayak, president of the Karwar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit. After acquisition of the major part of the beaches in Karwar for the Seabird project, the people of Karwar were left with a small stretch of the beach. The Revenue Department officials should have consulted the public, fishermen and the social and political organisations before handing it over. What was the reason for secrecy that they maintained in the whole deal, said Mr. Nayak. Gaja Surangekar, a fishermen leader, said the district administration had cheated the fishermen who had been using the beaches for fishing for centuries. He said that the people came to know about the transfer of land only on Tuesday when the signboards were put up. “We will launch an agitation and never allow them to snatch our right to use the sea shore,” he said.

Ratan Durgekar, a morning jogger on the beach, criticised the officials of the district administration. He said when thousands of acres of land acquired for project Seabird still remained unused in Karwar, what was the necessity to hand over a new piece of land in the civilian area to the Defence department? He said the people living around the Seabird project area faced several restrictions. A Defence office in civilian area would create more problems for the citizens of Karwar. The Tourism Department was showcasing Karwar beach to attract tourists. About Rs. 5 crore project was prepared by the district administration itself to develop the beach. Officials of the National Highway Department, who worked on the four-lanes highway that passed through the same area were unaware of land transfer. The area where the signboard was put by the Coast Guard covered forestland.

A senior Forest Department official pleaded his ignorance about this. He said that part of land on the beach belonged to the Forest Department and survey no. 108 on the beach was a forest as per records.

The projects like “green wall” on Karwar beach was taken up by the Forest Department to stop the sea erosion, sea breeze and sand accumulation on the road. Now the Defence area in forestland might create problems to implement these projects, he said.

Many beach lovers, environmentalists and fishermen organisations have threatened to launch agitation against the district administration for handing over the beach area to the Coast Guard.

2010: A year best forgotten for Karwar - SahilOnline.org

2011-01-01T10:29:00.000+05:30

Karwar : As 2010 comes to and end, people of the district have little to cheer about, except maybe enjoy the cold winter. The district hit the headlines when forest officials under the direction of the Lokayukta, seized nearly 8 lakh tones of iron ore at Belekeri and Karwar ports in May, on the charge of illegal transportation and stacking.

This was followed by the theft of nearly 5 lakh tones of iron ore in June. These two events had shattered the iron-ore trade in the state, forcing the government to ban ore export from ports.

While the people who suffered air and water pollution generated by the transportation and stacking of the ore, were happy with the ban, the government, particularly the CM who ordered the ban, incurred the displeasure of those involved in the ore trade, including influential politicians.

The district witnessed high political drama when Anand Asnotikar revolted against Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, along with a few other colleagues, He had already caused discomfiture to the Congress leaders by joining the BJP under Operations Lotus.

He sprang a surprise again by supporting an independent candidate in ZP elections in Chendiye ZP segment in Karwar taluk.

There was turmoil when four Congress leaders, including AICC members Monte Fernandez, revolted against the leadership of RV Deshpande. Their suspension and rein-statement soon after Deshpande relinquished office as KPCC president, showed his waning influence in the party. November witnessed the fourth reactor unit of Kaiga nuclear power generating station attaining criticality. However it is certain that the unit with a generating capacity of 220 MW cannot ease the power crisis in the state.

Nearly 22,000 families who encroached forest land launched forest land launched a year long movement in the district demanding forest rights under the ST and other traditional Forest Dwellers Act of 2006. Their problem still remains unresolved.

The CM, who visited the district a couple of times, made a number of promises, including sanction of special grant of Rs 100 crore for the development of the district. The promises still remain on the paper.

A boat tragedy at Tadadi fisheries harbour in which five fishermen died, prompted the government to assure of dredging activities at all fisheries and commercial harbours in the state. Again this is yet to materialize.

Source - Sahil Online
Posted By : I.G. Bhatkali

Karwar - the new destination for this New Year - Times of India

2010-12-30T11:47:00.000+05:30

Those headed to Goa for New Year's Eve need not return home disappointed as there's a new beach destination for an alternative.

Many tourists who could not get rooms at lodges in Goa have arrived at Karwar where lodges and resorts are now houseful till January 5. Most of the resorts and the lodges in Goa were reserved almost three months in advance by tourists who wanted to ring in the New Year here. This caught tourists from Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu off guard.

Police in Goa too discourage heavy inflow of travellers on the eve of New Year as it leads to chaotic traffic and poses security problems. Once the lodges and resorts in Goa are at their full capacity, police block vehicles carrying new tourists at the border till the first week of January. The threat of a terrorist attack in Goa has also had its effect with many people opting for other places to celebrate New Year. One of them being the beaches of neighbouring Uttara Kannada. The tourists visiting Karwar are mainly fromBangalore and Mysore.

Jayant, a software engineer from Bangalore came to Goa with plans for December 31 but was left without an accommodation. So he changed routes to Karwar. Staying at a resort, he said he found the beaches of Karwar very enjoyable. "Unlike the ones in Goa, the beaches here stretch for miles. The islands in the Kali river and the scenery at the confluence of Kali and the Arabian sea are excellent," he said and plans to stay till January 2. "I intend to visit sometime next year too," he said.

For others, unavailability isn't always the case. A group of college students from Kolar came to Goa only to find that a basic room costs between Rs3000 and 5000. They too headed to Karwar. "It is cheaper here and the place is very scenic," they said.

Another tourist lamented that the state tourism department needed to do more to promote Karnataka as a holiday destination. Places like Murudeshwar and Gokarn are not far behind. With plenty of holidaymakers here, hotel owners, tourist guides and cab owners are a happy lot. That makes for a joyous note on which to end 2010.

Read more: Karwar's the new Goa - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Karwars-the-new-Goa/articleshow/7187025.cms#ixzz19ZVEFj80

Karwar and not Goa is the preferred destination for many, this year-end - Indian Express

2010-12-29T11:12:00.000+05:30

Karwar and not Goa is the destination for many Bangaloreans and Maharashtrians this year-end. There has been a heavy rush of tourists here this winter season. All resorts in town are booked up to January 2. Cashing in on the sudden boom, hotels are doing good business.

It was not too long ago that Goa was considered a tourist paradise. Karwar boasts of unparallel scenic beauty. Its 5 km long silvery beach immortalised by Rabindranath Tagore, cluster of islands in the Arabian sea, Kali river and of course the Western Ghat ranges with its green canopy protruding into the sea did not attract the tourists hitherto due to lack of facilities.

The credit goes to Uttara Kannada zilla panchayat, which first mooted the idea of exploring the tourist potential of Karwar, particularly Devabag peninsula at the mouth of the Kali. Though plans were drawn up in the early nineties, no tourism projects could be taken up here due to lack of funds. It was then the Jungle Lodges and Resorts, a state government undertaking, decided to set up a beach resort at Devbag. Later, a number of private resorts mushroomed in and around the town providing the much-needed facilities to the tourists.

It is not merely the natural splendour that attracts tourists. Karwar is ideal for seekers of peace and tranquility. It provides an exclusive escape for secrecy and solitude. It was on the beach of Karwar that Rabindranath Tagore spent a moonlit night. The beauty of the night was the inspiration for many of his literary works, Tagore wrote in his memoirs.

For adventure lovers, there are many water sports like aqua glide ride, kayaking, water scooter, speed boat ride, snorkelling and para sailing at Devbag. The rich bio diversity of Karwar attracts botanists and environmental scientists. One can ride with fishermen in their boats deep into the sea for a thrilling experience. Swimming is not dangerous in the sea, known for its sublime calmness. Karwar sea is a natural habitat for dolphins. During the boat ride one can spot the frolicking dolphins.

Local delicacies, particularly fresh sea food is a delight. “We come here because it is a place one only dreams of. It is a fit place to relax,” says a software engineer from Bangalore.

Source - http://expressbuzz.com/states/karnataka/tagore%E2%80%99s-inspiration-is-now-tourists%E2%80%99-spot/234501.html

Pune Ernakulam B Weekly Superfast Train Only One Stop In Karnataka Petition - IndianVoice.org

2010-12-02T23:51:00.000+05:30

Pune Ernakulam B Weekly Superfast Train Only One Stop In Karnataka Petition - IndianVoice.org

The Ministry of Railways on Saturday, the 27th November 2010, introduced a train connectingPune, Navi Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore and Ernakulam via Konkan Railway. Railway officials said that it will be the first train from Pune to run on Konkan Railways following a consistent demand for a regular train on this route from the Malayali community in Pune. It is among the four new ones announced in the railway budget 2010-11 by railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/others/panaji-a-new-train-on-the-konkan-railways-69138?cp

Train 2519/2520 Ernakulam -Pune-Ernakulam bi-weekly super fast express will leave Ernakulam on Tuesdays and Fridays at 5.15 am and will reach Pune at 5.50 am, next day. From Pune, this train will leave on Sundays and Wednesdays at 6.45 pm and will reach Ernakulam Junction at 7 pm the next day. This train will have stoppages at Thrissur, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kasargod, Mangalore Junction, Madgaon, Savanthavadi Road and Panvel.

Read more: Ernakulam-Pune bi-weekly from today - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Ernakulam-Pune-bi-weekly-from-today/articleshow/6996973.cms#ixzz16y4Jke1B

The newly started Pune-Ernakulam express train covers a distance of 353 kms in Karnataka. However, it has been given stops only at Mangalore Junction station. In Kerala, it covers 419 kms, but seven stops have been given there, at Kasargod, Kannur, Talassery, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shoranur and Trissur.

No Stop even at district headquarters like Udupi and Karwar, makes the people of the region to question the motive behind this neglect towards Karnataka.

Its High Time, people of Karwar stood up and demand for the Train to Stop at Karwar, which is a District H.Q. and wake up our respective Representatives...

Demand for a new Kadwad-Sunkeri Bridge

2010-11-17T22:49:00.000+05:30

This Bridge built in the year 1963 is the only nearest connecting Link to the Villagers of Kadwad to Sunkeri and Karwar town. Now it is in a very Dilapidated Condition. A demand for a new bridge was put forth by the people, but so far the Government has not acted upon it. The bridge is now dangerous even for two and three wheelers, and the people, including school and college Students, fishermen, pensioners, patients and employees, have to take a round-about route of Ten Kms to reach Kadwad from Sunkeri, which is just 300 metres across the Kali backwaters, a stone's throw away.

The anger of the villagers has now acquired a new magnitude, as they have reliably learnt that the present District-In-Charge Minister - Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has diverted the Rupees Eight Crores meant for the new bridge to his Sirsi Constituency.
The near-disqualification of the Karwar Constituency has silenced the voice of the Kadwad villagers in the Assembly, and they have no voice to vent their demands.

The visit of the Chief Minister Dr B. S. Yeddiyurappa to Karwar Constituency to hand-over the houses to the victims of the Maadibag Hill Landslide after over a year of the incident, had kindled some hope in the minds of the local people, that the bridge could be newly constructed after all. But now it is also learnt that the Chief Minister may not visit Kadwad at all to hand-over the houses to the land-slide victims, which has again enraged the local people.

The apathy of the Government to respond to the needs of the people, combined with the alleged discriminatory approach of the District-In-Charge Minister, to favor his Sirsi Constituency, at the cost of the other taluks of the District, and the hasty decision of the Karwar Constituency MLA Anand Asnotikar earning his dsqualification, has watered down the hopes of the people of this Region, to see any developmental works in Karwar. The very own BJP party of the Minister is dis-illusioned about his attitude as per this Report

Cycle rally to popularize tourist spots

2010-09-28T20:10:00.002+05:30

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa will inaugurate a cycle jatha on October 8 at Castle Rock, said B Mallesh, Haliyal deputy conservator of forest. Addressing reporters at Haliyal on Monday, Mallesh said the two-day cycle jatha is aimed to popularize important tourist locations like waterfalls, historical spots, places of pilgrimages and beaches in Uttara Kannada district.

The jatha, which is being carried out in connection with the Greater Canara Green Tourism, will cover 250 km from Dudhasagar Falls to Jog Falls. The jatha will begin at 8 am on October 8 and reach Jog on October 10.

He said the jatha will showcase the green tourist spots of the district, apart from conveying a message to protect the forests and environment. It will also give job opportunities for the youths, he added.

Cyclists of national and international fame will participate in the jatha, along with cadets of National School of Defence, Bijapur, for whom, a cycle race of 70 km will be arranged. The first three victorious candidates will be awarded the Greater Canara Parisarashri award.

Mallesh said it is mandatory for guards, foresters, forest officers and assistant conservator of forests to participate in the rally, while interested youths, college students can also join in, he added.

The CM will inaugurate it at the Railway school ground at Castle Rock on October 8, along with cricketer Anil Kumble, vice-president of Karnataka Wildlife Suggestion Committee. Tourism minister Janardhana Reddy will inaugurate the adventure camp and forest minister C H Vijayashankar will participate in the rally, apart from ministers, MLAs, MP, other public representatives, environment experts and writers.

Read more: Cycle rally to popularize tourist spots - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Cycle-rally-to-popularize-tourist-spots/articleshow/6638418.cms#ixzz10pqYRXK8

Karwar Politics - Prabhakar Rane vs Asnotikar Vasant Kamalakar And ... on 1 July, 2002

2010-07-15T20:21:00.000+05:30

Prabhakar Rane vs Asnotikar Vasant Kamalakar And ... on 1 July, 2002

Equivalent citations: AIR 2002 Kant 377, 2002 (6) KarLJ 336

Bench: S Bannurmath

Prabhakar Rane vs Asnotikar Vasant Kamalakar And Anr. on 1/7/2002

ORDER

S.R. Bannurmath, J.

1. This election petition is filed questioning the election of the 1st respondent-Sri Vasant Kamalakar Asnotikar to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from No. 172, Karwar Assembly Constituency. The petitioner and the 1st and 2nd respondents had contested in the General Election for constituting the 11th Karnataka Legislative Assembly and all these three candidates had contested from No. 172, Karwar Assembly Constituency segment. The petitioner contested as the candidate sponsored by Bharatiya Janatha Party, the 1st respondent as the candidate sponsored by Indian National Congress and the 2nd respondent sponsored by Janatha Dal. According to the petitioner, he has been contesting from No. 172, Karwar Assembly Constituency since 1983. According to him, in the years 1983, 1985 and 1993 he contested as the Indian National Congress candidate and got elected. However, in the election of 1994 he lost the election due to Anti-Establishment Movement and division in the Indian National Congress in Karnataka. According to him, in that election it was the 1st respondent who got elected. Thereafter, in the present election of 1999 he again lost in the election. Further, according to him, he lost the election because of the corrupt practices carried out by the 1st respondent. Hence, the present petition.

2. The contention of the petitioner is that the segment No. 172 of Karwar Assembly Constituency comprises of approximately one lakh and twenty-one thousand and odd voters belonging to different castes and religions. Out of the different categories of castes, according to the petitioner, there are 16 Communities which have large number of voters and whose votes decide the fate of a candidate. These communities and their population are as follows:

__________________________________________________________________

Sl. No. Caste/Community Population

_________________________________________________________________

1. Maratha 26,000

2. Komarpath 16,000

3. Bhandari 14,000

4. Fisherman Gabit 5,500

5. Harikanth Fisherman 6,000

6. Padti 8,500

7. Muslim 7,000

8. Christian 5,000

9. Dalwajnma Brahim 5,000

10. Devali 5,000

11. Halakki Vakkal 5,000

12. Brahamin 4,000

13. Kunabi 4,000

14. SC/ST 3,000

15. Gunagi 3,000

16. Napith 2,500

And others 2,700

_________________________________________________________________

It is contended that these communities are tribal like in nature and are bound by their own laws. It is stated that these castes/communities live unitedly in particular areas in a group/community basis and are controlled by their Chiefs, Headsman as well as the Priests of their principal deity and whose words are the last law for them. It is further contended that if the Chiefs or the Priests of these communities mandate the community people to do or not to do certain things and those mandates must be obeyed by one and all and, if not, the individual will be practically excommunicated and has to suffer throughout his life because of want of help from the community people.

3. The petitioner contends that taking disadvantage of these community regulations and rules, the 1st respondent had arranged series of meetings either in their principal worshipping deity's temples or in their community halls and were mandated by the Priests and the Chiefs to vote in favour of the 1st respondent. This was totally a corrupt practice, according to the petitioner. Further, in furtherance of the same, it is contended that appeals to the voters of each of these communities on the basis of their castes and communities have been carried out systematically in the meetings so arranged as well as by publication of advertisements in a local newspaper called as "Karavali Munjavu". According to the petitioner, this is the only newspaper which is widely circulated and read by each and every person in Karwar District. He contends that series of appeals to various communities through their elders and prominent persons holding key posts in the Government and Congress (I) party (1st respondent's party) have influenced the voters to cast the votes in favour of the 1st respondent.

4. Analysing the vote pattern, it is submitted that the total number of voters was 1,21,395 out of which 74,256 votes were polled which is almost 61 per cent. The petitioner got 28,546 votes whereas the 1st respondent got 42,502 votes. Thus the difference between the votes obtained by the petitioner and the votes obtained by the 1st respondent was 13,956 votes. It is stated that the votes tainted by the corrupt practices were about 60 per cent. Hence, if the 1st respondent had not resorted to corrupt practices, according to the petitioner, he would have obtained more than what the 1st respondent got in his favour. As such, the declaration the 1st respondent as the winning candidate, because of these tainted corrupt practices, is illegal and is liable to be quashed and further, as the petitioner himself was the second highest polled candidate he may be declared as 'elected'.

5. In order to establish the contentions, the petitioner has examined 18 witnesses and got marked Exhibits P. 1 to P. 34. Out of these witnesses, P.W. 1 is the petitioner himself. P.W. 2-Ashok Ganapathi Bhat is the Assistant Commissioner, who was the Returning Officer of the election. P.W. 3-Gangadhar Hiregutti is the Managing Director and Editor of 'Karavali Munjavu' newspaper, who speaks about the publication of the advertisements. P.W. 4-Ashok Hasyagar is the Editor of the newspaper 'Karavali Munjavu'. P.W. 5-Kishore Kumar Ramdas Desai is an Advocate and President of Uttara Kannada District Consumers and Welfare Association and Secretary of Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi, Karwar. P.W. 6-Mahabaleshwar is a Tax Consultant and Social Worker. P.W. 7-Kishore Raghunath Shajwadkar is an ex-serviceman and businessman and a voter belonging to Davara Gomanthaka Samaj Community. P.W. 8-Jack Michael Fernandis is a voter belonging to Roman Catholic Christian Community. P.W. 9-Ramesh Nagappa Gowda is a voter belonging to Hindu Halakki Vokkala Community and Secretary to Nagarika Vedike and Social Worker. P.W. 10-Santhosh Damodara Mal-shekar is a voter belonging to Komar Panth Community and President of Uttara Kannada Zilla Komara Panth Yuvakara Sangha. P.W. 11-Nagesh Vishnu Padelker is a voter belonging to Gabit Samaj. P.W. 12-Santhosh Shamba Kochrekar is a voter and belongs to Hindu Padthi Samaj. P.W. 13-Promod S. Hulawar is a voter and belong to Mahar, a Scheduled Caste. P.W. 14-Pandu Rona Harikant is a voter and belong to Meenugara Harikantha Community. P.W. 15-Nityananda Shantaram Joglekar is a voter and belongs to Hindu Bhandari Community. P.W. 16-Shantha Ganapathi Mahalay is a voter and belongs to Napitha Community. P.W. 17-Nanda Shiva Pagi is a voter and belongs to Pagi Community. P.W. 18-Thuva is a voter belonging to Gunagi Community.

6. It is to be mentioned here itself that the evidence of P.Ws. 7 to 18 in general is to the effect that their respective communities were under the control of their own Samajs or Organisations which had their elders who practically controlled day in and day out activities of their communities. All these witnesses specifically contend that the Community people cannot go against the wishes or mandates of the Samajs or Organisations' elders and, if anybody dares to do so, he would be inviting much trouble not only in his profession but also in his personal and social functions like marriage, death or birth in his family.

7. At this stage itself it is also to be mentioned that immediately after the filing of the election petition, the 1st respondent died in a tragic circumstance. When the fact of the death of the 1st respondent was brought to the notice of this Court, in terms of Section 116 of the Representation of People Act (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') notice of death of the 1st respondent and calling upon any person interested in opposing contesting the election petition was issued. In pursuance of the same, one Smt. Subhalatha Vasant Asnotikar and one Anand Vasant Asnotikar, wife and son of the deceased 1st respondent had filed application to come on record in the place of the deceased 1st respondent. This application was contested by the petitioner on the ground of limitation.

8. Considering the rival contentions and the law in this regard, by the order dated 5-1-2001 this Court rejected the applications (LA. Nos. I and II) of the said persons on the ground that the same was barred by time and especially as the provisions of Section 5 of the Limitation Act are not applicable to the case of the present nature under the Act.

9. Thereafter, the evidence of the aforesaid witnesses came to be recorded which practically went unopposed as there is no cross-examination by any other respondents. It is also to be noted that, as the recording of evidence on behalf of the petitioner came to an end, one more application came to be filed by one Tulasidas Naik claiming to be a voter and interested in the same relief, viz., getting himself impleaded in this petition. However, following the ruling of this Court on I.A. Nos. I and II, these applications (I.A. Nos. IV and V) were also rejected by this Court on 22-1-2002 as barred by time. I am informed at the Bar that these orders were challenged in special leave petitions before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. But, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has dismissed the special leave petitions at this admission stage itself. As such, as stated earlier, the evidence on behalf of the petitioner has practically remained unchallenged and uncontroverted because of there being no cross-examination.

10. Learned Counsel for the petitioner taking me through various provisions of the Act especially Section 123(3) and (3-A) vehemently contended that, as demonstrated by the petitioner through oral and documentary evidence that there were systematic appeals to the voters on the basis of castes and communities through paper publications and advertisements, there were series of appeals to various communities through their elders holding key posts and belonging to Congress (I) Party, the party of the 1st respondent, holding various meetings by community people which attended by the 1st respondent wherein various services rendered by the 1st respondent were highlighted for probable and unequivocal support to the 1st respondent was obtained either by mandate or dictates issued by the community elders, Chiefs and Priests. This according to the petitioner amounts to corrupt practices coming within the mischief of Section 123(3) and (3-A) of the Act. Learned Counsel for the petitioner also highlighted taking me through the entire evidence regarding the castes and number of voters belonging to each of the 17 communities to contend that the petitioner has succeeded in demonstrating how the 1st respondent has influenced each of these community people to cast vote in his favour by using Community Chiefs, Heads of the Samajs and Priests. The learned Counsel has also relied upon the evidence of the Editor and Managing Director of the newspaper as well as production of the newspaper items - advertisements - to contend that the very fact of publication of these advertisements by which all these communities made through elders to support the candidature of the 1st respondent and practically issuing mandate to each of the entire community people amounts to corrupt practice. It is also contended that, as the evidence of the various voters belong to different communities indicate practically a decision was taken at the community meeting by the Heads of the communities and was imposed on the voters practically amounting to mandates or dictates with undisclosed threat of the consequences and not following the dictates. Thus, it is contended that all these votes even with moderate estimate of 20,000 were to be held to be void because of the corrupt practice and, if so, declare the number of votes secured by the petitioner would be apparently more than what was secured by the 1st respondent and as such not only the election of the 1st respondent is to be annulled but also the petitioner is entitled to be declared as successful candidate.

11. To emphasise his arguments, the learned Counsel for the petitioner has relied upon the following decisions:

1. Samant N. Balakrishna v. George Fernandez and Ors., ;

2. Chandrakanta Goyal v. Sohan Singh Jodh Singh Kohli, AIR 1996 SC 86 ;

3. Lalroukurig v. Haokholal Thangjom, (1969) 4 1 ELR 35 (SC) : 1969 UJ (SC) 12;

4. S. Harcharan Singh v. S. Sajjan Singh and Ors., ;

5. M. Chenna Reddy v. V. Ramachandra Rao and Anr., (1968) 40 ELR 390 : 1968(8) DEC 337 (SC);

6. Ramakant Mayekar v. Smt. Celine D'Silua, ;

7. Jamana Prasad Mukhariya v. Lachhi Ram and Ors., AIR 1954 SC 686;

8. T. Nagappa v. T.C. Basappa and Ors., ; and

9. Kultar Singh v. Mukhtiar Singh, .

12. Taking into considerations of the petitioner, this Court had framed the following issues for consideration;

1. Whether the petitioner proves that the 1st respondent or his agent or any other person with the consent of the 1st respondent or his election agent appealed the voters of No. 172, Karwar Assembly Constituency to vote or refrain from voting on the ground of his religion, caste and community which amounts to corrupt practice as per Section 123(3) and (3-A) of the Act?

2. Whether the petitioner proves that the election of the 1st respondent is liable to be declared as null and void on that count corrupt practice and whether the petitioner is entitled to be declared as elected from No. 172, Karwar Assembly Constituency to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly?

3. What order?

13. Before going into the merits of the case it would be necessary to keep in mind the law declared by the Apex Court in respect of the pleadings, evidence, its appreciation, etc., in election petition cases. This is more so to be considered and strictly followed especially in the present case wherein the petition and the evidence adduced by the petitioner has remained practically unchallenged.

14. A few of the well-settled judgments are as follows:

1. D.P. Mishra v. Kam,al Narayan Sharma, ;

2. Hem Raj v. Ramji Lal, ;

3. Gadakh Yashwantrao Kankarrao v. E.V. alias Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, .

15. In all these and other cases the settled law and the principles laid down are as follows:

(1) That the charge of corrupt practice is to be proved like a criminal charge and that the same standard of proof as is required in criminal cases is to be applied in the testing of evidence of corrupt practice in an election petition.

(2) The allegations of corrupt practices must be established by clinching and impeachable evidence.

(3) Vague allegations and discrepant evidence may only create a doubt but then the charge of corrupt practices cannot be held to be proved on mere lurking suspicion or doubt.

(4) Requirement of proof of corrupt practices is higher and is confined to restrict legal evidence.

(5) The proof of corrupt practice vitiates the election by itself. It is not necessary to prove in such a case, that it has materially affected the election. It is therefore necessary that such corrupt practices must be clearly alleged and cogently established.

16. Keeping in view these principles let me consider the case on hand.

17. As noted earlier the only grounds of challenging the election of the respondent 1 are the corrupt practices as per Section 123(3) and (3-A) of the Act.

Section 123(3) reads as follows:

"The appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of, or appeal to, such as the national flag or the national emblem for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate".

18. The petitioner has also invoked provisions of Section 123(3-A).

This provision defines another type of corrupt practice. It states the promotion of or attempt to promote, feeling of enmity or hatred between different classes of the citizens of India on ground of religion, race, caste, community or language, by candidate or his agent or any other person with the consent of the candidate or his election agent for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate.

(a) The pleadings and the evidence of the petitioner in this regard are the series of appeals to various communities through their leaders holding key posts and all belonging to the political party of respondent 1;

(b) Holding of various meetings by the community Heads to declare support in favour of respondent 1 and in most of these meetings respondent 1 was present;

(c) Publications of advertisements in the only local and much read daily newspaper called 'Karavali Munjavu' by various communities, in which systematic appeals were made by very prominant persons of each community who also hold important posts either in the Government service or in the local bodies all belonging to the party of the returned candidate.

19. Again, before going into the evidence in this regard it would be necessary to analyse the provision of Section 123(3) which is in four parts:

(a) There should be an appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent;

(b) To vote or refrain from voting for any person;

(d) For the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate.

It is to be noted that so far as (a) and (b) are concerned there is enough material produced by the petitioner, both oral and documentary, to show that there were series of appeals by various religious/community leaders or by prominent persons of the community holding key posts to vote in favour of the respondent 1.

20. The petitioner has not only produced series of advertisements, which appeared in the local newspaper at Exs. P. 2 to P. 11 and P. 32, but also has examined two editors as P.Ws. 3 and 4.

21. These editors have spoken to about the circulation of the newspaper, its wide acceptance and reading in the Karwar district etc. They also have spoken to placement of these advertisements by various communities showing their support in favour of respondent 1. They have also spoken to the proceedings initiated by the Returning Officer in respect of these advertisements and the orders passed in that regard. Apart from these two persons connected with the newspaper, the petitioner has also led evidence of P.W. 5, 15, independent voters about these advertisements and the proceedings initiated by the returning officer.

22. In my view there is sufficient and cogent evidence to hold that there were series of advertisements published in the newspaper by various communities showing their support in favour of respondent 1.

23. But for the purpose of the Section 123(3), mere placing of advertisements in the newspaper by itself cannot be said to be an act of corrupt practice. Advertisements are part and parcel of election campaigning. To bring this act within the purview of Section 123(3) of the Act, something much more is required. This is clear from the analysis of the provision I have already noted.

24. These appeals or advertisements should be not only to vote or refrain from voting for any person but also appeal should be on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language and thereby to further the prospects of the election of that candidate will be bright or it will prejudicially affect election of other candidates.

25. As such the petitioner is required to show that these appeals or advertisements were by respondent or his agent or by any other person with the consent of respondent or his election agent, and this appeal was to vote or refrain from voting for petitioner and most importantly these appeals were made on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language,

26. On going through the evidence of the witnesses and the alleged appeals through advertisements no doubt it is clear that they were made, showing the support of individual communities in favour of respondent 1. But there is no positive evidence to show that these advertisements were by the candidate or his agent. Except vague statements made before this Court that it was the respondent 1 who paid for the same, there is no indication even to show or prove such thing.

27. In fact the evidence of the editors themselves if seen along with the documentary evidence especially Exs. P. 27 to P. 31 the statement filed by the editor to the returning officer as per the mandatory requirement to show the expenses, there is nothing to indicate that these advertisements were placed by the candidate or his agent. In this regard an attempt has been made by the petitioner to say that the same were financed by the respondent either by himself or through his supporters.

28. It is to be noted that when the documentary evidence, Exs. P. 27 to P. 31 belies this statement, in my view the vague allegations cannot be excepted.

29. Even otherwise for a moment for the sake of argument if it is accepted that these advertisements were placed by the supporters of the returned candidate, that by itself will not bring them within the purview of Section 123(3). Because the petitioner has further to prove the other necessary ingredient which is the appeals or advertisements were to vote in favour of the returned candidate on the ground of his religion, caste, community or language.

30. On going through each of these advertisements minutely and in detail, I do not find such appeal to vote in favour of the returned candidate on the ground of his religion, race etc. These advertisements were placed by a number of communities and castes through their organisations to show their support in favour of the returned candidate but there is no appeal to vote in his favour on the ground of his religion, caste etc.

31. At this stage itself it is relevant to note that even appealing to the voter by any religious organisation by itself is not a corrupt practice.

32. Considering this aspect Honourable Supreme Court in the case of Ram Dial v. Sant Lal, , has observed thus:

"A religious leader has a right to exercise his influence in favour of any particular candidate by voting for him and by canvassing votes of others for him. He has a right to express his opinion on the individual merits of the candidates. Such a course of conduct on his part, will only be a use of his great influence amongst a particular section of the voters in the constituency; but it will amount to an abuse of his great influence if the words he uses in a document, or utters in his speech, leave no choice to the persons addressed by him, in the exercise of their electoral rights".

33. In the present case on going through the advertisements by the various groups or communities or even by their leaders does not indicate that they were mandates or dictates of the community leaders to vote in favour of the returned candidate on the ground of his caste, religion etc. What all that is stated in these advertisements is that the communities feel grateful to the services done by the returned candidate earlier and as such they show their support in his favour and nothing more.

34. Added to this what is relevant is to see whether these appeals were on the ground of "his" religion or caste etc. In my view the stress is more on the word "his".

35. As observed by the Apex Court in the case of Dr. Ramesh Yesh-want Prabhoo v. Prabhakar Kashinath Kunte and Ors., :

"There can be no doubt that the word "his" used in Sub-section (3) must have significance and it cannot be ignored or equated with the word 'any' to bring within the net of Sub-section (3) any appeal in which there is any reference to religion. The religion forming the basis of the appeal to vote or refrain from voting for any person, must be of that candidate for whom the appeal to vote or refrain from voting is made. This is clear from the plain language of Sub-section (3) and this is the only manner in which the word 'his' used therein can be construed. When the appeal is to vote on the ground of 'his' religion for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate, that appeal is made on the basis of the religion of the candidate for whom votes are solicited. On the other hand when the appeal is to refrain from voting for any person on the ground of 'his' religion for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate, that appeal is based on the religion of the candidate whose election is sought to be prejudicially affected. The first is a positive appeal and the second a negative appeal. There is no ambiguity in Sub-section (3) and it clearly indicates the particular religion on the basis of which an appeal to vote or refrain from voting for any person is prohibited under Sub-section (3)".

"Sub-section (3) in substance forbids appeal for votes for any candidate on the ground of 'his' religion and appeal to refrain from voting for any other candidate on the ground of the religion of that other candidate. Obviously the purpose of enacting the provision is to ensure that no candidate at an election gets votes only because of his religion and no candidate is denied any votes on the ground of his religion. This is in keeping with the secular character of the Indian polity and rejection of the scheme of separate electorates based on religion in our constitutional scheme. An appeal of the kind forbidden by Sub-section (3) based on the religion of a candidate, need not necessarily be prejudicial to public order and, therefore, the further element of likelihood of prejudice to public order is necessary on account of which it is not implicit in the provision".

36. In my view the aforesaid dicta laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court is most relevant in the present case. It is not the case of the petitioner that various religious communities or organisations and their leaders have made the appeal through these advertisements to the voters on the basis of either the religion of petitioner or that of the respondent.

37. In this regard the learned Counsel for the petitioner tried to contend that the word 'his' cannot be read in isolation or as applicable only to the word 'candidate'. It is contended that under the scheme of Section 123 three types of appeals with reference to the religion or caste or community etc., are contemplated. According to the petitioner this appeal may be with reference to the religion of the candidate, religion of the election agent or the religion of any other person with the consent of the candidate or his agent. I am afraid to accept this contention as far-fetched especially in the light of the clear law laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court in Ram Dial's case, supra. In my view the word 'his' has to be read in isolation and only in connection with the religion, caste, community etc., of either petitioner or the respondent. It cannot be used universally that is to say religion, caste, community etc., of any and every person who is making the appeal.

38. In the present case, in my view since the advertisements were neither made in favour of the petitioner nor the respondent referring to the individual religion, caste, community etc., but was an appeal made by organisations of various castes and communities through their leaders, the same cannot and would not be falling within the necessary ingredient of Section 123(3) of the Act.

39. As observed by the Honourable Supreme Court in the case of Baburao Patel v. Dr. Zakir Hussain, ,

"Mere canvassing in favour of a candidate at an election cannot amount to interference with the free exercise of the electoral rights. If the leader of the party indicates to the members of his party for whom to vote, he is merely canvassing which he is entitled to do in a democratic set up".

(emphasis supplied)

If in the above marked sentence for the words 'leader of the party', the words 'leaders of the organisation or religious caste, community etc.' is substituted or added, in my view the argument in this regard addressed by the learned Counsel for the petitioner fails and cannot be accepted.

40. As such I am constrained to hold that the petitioner has failed to prove the allegation of corrupt practice as mentioned in Section 123 especially under Sub-section (3) of the Act.

As such in my view the petitioner has totally failed to bring home the charge of corrupt practice under Section 123(3) beyond reasonable doubt and on this count alone the petition must fail and liable to be rejected.

41. Even otherwise considering the other argument that the respondent had carried a systematic appeal by arranging community or caste meetings with the help of the leaders of each community or the priests or the religious/community heads is concerned, this does not fall within the parameters of Section 123(3). If any argument is available, the same may fall under Section 123(2), but since there are no pleadings in the election petition as a ground of corrupt practice falling under that section, petitioner cannot raise the same only during argument. As such the evidence and argument of undue influence if any cannot be considered as they are not pleaded in the election petition.

42. Similarly, insofar as argument regarding Section 123(3-A) is concerned, it is the act of promotion of, or attempt to promote a feeling of enmity or hated between different classes of the citizens of India on the ground of religion, race, caste, community or language, by candidate or his agent or any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate, is concerned again the stress given is on promotion of or attempt to promote feeling of enmity or hatred between different classes or communities or castes. There are no pleadings much less evidence adduced in this regard. In this regard it is contended that by arranging the meetings in the community halls or temples of each of the community, wherein the achievements of the returned candidate were highlighted and even promises were made for future help if elected and especially when the respondent was present in most of these meetings, according to the petitioner this was an act to promote the candidature of the respondent only on the ground of caste, religion, community etc.

43. In my view this again does not fall within the purview of Section 123(3-A) amounting to promoting or attempt to promote communal hatred.

44. I have gone through all the decisions referred to by the learned Counsel for the petitioner in support of his contentions and in my view none of them are applicable to the facts and circumstances of this case, as in all the decisions referred to, the challenge and the evidence was in respect of appeals made by the candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of the candidate or his agent to vote or refrain from voting on the ground of religion, race, caste, community or language, of either the returned candidate or the losing candidate. As earlier discussed in the present case since the petitioner has failed in this regard in my view it is not necessary to discuss each of the decisions and their applicability.

45. In the result, I hold that the petitioner has failed to prove his case and as such the election petition fails and same is liable to be dismissed.

Hence, I hereby dismiss the election petition as devoid of merits with cost.

Naval Base at Karwar - The Untold Agony in the Achievements...

2010-04-16T20:51:00.000+05:30

India is finally going in for a major expansion of its newest naval base at Karwar in coastal Karnataka, which provides it "strategic depth" on the western seaboard and will house aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines in the future.

This comes after a long delay since the ambitious `Project Seabird' to build the futuristic Karwar naval base was first approved by the government way back in 1985 at an initial cost of Rs 350 crore. Budgetary constraints derailed the project for a decade before a truncated Phase-I was approved in 1995, with the work finally commencing in 1999 with a Rs 2,500 crore fund allocation.

"Phase-I is now fully complete. We have 10 warships based there. Now, the detailed project report for Phase-II is in the final stages. After approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security, construction will begin next year,'' Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told TOI. Navy will be able to berth 25 to 30 big warships at Karwar after Phase-II gets over by 2017, he added. The base will also house a wide variety of smaller ships, including 10 of the 80 fast-interceptor craft of Sagar Prahari Bal, the specialised force being raised for coastal security after the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai.
Source - Times of India

INS Kadamba

INS Seabird

Project Seabird was a program to establish a new Naval Base, the INS Kadamba. This base would be India's first base exclusively for naval ships and the largest. Prior to its existence, naval ships shared space with commercial vessels at the two major ports in Mumbai and Visakhampatnam as well as smaller enclaves in Kochi, Goa and other small ports. A new Naval Base on the western coast was sanctioned in 1985 primarily on strategic consideration for completion by 1995 to provide additional infrastructure for the growing Naval Fleet. Karwar in Karnataka was chosen as the location of this base. The base would is under the jurisdiction of the Western Naval Command.

The Naval base was inaugurated by Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee on 05 May 2005. The then Prime Minister Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation stone on 24 Oct 1986. The project was originally conceived by Admiral OS Dawson (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, ADC, who was Chief of Naval Staff from 28 Feb 82 to 30 Nov 84.

The West Coast was chosen for the location of the new base since the eastern base at Visakhapatnam, which could berth 50 ships, was considered adequate for India’s security needs in the east. Mumbai, on the west coast, was too congested due the substantial number of merchant vessels that docked there regularly, often forcing naval ships to wait a day before they could dock. Shallow waters along the channel in Mumbai prevent the berthing of aircraft carriers, which would have to lie in anchorage. Expansion of the Mumbai base was impossible and nearby buildings such as the Bombay Stock Exchange presented a security risk. Furthermore, Mumbai was a mere 580 nautical miles (900 kilometers) from Karachi whereas the Karwar base would be around 900 nautical miles (1,450 kilometers) from Karachi, thus being further away from potential attacks such as via missiles. The topography of the Karwar base was also considered valuable by the Navy. Features include sufficient and even water depth permitting easy berthing and navigation, hilly forested terrain to camouflage ground installations and the low occurrence of siltation.

The project was beset with abnormal delays. Despite revision of completion schedule from 1995 to 2005, the execution of marine works commenced after 14 years in 1999 raising doubts about the completion of the project even as per the revised schedule.

The cost of the project estimated at Rs 350 crore (Rs 3.5 billion) in 1985 increased to Rs 959 crore in 1990 on finalisation of detailed project report and further escalated to Rs 1294 crore in 1995, though the scope of the project was considerably reduced. The Ministry accepted consultancy services for supervision, contract management and quality assurance at higher rates than that quoted by foreign consultant in July 1990, resulting in extra expenditure of Rs 7 crore. Incomplete and inadequate studies by Central Water Power Research Station entrusted with site selection studies prolonged the studies for more than eight years. Tardy progress in implementation of approved rehabilitation package for the affected families despite budgetary allocations for this project led to its revision time and again and ultimately its financial impact increased by Rs 78.20 crore. Investment of Rs 2.64 crore on creation of assets, established to match the proposed commencement of marine works in June 1998 remained unproductive due to non-acquisition of land and conclusion of marine works contract.

The Ministry sanctioned in July 1986, acquisition of 6933 acres of State Government revenue and forest land and 5421 acres of private land at a cost of Rs 22 crore. But subsequent developments like (a) minimising human displacement (b) restriction on construction within 200 metres from high tide line, (c) planning of Konkan Railway line through the station and (d) reduced scope of the project necessitated reassessment of land to be acquired. Out of 8175 acres land decided to be finally acquired, 324 acres had not been acquired as of January 2000.

The INS Kadamba was commission on May 31, 2005. As of then, Project Seabird was being executed on 4480 hectares (11200 acres) of land, which was a mix of forest, revenue and private land. More than 4000 families living in 13 villages have been relocated to seven Rehabilitation Centers. Out of the acquired 3500 hectares of forest land, only 400 hectares have been used for construction. As per the existing policy, 800 hectares of compensatory afforestation has been done. In addition, about 900 hectares of afforestation has been carried out within the Naval area after taking over. Some sources have estimated the cost the total project cost at US$800 million.

Due to budget limitations, the Navy halved the original Phase I of Project Seabird. Phase II which will last from 2005 to 2010 will double most of the existing facilities. In addition, a naval air station will also be constructed where large ship-based helicopters will be stationed. The Navy ultimately plans to berth 50 vessels at Karwar.

Currently, the Navy plans to station the operating fleet of the Western Naval Command at Karwar while sending ships for repair and maintenance to Mumbai.

One of the unique feature of the base is the ship-lift and ship-transfer system for dry docking of the ship at the Naval Ship Repair Yard. The ship-lift is capable of lifting upto 10,000 tonnes and measures 175m x 28m. A ship-lift is a large elevator platform that can be lowered into water and lift a ship vertically to the yard-level so that the ship can be moved onto a dry repair berth on land. The ship-lift will be able to lift all other Indian Navy vessels except aircraft carriers and supply vessels. Currently there are 2 jetties available for ship-berthing. Ultimately, 11 piers will be available which will be able to accommodate 42 ships. Ships will be placed by end 2005 to enable the Western Naval Command with operational flexibilities.

Source

Land Acquisition/Rehabilitation of Displaced Persons

The land required for execution of Project Seabird was approx. 4480 hectares, which was a mix of forest, revenue and private land. Over 4000 families living in 13 villages were required to be rehabilitated. The rehabilitation of the project affected families commenced in 1995 and this process went through various stages of negotiations, agitations, resistance, discussions and meetings with the involvement of local, state and national level political level leadership, including the High Court of Karnataka and National Human Rights Commission. Finally, at a meeting between the then Raksha Mantri and the CM of Karnataka in 1999, a comprehensive rehabilitation package was settled at a cost of Rs 126 crores as opposed to the original estimate of only Rs 9 crores. The actual work at site was to have been completed within 10 years (1995-2005), but could only commence in 2000 after the project affected families were rehabilitated in seven Rehabilitation Centers. The Project is being executed in a holistic manner with the involvement of all agencies.

Source

Non-payment of Compensation – Movable Assets of Govt Office Attached

The court personnel attached the movable assets found in the office of the special land acquisition officer of the Seabird Naval Base here, located in the office of the district deputy commissioner, on Monday March 8. The court had ordered for the attachment of the movable assets of the office, as per an execution petition filed by the persons aggrieved at the non-payment of compensation for their lands acquired for the naval base.
Land belonging to the late Vishnu Siddappa Naik, the late Datta Siddappa Naik, and their brother, Mohan Siddappa Naik, located in Chendia Aligadda village, had been acquired by the land acquisition officer in the year 1989. The land owners, dissatisfied with the price offered for their lands, had approached the court for enhancement of compensation, which was granted by the civil court here. Thereafter, the government had filed a special leave petition in the High Court to approach the Supreme Court against the court order, which was declined. The appeal filed by the estate officer of the department of defence in the court against the court order, is yet to be admitted by the Supreme Court.
The court bailiffs took away chairs, tables, fans, Xerox machine, and cupboards found in the office. Employees of the office, who initially resisted the move, had to move out of the office as they could not function in the office that was being emptied. Advocate for the displaced persons, P S Bhat, said that the court took this step, as the land acquisition officer failed to pay compensation as per the court order, even after several requests were made to him on this issue.
Source - Daijiworld.com

Compensation, a mirage for Seabird land losers in Karwar - Deccan Herald
It is 24 years since the government acquired 2,500 acres of private land from people in Karwar and Ankola taluks to build ‘Seabird,’ the biggest naval base in Asia.
However, compensation has become a mirage for the people who lost their home and hearth for the naval base. The land acquisition process for the project costing Rs 25,000 crore began in 1986. But the compensation distribution has run into a controversy. As a result nearly 25,000 people of 8,000 families have become homeless.

These people had sacrificed their land to strengthen the defence system of the country. However, they are yet to be compensated. The Government had paid just Rs 150 per gunta. Those who lost the land went to the court saying that the sum was too meagre.

The Additional Civil court (Senior Division) directed the government to pay Rs 11,500 per gunta. According to the court order, Geethabai Dayanand Naik, who had given up her land, was given a compensation amount of Rs 4.90 lakh. However, the Defence department appealed to the High Court against the lower court order stating that it was not possible for the government to give such a huge amount. The High Court upheld the order of the civil court. The Department has now filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court. It will take a long time for the hearing to come up in the Supreme Court.

The majority of the families who have lost land either belong to the fisher community or are farmers. As the seashores are a part of the naval base project, the fishermen are worried about their future. The farmers rehabilitated in a barren land are not able to continue with their agriculture activities.
Source - http://www.deccanherald.com/content/61202/compensation-mirage-seabird-land-losers.html
More - http://onespot.wsj.com/india-news/2010/03/30/a/603926757-compensation-a-mirage-for-seabird/
Despair of the displaced

The displaced families complain that the land in the rehabilitation centres is not fit for cultivation and that the government has not been able to provide them an alternative livelihood.

PROJECT SEABIRD has, by and large, overcome its initial setbacks, but many of the families that lost their land and/or livelihood as a result of the building of the naval base are yet to find their feet.

According to revenue records, 4,111 families, including 3,315 engaged in farming on less than one acre of own land and 856 of fisherfolk, living in 12 villages have been affected by the project. However, Prabhakar Rane, a former Karnataka Minister who is honorary president of the Seabird Naval Base and Konkan Railway Evacuees Forum, disputes the figure. He says there are more than 10,000 project-displaced families, comprising around 40,000 people.

The 11-year delay between the final land acquisition notification in 1989 and the actual shifting of people from the project site added to the problems associated with rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R). During this period of uncertainty, families expanded and land prices climbed. The displaced families were unhappy with the R&R package that the Karnataka government offered initially. In 1989, many of them approached the Karnataka High Court, which forbade the evacuation of people until "proper rehabilitation measures" were undertaken.

In August 1998, the Defence Ministry and the State government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Rs.126-crore rehabilitation package, and the court allowed the project to proceed. Under the package, the head of every displaced family received Rs.50,000 and a house site in one of the newly created rehabilitation centres (RCs), while two adult sons and one unmarried daughter above the age of 35 got Rs.70,000. (The site was in addition to the compensation plus 30 per cent solatium and 12 per cent interest received for the extent of land lost.) Seven RCs were created - at Chittakula, Amadalli and Harwada for fishermen and at Todur, Hattikeri, Belekeri and Mudageri for agriculturists.

The displaced families want the R&R package to be extended to all sons and a maintenance allowance for the 12 years that they remained without their lands and jobs. The families are unhappy with the RCs, most of which do not have proper roads and a regular water supply system. Most important, the families want the State government to provide an alternative livelihood, which even government officials agree they have not been able to do. The few government-sponsored employment generation schemes (like carpentry, poultry and mushroom farming) have not found favour with the displaced people. They hope the government or the Navy will provide them with jobs as security guards, drivers or secretaries.

Said Nagubeechu Gowda, whose family lost land in NK Bail, Berede and Bavekeri villages and has now been rehabilitated at the Belekeri RC: "Earlier we cultivated paddy and even cash crops like coconut, groundnut and cashew, but here the land is not fertile, we cannot cultivate anything. There is no water either for drinking or for irrigation. Many of the wells have dried up." Added Sukri Gowda, a farmhand who has also been rehabilitated at the Belekeri RC: "There is hardly any agricultural activity close to the RC. We cannot even collect firewood because the Navy has taken over most of the forest areas."

Source - Frontline

Seabird officer issued notice

The additional civil court (senior grade) here has issued a showcause notice to the land acquisition officer of Seabird Naval Base project, asking him why he should not be arrested for not complying with the court order.

A case was filed about 10 years ago by one Janaki Teka Naik of Amadalli village, asking for more compensation for her land acquired by the naval base. But after her death when the court case was still in progress, her son Devidas Naik continued with the case. On February 7, 2008, the court ordered the land acquisition officer to deposit 25% of the amount of the additional compensation to be paid to Devidas.

As per the direction of the court, the officer presented a cheque of Rs 29,57,928 in the court on October 18, 2008. The cheque was sent to State Bank of India's Bangalore branch for realization. But due to the negligence of the bank staff, the cheque was not realized even after nine months, according to a written statement issued by Pradeep Naik, the advocate representing Devidas in the case. Repeated requests of Devidas and his family made to the land acquisition officer, bank officials and defence officials did not yield any results. Considering this as a serious offence, the court issued the showcause notice to the land acquisition officer.

Source - Times of India, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_8012/is_20090716/ai_n39597262/

Woes of North Karnataka - Wikibin.Org

2010-03-08T21:30:00.000+05:30

North Karnataka with rich history, tradition, natural resources, still not overcome issues like Border issue, Regional Imbalance, Emerges as terror hub.
North Karnataka has been severely lagging from all aspects of development.
There is a backwardness in everything fields like Infrastructure, Education, Economy, Government facilities, Rail links, Road transport, Airports, Tourism many more.

Border Dispute
Even though the Kannada Dynasties Kadamba, Rashtrakuta, Chalukya, Vijayanagara Empire ruled the Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and also the parts of Gujarath. The impact of Kannada is clearly visible in the names of the places, Kannada words used in there literature.
If we trace the history of the Maratha empire, not much difference between
Kannadigas and Marathis and should live together as friends and not enemies.
Karnataka Kshatriya Maratha Parishat clearly said
* The Maharashtra Government should accept the Mahajan Commission report on the boundary issue and Belgaum was part of Karnataka .
* All Marathi speaking people in Karnataka were safe and were living peacefully with Kannadigas.

Maharashtra Claim
Maharashtra laid claim to over 800 villages in Karnataka in Bidar, Belgaum and North Kanara districts.
Boundary dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra arose over the demarcation of the boundary between both States by the States Reorganisation Act 1956.
Attempt to redemarcation of the boundaries on uniform principles, Discussions and protracted correspondence between the Chief Ministers of two States and even the appointment of a 4 member committee (in 1960) failed. Then Senapathy Bapat, a freedom fighter, and 3 other Maharashtra leaders went on a fast unto death demanding the resolution of the dispute. In October 1966, the Government of India appointed the third Chief Justice of India, Mehr Chand Mahajan, to make recommendations to solve the dispute.
Of the 865 villages and towns villages claimed by Maharashtra, the Commission recommended
(which submitted its report in August 1967) the transfer of 264 villages be transferred from Karnataka. Of the 516 villages claimed by Karnataka, the Commission recommended the transfer of 247 from Maharashtra.
Maharashtra refused to accept the Mahajan Commission Report, But Karnataka accepted the report.

Facts from History
* Historically North Kanara or Uttara Kannada was part of the great Kannada Empires. Initially the Kadamba Dynasty (350 - 525CE). Later the Chalukya Dynasty. Then a succession of dynasties such as the Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara Empire ruled.
* Kavirajamarga (The 9th century writing) refers to the entire area between the Kaveri River and the Godavari River as Kannada country, that implys that the language was popular farther north in present day Maharashtra. Owing to its popularity in modern Maharashtra during medieval times, Kannada has had an influence on the Gujarati language also.
* Inscribed stones and copper plates, found in the neighbouring districts of Ratnagiri and Belganv as well as the state of Kolhapur, inform us that Satara and south Maharashtra, between 550 and 753 A.D. were held by Badami Chalukyas
* People who speak Kannada now have a majority in Belgaum city.
*Kannada Roots of Shivaji : Baliyappa or Balli, an ancestor of Shivaji came from Sorturu in Gadag District in present day Karnataka (North Karnataka) and not from Sorat from Sourashtra.
* The dynastic surname Bhosle or Bhosale of Shivaji, is a derivative of Hoysala Kannada rulers of Karnataka.
* Maharastra Gazetteer on Kolhapur clearly indicates that it was belongs to Kannadigas. Mahalaxmi temple (9th Century) at Kolhapur, Construction initiated by Kannada Rashtrakutas. The oldest part of the temple was the work of the Kannada Early Chalukyas. Within the temple area, below the carved ceiling are standing figures of Jain Tirthankars with inscriptions carved along in an old form of Kannada Language (Hale Kannada).
* At Ajanta and Ellora cave temples you can notice Some of the paintings those belongs to Kannada dynasty Chalukya.
* Kailash temple in Ellora was built by the kannada dynasty Rastrakutas.
* In Maharashtra after the fall of Vakatakas, South Maharashtra was lost to the Kadambasand North Maharashtra was lost to Kalachuris. The new religion of Basavanna had set a great religious revolution there. Basavanna settled down at Sangameshvar in the Ratnagiri district, propounding Shaivism (Veerashaivism) called the Virashaivas.
* The greatness of Vijayanagara Empire and glory of Kannada valour which spread beyond Maharashtra in earlier age.
* Marathi is actually a mongrel language combining the old Dravidian vernacular of the region which would have been close to Kannada and Telugu and the actual Maharashtri Prakrit and Sanskrit. For WORDS OF DRAVIDIAN ORIGIN IN MARATHI CORE VOCABULARY refer [http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~fsouth/DravidianElement.pdf]
* During the region of Nanda-Maurya, Kannada got established as a separate language from Proto-Dravidian.
* Kadambas are earliest sovereigns in Karnataka and they had sway over major part of Karnataka, and parts of Goa and Maharashtra.

Kannada impact on Marathi
* Most of the words of Dravidian origin in Marathi appear to come from the languages immediately to the south, that is Kannada Kodagu Tulu.
* Kannada words are the highest in Marathi, spoken under Yadavas (1180-1320).
* Marathi inscriptions of 1222 in Kannada script at Khandoli.
* Marathi was influenced by Kannada and that many Kannada words are found in Jnaneshvari.
* The popular deities of Maharashtra Vitthala, Mahalaxmi, Tulajabhavani and Khandoba have their origin in Karnataka.
* Pune (Punnaka) 8th century, The earliest evidence of copper plates dating 758 AD and 768 AD reveals that this region was ruled by the Kannada Kingdom Rashtrakuta.
* Areas between the Narmada River in the north and Kaveri River in the south came under Kannada dynasty Chalukya.
* Political history of Maharashtra shows use of Kannada) for administrative purposes.
* The Code of Law Document (1670), on the arrival of the Portuguese, was translated into Persian and Kannada (Kanarese).
* In 1810, Stuart M. Elphinston, who became Governor of Bombay, was given a citation in Kannada.
* Going by the influence of Kannada language and culture, Belgaum should have been the State capital.

Belgaum border dispute
Facts from History
* In the past Belgaum was known as Venugrama (means Bamboo village). Evident from the remains of monuments found here, it was a part of the Chalukya Empire(6th to 8th century).
* The history of Belgaum (12th and 13th century), was built and ruled by local rulers called Rattas of Saundatti and they built Belgaum fort.
* Belgaum was later ruled by the Yadavas of Devangiri and then became a part of the great Vijaynagar Empire.
* Belgaum is a Karmabhoomi of Rani Chennamma (First woman freedom fighter of the India, In 1824, ignited the spark of the freedom struggle) of Kittur.

Mahajan Commission
The Central government in 1966 constituted a commission, headed by third CJI Meher Chand Mahajan
, to solve the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharastra. Mahajan Commission had recommended exchange of several villages between Karnataka and Maharastra, but rejected Maharashtra claim on Belgaum.

Politicising the issue
Belgaum Kannada Marathi people are peace loving, Marathi people know Kannada and Kanndiga also speak Marathi and respect each other. But
generally during elections time MES and Shivsena activities again and again raked the border issue.
There is no point in politicising the issue, Belgaum is an integral part of Karnataka and has been
accepted by Government of Karnataka as per the Mahajan Commission report.

Goa Claim
Claim made by Goa Konkani Rajya Ekikaran Manch, on Karwar, Supa and Haliyal in North Karnataka
Fact from History
* So many Kannda words are in use in Konkani.
* Goa was ruled by Kadamba Dynasty Kannada kingdom, having its capital at Halasi in Khanapur taluka of Belgaum District.
* Konkani was written in Kannada script in Goa historically for a long time.
* Kadambas of Banavasi won over some parts of Goa. The province of Goa was later occupied by two important Kannada dynasties, the Badami Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. Goa saw a great development during this period and established itself as an important business center. Subsequent rulers of Goa, the Kadambas of Goa, actually had Chandavar in Uttara Kannada District as their capital.

Regional Imbalance
Due to the Development activities are concentrated around Bangalore and Mysore.
North Karnataka remains underdeveloped. Due to this, the migration into Bangalore
and to other parts of India increasing. A High Power Committee for redressal of regional imbalances had been set up to study this issue.
It had made several recommendations. The report had stated that at
least Rs 31,000 crore had to be spent for North Karnataka.

Nanjundappa Committee report
S.M. Krishna constituted the Nanjundappa Committee, to study and recommend a comprehensive development programme
to remove regional imbalance in North Karnataka districts.
Nanjundappa Committee report recommended investment of Rs. 16,000 crore over the 5 years to boost development.
No major action taken on the report after promises were made for the development of North Karnataka.

History and Tourism
With the grace of the Dynasties like Kadamba, Rashtrakuta, Chalukya, Vijayanagara Empire, Deccan Sultanates. North Karnataka region has Thousands of group of monuments that include Temples, Basadi, Stupa, Gumbaj, Tomb.
Due the negligence of the Government of Karnataka, Government of India, Archeological Survey of India and Tourism Department, the places like Sannati Lakkundi, Aihole, Anegundi, Bidar, Gadag, Sudi, Hangal, Halasi, Chaudayyadanapura, Galaganatha many more are still waiting for the basic facilities like Compound, Garden, Guard.
North Karnataka would have been the Tourism Paradise of India, but still waiting for the basic facilities.

Neglected in Railway and Union Budgets
In Every Union and Railway budgets North Karnataka successively neglected.
A budget comes and goes with no positive news for North Karnataka.
Karnataka particularly North Karnataka's railway infrastructure is pathetic. Last 5 years Indian Union and Railways budgets are just meant for North India, Tamilnadu and Bihar.

North Karnataka emerges as terror hub
North Karnataka has emerged as the hotbed for terror activity, according to intelligence sources.
North Karnataka is looked upon as a safe haven by terror groups. There is a huge SIMI presence in North Karnataka, and it has emerged as the most preferred destination after Hyderabad. After the heat was stepped in Hyderabad following blasts there, SIMI gradually moved into North Karnataka. Hubli-Dharwad and Bijapur as key destinations for SIMI.
A majority of the sleeper cells in Karnataka are in this region, These areas have huge populations of migrants, mainly from Kashmir, Bangladesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. While it is unfair to generalise that all migrants are into terrorism.
North Karnataka has been a preferred hub for terrorist for many years now. Terror training camps had been set up in the forests of North Karnataka. North Karnataka also played host to the crucial meeting termed as the Castle Rock meeting in Hubli.

North Karnataka representative’s negligence
Politicians visit people of North Karnataka every time during elections and make huge castle election promises. But no representative and no party has ever done any significant development for North Karnataka. It is still the forgotten and neglected part of the state even after 50 years. Opportunist politicians and all burning issues which politicians are not even having a glance on them.

North Karnataka as a separate State
Karnataka the moderately developed State, but the districts of
North Karnataka severely lag behind South and Coastal Karnataka.
In terms of Education, Health, Infrastructure, Economy, Drought.
Karnataka government has itself recognised this many times but not done much to develop.
The reasons for backwardness is Negligence.
In other words, historical neglect and continuing neglect by successive State Government. Packages have not helped, because development doesn’t come in Packages. Development requires a set of leaders dedicated to the cause of their respective constituencies.
North Karnataka’s problem has been a governance deficit that has led to North Karnataka as a separate State.

Source - http://wikibin.org/articles/north-karnataka-fate.html

Fish Curry Rice thali

2010-02-04T20:23:00.001+05:30

Fish Curry Rice thali, originally uploaded by joegoaukfishcurryrice.

Uploaded by joegoaukfishcurryrice

Rs.35
Shalako Restaurant
Near Vaidya Hospital
Caetano de Albuquere Road
Market, Panjim

For more, go to - http://www.flickr.com/groups/goan_fish_curry_rice/pool/

Fish (Prawns) curry Rice thali

2010-02-04T20:21:00.001+05:30

Fish (Prawns) curry Rice thali, originally uploaded by joegoaukfishcurryrice.

Uploaded by joegoaukfishcurryrice

D' Silva Restaurant (Hoddeager)
Utorda / Majorda main Road
Rs.40

Fish (Prawns) curry Rice thali

2010-02-04T20:20:00.001+05:30

Fish (Prawns) curry Rice thali, originally uploaded by joegoaukfishcurryrice.

Found some mouth-watering pictures.....

Hankon Thermal Power Plant - 7 - Project Shelved on Persistent Agitations

2010-01-18T20:59:00.000+05:30

Hanakon thermal power plant project shelved

Ind-Bharath Thermal Power Company Limited (IBTPL) which had proposed to set up a thermal power plant at Hanakon near Karwar has decided not to go ahead with the project following opposition from environment activists and the general public.

The decision of IBTPL and the samiti has come as a surprise to many. The samiti members hurriedly called the press conference and declared that they would withdraw all the criminal cases of forgery and cheating that they had filed against IBTPL. Mr. Vasurao said that IBTPL would withdraw the cases filed against the samiti members. The samiti leaders who had been accusing the company all along for using money and muscle power to curb the agitation against the proposed thermal power plant, lauded IBTPL for deciding against the project. Samiti leaders and Mr. Vasurao said that there was a misunderstanding and communication gap because of which there were problems.

Blaming the forest officials for providing the wrong information about the distance between Hanakon and Curtogoa Wildlife Sanctuary, Mr. Vasurao said that IBTPL relied on their report and went ahead with the project. He said IBTPL had no role in the atrocity committed by the police on the agitators on July 30, and said the guilty should be punished.

Asked whether it was a “give and take arrangement” between IBTPL and the few leaders of the samiti, Mr. Vasurao said there was nothing murky in the whole deal and it was done purely in the interests of the people of Karwar. The samiti offered full cooperation to IBTPL if it sets up an “eco-friendly” industry.

Mr. Vasurao said IBTPL would chalk out an alternative plan to develop the land it had purchased in Hanakon. Later, the samiti leaders and Mr. Vasurao went to the Deputy Commissioner’s office and signed an agreement with regard to the decision not to set up thermal power plant in Hanakon.

The sudden decision of some of the leaders of the samiti has created resentment among the other leaders who stayed away from the press meet. Some leaders who were imprisoned in Bellary Central Jail during the agitation were found arguing outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office with those who signed the pact with IBTPL without informing others.

A committee member, seeking anonymity, said that some leaders who were out to take the political mileage out of the agitation had called the press meet without knowledge of others. He said only the leaders from the Congress party were present and other leaders belonging to different other parties were informed in the last minute deliberately so as to keep them away from the press conference. Source - The Hindu

The Times of India Report of this news - This is the second major power plant project in Karnataka getting shelved in the recent times following protest by the local population and environmentalists. In 2007, the state government had dropped the proposed 1,000-mega watt capacity Chamalapura thermal power project at Mysore following stiff resistance.

In 2004, Karnataka had initially proposed to build a 300 MW thermal power project in Hanakona but subsequently due to power crisis in the state, raised the capacity to 400 MW project. The company had obtained a clearance from the state and the Centre and was awaiting a nod from the Pollution Control Board.

The locals and environmentalists had strongly opposed this project. In early 2009, events took a serious turn when police fired in the air to disperse the mob which was protesting during the shifting of the essential materials in the project site.

This had kicked off sporadic incidents of violence and the leader of the agitators and 17 women had been arrested. Even the reported police atrocity on several of the agitators had created a controversy.

Later, noted activist Medha Patkar and other political and non-political leaders joined the agitation. “We have already written a letter to the ministry of environment & forests about the plans to shift the thermal power plant from Karwar to Tuticorin,’’ Rao said, adding that they will also withdraw all the cases slapped against the agitators. As an alternative plan, he said the company now plans to start an eco-friendly project, including health resort, golf club, engineering or medical colleges with super speciality hospital at the land purchased by it in Hanakona to set up the power plant.

Meanwhile, sources said the company was also miffed with the Goa government for giving them false information which they had sought before initiating steps to set up the project. “The Goa government in a letter to the company had claimed that the distance between the project site and the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary was over 17 km. Later the company on verification realized that the wildlife sanctuary was within 5 km from the project site,’’ company officials said. Source

Ind-Barath to shift project
While company officials refused to comment, government sources confirmed the development. They said the company was planning to set up 3x150-Mw, coal-based, thermal power project, which was first planned for Hankon in Andhra Pradesh.
The land requirement is estimated at 220 acres and is likely to use a blend of imported and Indian coal, in a ratio of 80:20. The imported coal requirement is estimated to be 1.28 million tonnes per annum and will be sourced from Indonesian collieries, added sources.
The project may use the port of Tuticorin to import coal, which is in the process of investing Rs 538 crore to increase the draft at main berths, entry channels and turning circles. Currently, the port is handling around 7.5 million tonnes of coal every year, which is expected to increase to 12.5-13 million tonnes by 2012.
Ind-Barath Power currently has an operating capacity of 375 Mw and is setting up plants with 3,000 Mw of capacity. It has also tied up debt of Rs 2,600 crore for a 800 Mw coal-based power plant in Orissa. Its other projects are coming up in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
In October, the company raised $100 million in funding from Sequoia Capital India, Bessemer Venture Partners and Citi Venture Capital International (CVCI). The troika would be getting an 18 per cent stake in the power generation company, which is valued at over Rs 2,100 crore, according to agency reports.
This was the second round of funding for Ind-Barath, which raised Rs 300 crore in 2007 from CVCI and UTI Ventures.
Clarification
Ind-Barath's power plant was originally planned for Hankon, which is in Karnataka, and not Andhra Pradesh, as mentioned in the story.
Source - Business-Standard

Hankon thermal plant moves to Thoothukudi
It’s now official. Ind Bharat Power (Karwar) Limited, a private company based in Hyderabad, which proposed the establishment of a 3x150 MW coal-based thermal power project at Hankon near here, officially declared here on Saturday that the proposal had been dropped and the proposed project would be shifted to Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. He said it was pointed out in the letter that the company was not able to implement the project due to political, environmental and other unforeseen reasons. He said the materials brought for the project were being shifted to the new project location in Tamil Nadu.

GOLF CLUB, HOSPITAL PROPOSED: Rao said the company is proposing to establish eco-friendly projects such as a health resort with golf club and a medical college with a hospital on the site at Hankon. The local people had welcomed it, he said. The necessary environment impact assessment study would be carried out in this regard, he added. Source - Express Buzz

Success !!!

The Hyderabad based Ind- Bharath Power (Karwar) Limited has decided to shift its 450-MW coal-based thermal power plant project to Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu from Hanakon in Uttara Kannada district. It is the victory for the people of Hanakon and surrounding villages, who have been fighting against the thermal project for the last two years.

These people had waged a war against the project on all fronts - legal, social, cultural, emotional and political. From the small village of Hanakon, they took their complaint to Delhi, woke the authorities up and convinced them how dangerous the project would be if implemented. They even roped in environmentalists like Medha Patkar to oppose the project. They were so emotional that the Gabit community had even gone to the extent of returning the palanquins the Asnotikar family had donated to a temple in their village.

What is more important here is that these Gabit community members preferred to return the palanquins — a spiritually and sentimentally important symbol for these innocent villagers — to antagonising the politically influential Asnotikar family.

Only those who know the influence of deities in an Indian rural situation can understand how hard it is to take such a daring decision in a remote and conservative village of Uttara Kannada district. During the annual fair of Sateri Devi in Hanakon, the only prayer the villagers had made before the deity was to stop the thermal power project from being implemented.

When the company announced its decision to shift, the first thing the villagers did was to offer special puja and to burst crackers to thank the deity. Had the company not shifted its project to Tamil Nadu, these villagers were ready to launch a Singur style of protest in Hanakon.

The success here is a lesson for the people of Uttara Kannada: Unity and active participation of local leaders can prevent an authority — be it government or a private agency — from implementing any anti-people project.

But what pains at this juncture is when the union government decided to set up a nuclear power plant in Kaiga in the late 1980s there was no similarly satisfactory local support for the people who opposed the project. The protest was led by mostly the outsiders to this region. People from Sirsi and other places used to go there for protest. But Karwar people did not participate. Local people involved in the protest only at the end of the decade-long struggle against the nuclear power project.

The then octogenarian litterateur and Jnanapeetha award winner Dr Shivarama Karanth, who hailed from the neighbouring Dakshina Kannada district, had contested Lok Sabha election in 1989 as a symbolic protest against the Kaiga nuclear power project.

He suffered a humble defeat in the election. The environmentalists protested against the project because the location was situated in an ecologically sensitive area of the Western Ghats and the site of the project had seismic faults. There were many more reasons to protest the Kaiga nuclear power plant.

The nuclear power project would not have come up in Kaiga if there had been an active local participation against that project then, as in the case of thermal power plant in Hanakon.

Going by the list of projects the state government now has on its hand, taking a respite from similar protests seems to be a distant dream for the people of Uttara Kannada. A diesel-based thermal power plant in Tadadi, development of Tadadi into an all-weather port and a large scale steel plant somewhere in Uttara Kannada are under serious consideration of the state government.

Without conducting a study of the ecological bearing capacity of Uttara Kannada district in particular and one of the 12 biodiversity hotspots of Western Ghats in general, will it be feasible to have so many projects in one district? People of Uttara Kannada district will have to question the governments. Hanakon success is in front of them as a model.Source - Express Buzz

The NPC Kaiga Incident - From the Frontline

2009-12-16T17:19:00.000+05:30

Misplaced trust - T.S. SUBRAMANIAN Source - Frontline

Once again a “mischief-maker” is able to expose colleagues to radiation doses at an Indian nuclear power plant. The Kaiga Atomic Power Station, where 65 NPCIL employees were found to have received radiation doses in excess of prescribed limits in November.

ON April 17, 2004, three employees of the Waste Immobilisation Plant (WIP) of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Tarapur, Maharashtra, were exposed to radiation doses when they used, at different times, a particular chair in a room at the plant. Embedded in a fold of the cushioned seat of the chair was a vial of liquid waste containing caesium and strontium, both radioactive substances. The vial should have been sent to a “counter” for “counting” its radioactivity. Instead, it was found lodged in the chair. Top officials of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) laid the blame for the incident on “mischief” by a “disgruntled” WIP employee, who was dismissed.

Tarapur, about 130 km from Mumbai, then had two nuclear power reactors. (It has four now.) Liquid waste from these reactors is stored in underground tanks. Liquid waste is categorised as high-level and low-level. Solid waste is vitrified (converted into glass) and stored in capsules.

Five and a half years later, on November 24, 2009, at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station on the banks of the Kalinadi river in Karwar district of Karnataka, bioassay tests of the urine samples of 65 employees working in the first reactor building revealed that they had received radiation in excess of the prescribed limits. They were all employees of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), which designs, builds and operates nuclear power reactors in the country. They had drunk water mixed with tritiated heavy water from a water cooler kept in the operating island of Unit-1. Tritiated heavy water is a radioactive fluid in the heavy water. The three operating reactors at Kaiga use natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as both coolant and moderator.

Two of the 65 employees received radiation doses above the annual limit of three rem (or 30 millisieverts) set by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), the watchdog organisation that monitors safety in nuclear installations in India.

A top DAE official blamed the incident on “an insider’s mischief”. He said “an insider had mixed tritiated heavy water in the drinking water kept in the cooler in the operating island of the reactor”.

S.K. Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, NPCIL, also called the incident “possibly an act of mischief”. He explained that there was heavy water in the reactor’s moderator system and primary heat transporter. During the reactor’s operation, a part of the deuterium in the heavy water gets converted into tritium. (Deuterium and tritium are isotopes of hydrogen.) While light water contains two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen (H₂O), heavy water contains two atoms of deuterium and one atom of oxygen (D₂O). Tritium oxide, or super-heavy water, contains two atoms of tritium and one atom of oxygen (T₂O). “Trained, qualified workers” took out vials of tritiated heavy water from the sampling points in the reactor building to the chemical laboratory (which, in this case, was situated outside the building) for analysis, Jain explained. This is done every day. When urine samples of 250 workers were tested on November 24, it came to light that 65 of them had received tritium radiation. Investigation revealed that water in the water cooler had been contaminated with tritiated heavy water. “Preliminary inquiry does not reveal any violation of operating procedures or radioactivity release or security breach,” he said.

Jain was confident that since the “computerised access control system has a record of all the personnel who have entered the operating island”, it was only a matter of time before the mischief-maker would be identified.

The DAE/NPCIL do not seem to have become wiser after the incident at the WIP at Tarapur. No closed-circuit cameras have been installed in the corridors/passages leading from the sampling points in the reactor buildings to the chemical laboratories, which are generally situated outside the reactor building.

With touching naivete and implicit faith in their staff, top NPCIL officials explained away the absence of closed-circuit cameras. Their unanimous argument was: “The workers are our staff. Their antecedents were checked before they were appointed. So there is no need to monitor every movement of a worker.” Besides, they argued, it was not feasible to install cameras all over the nuclear power plant “from end to end”, and that cameras had been installed in what they called “strategic areas”, “sensitive spots” or “vital points”.

But all of them declined to reveal what were the “strategic areas” or “sensitive spots” where closed-circuit cameras had been installed. An AERB official frankly admitted: “The closed-circuit cameras have been installed at strategic locations so that nothing is removed without authorisation. But who would have thought a fellow would go out of his mind and mix tritiated heavy water with drinking water?” One NPCIL official said that the vial containing tritiated heavy water would not be detected by radiation-monitoring counters if it was covered with a piece of cloth.

A top DAE official said, “There are a large number of places where closed-circuit cameras have been installed. There were no cameras here because it was a corridor [in Unit-1 at Kaiga]. The cameras were not installed then because the decision at that time was based on a [particular] scenario. Now you have to factor in this scenario [of an employee spiriting away the vial containing tritium and mixing it with drinking water in the cooler].”

The AERB sent two of its officers to Kaiga. They concluded that a drinking water cooler was the source of the tritium contamination. The water tank of this cooler, like other water coolers, was kept locked. “However,” said Om Pal Singh, AERB Secretary, in a press release, “it appears that a mischief maker added a small quantity of tritiated heavy water to the cooler, possibly from a heavy water sampling vial, through its [cooler’s] overflow tube.”

Officials of NPCIL and the AERB also played down the gravity of the ingestion of tritiated heavy water by the 65 employees. An “update” on the incident from Jain on November 29 said: “Any contamination caused by heavy water inside the human body is quickly flushed out through natural biological processes like urination and perspiration. These processes can be hastened through simple medication. The contamination detected in this incident has been brought down quickly and one worker is currently close to the limit specified by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.… No worker is hospitalised.”

Om Pal Singh argued that the “administration of diuretics accelerates the process of removal of tritium from the human body by urination” and said the personnel who ingested the tritiated heavy water were referred to hospitals for the administration of diuretics.

But according to an article in Science and Democratic Action, published by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, United States, in its August 2009 issue: “As radioactive water, tritium can cross the placenta, posing some risk of birth defects and early pregnancy failures. Ingestion of tritiated water also increases cancer risk.” These observations form part of the lead article, “Radioactive Rivers and Rain: Routine Releases of Tritiated Water from Nuclear Power Plants”, by Annie Makhijani and Arjun Makhijani. They observed: “The problem of routine tritium emissions is, in our opinion, underappreciated, especially because non-cancer foetal risks are not yet part of the regulatory framework for radionuclide contamination and because tritium releases constitute the largest routine releases from nuclear power plants.”

Although the Kaiga incident came to light on November 24, it was not before November 30 that the Kaiga station officials “formally” requested the Mallapur police for an investigation. Notwithstanding the NPCIL top brass’ confidence in the computerised access control systems, biometrics and the list of 250 employees who work in Unit-1, neither the State police nor the Central intelligence agencies had zeroed in on the “mischief-maker” as of December 7.

Karwar cuisine- a tradition - Sourced from www.karwar.eu

2009-12-08T19:24:00.002+05:30

Source - karwar.eu

Karwar cuisine

Cuisine of Karwar, a small town on the western coast of India, just south of Goa, is unique in its taste, flavour and variety. People of Karwar have spread over different parts of India and the world in search of employment and livelihood. But the karwar Diaspora, no matter where it exists cares for the food of the native land. Their mouth waters the moment somebody mentions the Karwari dishes.

There are books on Goa cuisine which is therefore well advertised but Karwar cuisine is less known. Though it may have similarities to Goa cuisine, it is distinct. Goa was under Portuguese rule for five hundred years and this inevitably affected the content and the style of cooking with the inevitable impact of the Portuguese food style. But Karwar cuisine has retained its pristine purity and traditional favour. the Malwani food in south Konkan is similar in some respects. But Karwar food has its own tongue- tingling and mouth-watering quality. It is quite distinct from the food of the neighboring Karnataka and Maharashtra states. Karwar food deserves to be widely known and its dishes made accessible to not only the Karwar Diaspora but also all the lovers of good food the world over.

Local crops and products, fruits and vegetables inevitably enter into the cuisine of the people. Rice, cocoanuts and the fish are naturally the main ingredients of Karwar food but it is enriched by wide varieties of fruits, nuts, vegetables, leaves and spices.

Rice: rice is locally grown since the crop requires heavy rains, which Karwar is blessed with. The locally grown parboiled rice ( ukado tandul) is used for rice gruel ( pej) for mid-morning meal. Rice ripens around Dasara-Diwali time (month of October) and appears in the market. It is stored in the house in hugemoodos (baskets made of dry paddy stalks) for use through the rainy season till the next crop is available.

Cocoanuts: Every Karwari house would normally have a grove of cocoanut trees in the backyard. Cocoanuts are used in abundance in Karwari cuisine to produce a variety of curries, chutney and sweet dishes like patoli, modak and madgane. A traditional house has a ragada, a stone artifact that is used to mash cocoanuts flesh. Cocoanut milk is an input to sweet dishes like payas and madgane. It is mixed with jaggary made from local sugarcane which serves asros cakes made of rice are dipped and eaten. Cocoanut when dried up becomes copra which when crushed becomes oil which is a medium for cooking. Fish fried in cocoanut oil gets an aroma and taste of its own.

Fish: A wide variety of fish is the treasure provided by the sea the estuaries. Karwar fishermen spread the early in the day and the fisherwomen bring the fresh fish to sell in the morning bazaar. The head of the household personally goes to buy the fresh fish according to the liking of his family members. Often he successfully bargains with the fisherwoman about the price. A successful purchase of quality fish at a bargain price becomes a matter of boast in an animated morning conversation with friends and neighbours. Bangada ( macharel) Tarala (sardine) are the fish most abundantly available as reasonable prices. Paplet( pomphret), Visvan or Surmai( king fish) Ravas, Shevate are bigger fish each with its own taste. Nagali found in estuaries are a delicate fish and is aptly called Lady’s Finger. Sungata (prons), Tisryo (shall fish) Kalwa (rock fish or mussels) and Kurlyo (crab) each has its own flavour and taste. Winter (November to January)

Is the best season for fish-lovers? The fish is abundant and appetite is demanding. During the rainy season, fishermen cannot enter the turbulent sea to catch fish. So fresh fish – bangada, sungata and mori (shark)- is dried in the summer season on the road under the hot burning sun and stored for use in the rainy season. They are carried in bundles by visiting Karwaris who live in places where fresh fish is not available. Kismore made of dried bangada, sungata and mori is more delicious.

Fruits: mango is rightly called the king of fruits. Everybody knows about Ratnagiri Alfanso (hapus), which is exported to up country market of Mumbai and from there to Dubai and other foreign lands. American president Bush relished the alfanso mango during his visit in India and hoped that the mango will be exported to US also. But Karwar varieties of mangoes are quite different and are unique in taste and flavour. Karwaris will not exchange them for any other variety. First are ishadth, kalo (black) and dhavo (white).They are full of sweet pulp. There is musrad big in size and with special flavour. Third is fernadfirm in flesh and easy to cut into pieces. Karwar meal cannot conclude in the summer season without a plateful of pieces of these mangoes. Summer is the season when mangoes arrive in abundance in the market. Amras-puri is a favorite dish in a summer season meal. Beside there are also small juicy mangoes, which are used to prepare sasav, a special dish of Karwar. Mango curries flavoured with ghalani are also a favorite. Wild mango trees, grown in forest provide an abundance of raw mangoes, which are collected in early season to produce whole mango pickle besides a variety of other pickles. Mango juice is dried in the sun and made into flakes –sath for relishing the taste of mango long after the mango season is over.

Jackfruit: Like mangoes, jackfruits also ripen in summer. Huge jackfruits hang in bunch from the jackfruit trees. Every household compound has a tree or two. The green exterior with small spikes hides a treasure of golden ( garas) that is sweet flesh covering large seeds neatly packed inside. The huge fruit is ripped open with a knife and with oil smeared hands, lest the glue( cheek) sticks, thegaras are taken out to be consumed at leisure. There are two types of jackfruits – kappa and baraka. Garas of kappa are crisp and delight to relish. Those of baraka are juicy and are used to prepare relishing patolis – a pancake steamed in a covering of haldi (turmeric) leaves. Patolis are eaten steam-hot with dollop of ghee melting over it. The jackfruit seed ( bikan) is used as an additional input to curries.

Bananas: Bananas are a common fruit in India but the standard banana sold in the market is with green skin. But those in Karwar, smaller in size are golden in colour, sweeter and fragrant. Bananas are eaten fresh after the meal but are also turned into sasav, a sweet, sour, pungent dish.

Cashews: Summer is also the season for cashew nuts. Very few know that cashew nut appears on the top of the cashew apple resplendent in its red hue. Cashew apple is nice in taste but can hardly compete with mangoes and bananas. It is the cashew nut that is more coveted. A thick exterior covers the nut which is roasted on fire (nowadays it is done in cashew factory) the cover removed and the nut taken out for eating. The nut has a crisp brown cover, which is easily removed with fingers. There is hardly any nut as delicious as cashew nuts. It is eaten as it is or salted or spiced. It is also mixed with variety of preparations like sweets such as madgane and kheer or savouries like phov and muga- ambat( green gram curry). Cashew nut is the ingredients of katli sold by the famous Chitale shop in Pune.

Ananas (pinapple): This is also summer season fruit. Its rough exterior cover is removed to reveal a sweet sour interior, which is sliced and eaten. The slices are canned and its juice tinned. Karwaris use the ananas for sasav and bhaji.

Chibud (melons): These again are available round Dasara-Diwali time. They are eaten mixed with phov, coconut and jaggery.

Vegetables: coastal areas are not known for modern vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower or green peas, which require cooler climate not available in Karwar’s coastal climate, which is warm and humid. But there are distinct local vegetables.

Neerfanas ( breadfruit) : though called a fruit it is indeed a vegetable. Green in colour like jackfruit but much smaller and round in shape. They appear on the branches of a huge tree with its artistic leaves. Their skin is peeled off to reveal a whitish flesh inside which is sliced and shallow-fried. These are called phodies a typical Karwar dish which is very delicious. A tasty bhajis- suki ( dry) and patal( saucy) is also made combined with vatana (dried white whole peas)

Mage: This is a typical fruit vegetable of Karwar – like the people of Karwar, soft and somewhat sweetish whose liquid bhaji mixed with vatana (dry peas) or ghalani and coconut paste is a great delight.

Vali-bhaji ( local spinach): This is a leafy vegetable whose bhaji mixed with dry shrimps is an ideal accompaniment to mid-morning pej( rice gruel). It is rich in iron.

Tambadi ( red) bhaji: this is another leafy vegetable of Karwar, which is often flavoured with lasun( garlic)

Toushe (cucumber): This is often used as an input to a delightful home made cake eaten with dollops of ghee.

Ambade: This sour fruit vegetable is put in a special curry called udadmethi, which tingles the tongue.

Leguminous crops:

Mug(green gram): are sprouted and are used as an input to a most popular vegetarian curry flavoured with phodani palo (curry leaves) and enriched with cashew nuts. It is eaten with rice and is a must at wedding feast and other ceremonial occasions. Usal is another dish flavoured with fresh coconut gratings. Mug is nutritious.

Spices:

Chilli: Bydagi variety, grown in neighbouring Dharwar district is invariably used for all types of curries –vegetarian or fish. Byadagi gives the red tinge and taste to the curries but is not pungent.

Tepal (Trifal): It is an essential input in many fish, specially Bangada( maceral), tarala( sardin) and vegetarian curries. It leaves unforgettable taste in the mouth. While raw they are green in colour but on drying assume a black tinge. Dried tepalas are stored and used for months together.

Sola- bhiranda and vatamba. They are grown wild and are plucked and dried. They are used to add sour taste to the curry. Red Bhirandas are used for sola kadhi, which has the cooling effect and is in demand in summer.

Haladi( turmeric) leaves: the aromatic leaves are used to cover the sweet pancake-patoli.

Cooking utensils and procedures:

Karwari cuisine has its own cook-wear i.e. modak-patr for steaming patoli and heet and special frying pan for cooking yerrapes. Kashya vessels for prparation of fish curries.

It has also unique cooking procedures i.e. dhuvan for smoking viangan( brinjal) bharit and kismore. A burning coal with coconut oil poured on it is covered with bharit or kismore, which them assume a delightful flavour.

Karwar cuisine- a tradition

Karwar cuisine is a tradition that is evolved from generation to generation and is a part of Karwari way of life. A Karwari housewife does not mechanically follow written prescriptions and formulae in a recipe book but relies on her own uncanny judgment of taste and flavour. She passes on her skill to daughters and daughters-in –law. Things have undergone a change in recent years. Girls are getting educated even up to the highest levels of education – graduate and even post-graduate. They get less time in the kitchen. They take jobs, which keep them engaged for hours on in the office. They do not find it possible to spare time for preparing dishes involving elaborate processing. They would like them to be available at some restaurant or hotel but latter are seldom familiar with the delicacies and nuances of Karwar cuisine. Hence the need for a recipe book on Karwar cuisine. We hope our book will be widely used.

http://pictures.karwar.eu/#0

Karwar Beach in 1933 - sourced picture

2009-12-07T19:15:00.001+05:30

This picture of Col Gosnell was taken at Karwar in 1933. Came across this Web Page while Image Searching/browsing "Karwar Law" here - http://ocotilloroad.com/geneal/gosnell1.html

Colonel Kenneth Arthur Gosnell, O.B.E.Army Officer. Ken served with the Indian Army, in Mesopotamia and India in 13th Rajputs and later the 6th Rajputana Rifles. Ken held the rank of Captain at his marriage in 1922, and ended his career as a Colonel. He was awarded the O.B.E. for service in the 2nd World War.

Alien food is laying its bait for the Konkani seafood—will it bite? - Outlookindia.com

2009-12-05T19:14:00.000+05:30

Alien food is laying its bait for the Konkani seafood—will it bite?

SUGATA SRINIVASARAJU

Source - http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?233623

The earthy red of manganese dust around Karwar port, echoed in the colour of the fish curry served here, dominates your visual experience of this slumbering coastal Karnataka town. If the tangy curry, cooked with the wild spice jummana kalu, is a taste of the past, the red dust is all about the pressures of the present.

And the pressures are many. The landmark Amruth Hotel now has fish tikka and butter chicken. But the authenticity of its Konkani fare still survives.

They have all come in the name of development. The Kadra dam, the Kaiga nuclear power plant, the caustic soda factory and most recently, the Seabird naval base. These projects have led to bustling new settlements and have inexorably altered the traditional palate of a town where even Brahmins survive on a daily diet of fish. In the last couple of decades, jummana kalu (zanphoxylum rhepha) has had to fight the advances of ajinomoto and tandoori masala.

Ecologist Pandurang Hedge, who lives in Sirsi nearby, says he came to Karwar regularly once upon a time just to feast on its staple Konkani shellfish varieties, rice bakri (thin crusted rice-rotis) and shagoti (chicken in gravy) and the wild spice fish curry served with boiled rice at the city's most famous landmark—Amruth Hotel. "But now Amruth serves everything from chicken Manchurian and fish tikka, to fried rice and butter chicken masala. The Punjabification of food is an indicator of the changes the city has seen," he says.

Local editor Ashok Hasyagar says that Kaiga saw an influx of 8,000 families and Seabird brought another 3,000 in its first phase. A vegetarian, he came to Karwar as an employee of the caustic soda factory in 1975. "I struggled at that time because we did not get vegetables and milk in Karwar. Fish was the staple and fish-eaters hardly needed another calcium supplement. But now we have three streets selling vegetables and milk," he says. The same, he points out, is true of sweets—they came in with the Gujaratis and Marwaris, and almost swept away kaju miji, a local sweet made of jaggery and ginger.

S.R. Neelavar, the 87-year-old patriarch who started Amruth, admits to having diversified, but swears by the authenticity of his Konkani dishes. "I was inspired to start Amruth in October 1978 after the shagoti and rice bakri that I used to sell in Karwar twice a day, on my cycle, became very popular. Then, my wife Amruti was the cook. Now we have grown big, but my wife still keeps an eye on the cooking." To prove the point, he treats us to some delightful estuarian fried fish, a rare variety found where the river Kali meets the sea, and bangda (mackerel) curry rich with coconut milk, another important ingredient of this coastal cuisine.

Neelavar is a Daivagna Brahmin, traditionally a goldsmith. Just as the cuisine seems to be under attack, the jewellery, too, is facing pressure from competitors. "Karwar-style jewellery has a very special place but with Bengali goldsmiths coming into town, their style has begun to dominate, and perhaps their fish masala too," says Deepak Shenvi, a jewellery exporter.

But nobody can take away the teesra sukka (a small clam) delicacies from the Karwar people. This is evident when you visit the fisherfolk of the Kali riverbed. "We prepared teesra biriyani yesterday," say members of the Waingankar family. But Ashok Hasyagar rings an alarm bell: "Land erosion, sand mining and Seabird's break-water wall to stop waves have altered the undercurrent, and affected the abundance of shell fish."

A good number of the Saraswat Brahmins, another important community in the Karwar region, have migrated to Maharashtra. But their food survives, as we discovered at Shweta Homely Food, run by Shyam Sundar Basrur, a Chitrapur Saraswat. He served us delicious thoy, a yellow dal tempered with coconut oil and mustard and solkadi, a drink made of kokam and coconut milk, which tastes divine after a good karli or surmai fish curry. There are other wonderful fish curries, but also Chinese fried rice and kebabs. "We added chicken and mutton to cater to the demands of my clients, mostly bank and government officials transferred here," explains Shyam.

Amidst this torrent of seafood, there is a small pocket in Karwar untouched by fish, called Habbuwada. The Habbus are strict vegetarians who migrated from Bijapur during the Adil Shahi reign. In this 'wada', the talk is about rice porridge, the spicy saru, local greens, papaya, cucumber and sweet gourd. "Other vegetables were alien to us until recently," says Ramachandra Habbu, a college principal.

Tagore, who visited Karwar in 1873, when his uncle was the first Indian judge in the area, wrote of the sea beach: "It reflects the joy of the infinite and thus draws us to lose ourselves in it." But the universe of Konkani cuisine is not exactly infinite, at least not any more.

Homage to the Heroes and Victims of 26-11 at Karwar

2009-11-26T21:02:00.000+05:30

We, as small Group of Lawyers friends at Karwar paid Homage to the valiant Heroes and the innocent victims of the 26-11 Mumbai Terror Attacks, at the residence/office Mr. Pradeep M Naik Advocate.

Mumbai's prominent landmarks like the Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, Oberoi Trident, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Nariman House fell prey to the Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives. Several brave officers of the Mumbai Police force like Joint Commissioner of Police, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Hemant Karkare, Police Inspector, Anti Extortion Cell, Vijay Salaskar and Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte fell prey to the bullets. National Security Guards and Marine Commandos were summoned to bring the situation under control. The NGS also lost its two personnel, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Commando Gajendra Singh. The day is a tribute to all those martyrs who gave up their lives to ensure others could live to tell their tales and a salute to the bravery of those who survived. CNN-IBN

Attending the Homage ceremony at Karwar Lawyer Pradeep M Naik's house, were Anil Mayekar, Anirudh Haldipurkar, Jagadish Harwadekar, Ramnath Bhat, Yogesh Naik, Nagaraj Deshbhandari, Varada Naik, Vinayak Naik, A. D. Naik, Ramnath Parulekar, Jyoti Mirashi, Gajanan P Tarikar, Ashwini Gowda, etc. Advocate Kiran Naik sang patriot songs and 2 minutes of silence was observed.

The first anniversary of the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror carnage was also the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian constitution but sadly, this did not get the attention it deserved, a Rajya Sabha MP lamented Thursday. ‘This morning, when we assembled, we paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 attack. But we have forgotten that our constitution was adopted on 26th November 1949. Today is the 60th anniversary of that momentous event,’ Bharatiya Janata Party member S.S. Ahluwalia said during zero hour. ‘Sadly, there is no mention of this in the media. Parliament too has forgotten about it. There was not even a bouquet placed in the Central Hall where the constitution was adopted,’ Ahluwalia added.

Source: 26/11 anniversary is also 60th anniversary of constitution’s adoption 60th anniversary, ahluwalia, indian constitution, rajya sabha

A year later, the entire nation has come together to observe the first anniversary of the 26/11 attacks and pay homage to the 166 people who lost their lives. Indian Express Nation observes first anniversary of 26/11

Copenhagen UN Climate Summit - Results ?

2009-11-21T14:13:00.004+05:30

http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displayStory.cfm?story_id=14915108&subjectID=348924&fsrc=nwl

EXPECTATIONS for the Copenhagen climate conference, to be held next month in the Danish capital, rise and fall. On November 15th, as Barack Obama toured Asia, he and the Danish prime minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, agreed that no agreement on a new treaty would be reached at the conference. Instead, they said that the best that can now be expected is a “political” deal out of the Copenhagen meeting, which begins on December 7th.

The negotiations leading up to Copenhagen have been something of a fiasco. But this is not, as some would have it, wholly the fault of balky American senators who have refused to pass a cap-and-trade bill fast enough. It is true that a lot of the blame does indeed belong on Capitol Hill; the Senate has taken its time mulling over its version of a climate-change bill, not helped by the protracted debate over health care. John Kerry, one of the Senate’s cap-and-trade champions, now says only that he hopes the bill will make it to the floor in the spring.

But this is far from the only reason that a full, binding deal at Copenhagen had to be scratched. Each round of successive negotiations leading up to the conference lengthened, rather than shortened, the list of matters up for debate. The negotiating text is a snarl of bracketed material that the parties cannot agree on. There is now no hope of getting legally binding targets for emissions-reductions—a “son of Kyoto” treaty that would extend plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions when the targets laid out in the Kyoto protocol end in 2012.

Big developing countries have been as immovable as America, at least publicly. China’s president said in September that his country would cut the amount of carbon dioxide it emits per unit of output by a “notable amount”, but has provided no actual figure. India, another big poor-country emitter, has steadfastly pushed back against any binding targets for poor countries at all. Many in Washington, DC, continue to believe what they did at Kyoto: no deal is acceptable in America that requires nothing concrete of the big poor-world emitters. China, after all, puts out more carbon dioxide than America does.

Yet a number of climate-watchers in Washington breathed a sigh of relief when Mr Obama and Mr Rasmussen said what everyone involved had long known. Not only will Mr Obama now not sign a bill before Copenhagen; the Senate is not even expected to vote on one. But at least that means that the several committees that get a crack at the bill will be allowed to get on with their work.

Climate change was at the top of the agenda when Mr Obama arrived in China late on November 15th. A few Copenhagen-watchers still held out hope that Mr Obama and Hu Jintao, China’s president, would announce something that could break the deadlock. Instead, they announced a raft of practical measures on energy—both its production and its use. Some were more aspirational than operational. But they may show the way forward, by focusing on concrete measures to be taken today rather than distant goals.

The measures announced include the creation of a Sino-American clean-energy research centre and an electric-vehicles initiative. They also include a plan to increase energy efficiency, especially in buildings. This was a big part of America’s stimulus bill, and an Energy Department official says that China will add housing and office space equivalent to America’s entire stock in the next 20 years.

Another promise, to work together on “cleaner coal”—meaning capturing and storing the carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants—is important as both countries sit on mountains of the stuff. Finally, the two agreed to co-operate on extracting natural gas from shale. America has much more extractable gas in shale than previously thought, and the same geology pertains around the world. Gas power emits just half the carbon dioxide of coal.

Back in Washington, such talk may help a cap-and-trade bill’s chances. Boosters now talk more about energy production (from natural gas or solar), and cost-saving (like keeping buildings just as warm with less energy) than about hair-shirt measures like turning out the lights. Lindsey Graham, a Republican, has joined forces with Mr Kerry, saying he will support a cap-and-trade bill if it includes production of more low-carbon energy from nuclear power, as well as offshore oil-and-gas drilling in America. On the Senate bill, E&E Daily, an energy and environmental news website, counts 27 of 100 senators “on the fence”, along with 41 “yes” and “probably yes”. That fence-sitting group has grown, though 60 votes are still needed to ensure passage of a bill. Some talk of abandoning the idea of a cap-and-trade system that covers the whole economy in favour of one that covers power companies (which are reconciled to the idea) plus tighter fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles.

The interplay between international negotiations and the Senate’s deliberations is delicate. Senators are unwilling to vote for caps in America without a commitment from China, China is unwilling to make one without an ambitious target for cuts from America, and the administration is unwilling to antagonise the Senate by seeming to cave in to foreign pressure. But there are ways round the impasse. America may offer up numerical targets based on the legislation that it hopes will pass next year, and China might put a number on the “notable” cuts in the energy intensity of GDP it has promised. That could be the basis for an outline deal at Copenhagen—details to be filled in next year.

Source - www.economist.com

Copenhagen UN Climate Petition

2009-11-21T13:12:00.002+05:30

Hopenhagen is a movement, a moment and a chance at a new beginning. The hope that in Copenhagen this December – during the United Nations Climate Change Conference – we can build a better future for our planet and a more sustainable way of life. It is the hope that we can create a global community that will lead our leaders into making the right decisions. The promise that by solving our environmental crisis, we can solve our economic crisis at the same time.Hopenhagen is change – and that change will be powered by all of us.

Change will not happen unless the people demand it. That’s why Hopenhagen exists – to give you a rallying cry and the tools to demand a positive outcome in Copenhagen. Signing the UN Climate Petition is only the first step. We need your help activating Hopenhagen in your communities, so the movement grows. This needs to be a people’s movement, with enough people involved that our leaders can’t ignore it.

Our hope is that in Copenhagen we can begin to build a cleaner, more livable world than the one we live in today. And this hope is more than just wishful thinking. We’re already seeing examples of how this is possible, all around the planet.

On December 7, leaders from 192 countries will gather at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to determine the fate of our planet. Let’s turn Copenhagen into Hopenhagen. Sign the Climate Petition and become a citizen at hopenhagen.org.

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THE FUTURE OF ENERGY: INSIGHTS FROM THE 2009 WORLD ENERGY OUTLOOK

2009-11-20T11:04:00.001+05:30

Ambassador Richard Jones, Deputy Executive Director, International Energy Agency

Drawing on the results of the new World Energy Outlook 2009, Ambassador Jones joins the Council to provide a comprehensive update of energy demand and supply projections and their implications for energy security and the environment. This latest analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA) takes into account the dramatic economic downturn that has now hit all parts of the world as well as revised expectations about energy prices, which have ridden a veritable roller-coaster over the past year. Ambassador Jones will outline the results of an in-depth assessment of the prospects for global gas markets, including the emergence of shale gas as a potentially low-cost source of supply in North America. He will also present a post-2012 scenario, which the IEA prepared as input to the UN climate negotiations, which details a pathway for the energy sector to achieve a transition to a low-carbon world. Ambassador Jones will be speaking with energy expert David Victor, Professor at UC San Diego's School of International Relations and Pacific Studies and Director of the School’s new Laboratory on International Law and Regulation.

EVENT DATE

11/23/2009 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Please arrive early for registration

LOCATION

World Affairs Council Auditorium

ADDRESS

312 Sutter Street
Second Floor
San Francisco, California 94108

http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=20

The International Youth Council

2009-11-19T10:58:00.000+05:30

The International Youth Council

The International Youth Council (IYC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded at the UN Youth Assembly in 2007 dedicated to giving young people across the world both collective voice and a mechanism to support global sustainable development.

Our mission is to bring together and support young leaders from around the world in pursuit of partnership, progress, and the Millennium Development Goals. We seek to empower the next generation of leaders by providing them with the training, resources, and opportunities they need to succeed. We also advocate for an official body representative of the youth within the United Nations power structure.

We hope to inspire the youth of the world to act and give them the tools to make a difference.

Hankon Thermal Power Plant - 6 - Agitation continues...

2009-11-01T16:17:00.002+05:30

Take proper action against the officials: SHRC

Sirsi: State Human Rights Commissioner (SHRC) had recommended the government to take action on seven police officials in connection with the issue on Hankon thermal power plant, where police allegedly assaulted the people who were protesting against the proposed thermal power plant, said the commission Chairman.

Speaking to media during here on Wednesday, he said that the commission had submitted its recommendation to the Home Ministry on October 23, and urged to take proper action against the officials.

The commission had considered the incident very seriously. One the day the report of the police team regarding the Hankon incident was revealed, a message was conveyed to the Inspector General of Police (western zone) Gopal Hosur, saying that the report was not satisfactory, he said.

Move against SC against violation of law relating to protection of tigers

The delegation convinced the ministers that the project site was at an aerial distance of five Km from Kotegao Wild Life Sanctuary of Goa and 10-11 km from Anashi Tiger Reserve. Reports given by Deputy Conservators of Forests of Dandeli and Karwar in this regard were also presented to the ministers. The ministers were also told about the plight of 20,000 fishermen, who would be affected if the project was established, he said. Alva reminded the ministers the promise given by SM Krishna, when he was the CM that no more power projects would be allowed the come up in the Uttara Kannada district.

Desai further said Jairam Ramesh has assured that he would take steps against the officials, who has given the clearance to the project without verifying the facts. Alva may also lead an agitation against the project along with Medha Patkar if the letter of clearance given to the project is no withdrawn, he warned.

Hanakon agitation gets Patkar's support

The anti-thermal power unit Sameeti of Hanakon has found a supporter in Narmada Bachao Andolan founder Medha Patkar. A rally will be held in Karwar on November 7 and Patkar will participate in the rally, said Kishor Desai, legal adviser of the Sameeti, on Saturday.

Citing the order passed by the State Human Right Committee (SHRC), against police officials who allegedly committed excesses during the violence at Hanakon on July 30, Desai said the Sameeti would approach the high court and the Supreme Court if the government fails to take action against the police officers who were indicted by the SHRC.

He said the committee will stage a dharna in front of the Vidhana Soudha and the IGP's office in Mangalore. Releasing a copy of the British gazette of 1895, in which the survey number 288 where the company is building the thermal plant was shown as forest area, Desai alleged that the company had suppressed the fact before obtaining clearance for the project.

Desai said the assistant commissioner of Karwar had converted the forest land into non-agriculture (NA) land by flouting the law.

He said many sections of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act were flouted by the revenue, police and company officials and he would file a writ petition in the high court seeking action against the officials who allegedly helped the company officials to suppress and conceal the facts while obtaining the permission for the thermal power plant.

Hankon Thermal Power Plant - 5 - Fiery like the Kali - Article by Arun in Indian Express

2009-09-22T13:48:00.002+05:30

Article Source

Time: Around dusk

Place: Hanakon in Uttara Kannada district

The plot: Jyothi Maruti Savant and Sunitha Suresh Naik are chatting. Hanakon gram panchayat secretary Syed Adam asks the two housewives to work at the site in their sleepy little village for clearing “unauthorised structures” constructed by a Hyderabad-based company that is launching an energy project. Next morning, Jyothi and Sunitha are among the 50-odd men and women who have gathered at the place where Ind-Barath Power (Karwar) Limited is setting up a 450-MW coal-based power plant. But Syed is nowhere to be seen. As whispers of Syed having taken ill spread, Jyothi and Sunitha decide to return home.

All of a sudden, they are battling the blows that the police are raining on them. Everybody starts running, screaming for help. Police round up the villagers, thrash them and bundle them up inside a van. Villagers are picked up at random and produced at the magistrate’s house around 3 am. Jyothi is angry and wants to tell the magistrate in no uncertain terms what she had gone through. But she is not allo wed to get off the van. Both the women, along with several others, are taken to the district prison in Bellary, 400 km away.

The charge: Attempting to sabotage the site of a proposed private thermal power plant.

Footnote: After the two are released from prison on August 2, Hanakon readies itself to become the Nandigram of Karnataka.

This drama in Hanakon is just one of the many theatres of the absurd playing out in the state. In the mining town of Bellary, villagers are performing the painful urulu seve (rolling bare-chested) on the road — for about 15 km and blocking traffic almost every other day. They say that agricultural land is being taken over for a greenfield airport — which will perhaps serve only the high and mighty of the area — by notifying it as barren land. In Uttara Kannada’s Tadadi, the government had to bow to public pressure and convert the proposed coal-based power plant into a gas-based one. The proposed hydel project in Gundiya earned the wrath of Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh when chief minister B S Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone even before receiving the mandatory clearances. The list is endless.

Karnataka’s hunger for power

One doesn’t have to look too far to see why the state government is running at breakneck speed to sanction power projects. Karnataka’s unrestricted power demand is 10,500 MW while it generates only around 6,000 MW. The deficit is being managed through load-shedding. But with its inability to bridge the gap soon, the first Bharatiya Janata Party government south of the Vindhyas faces the prospect of losing power in the next elections.

Why Hanakon matters

With a population of just around 1,400 (1,284 according to 2001 census), Hanakon, on the northern bank of the estuary of the Kali River, has managed to stand up to the giants.

And the blanket of protests is getting stitched up with help from the nearby villages as Kali is their lifeline and a rise in the river’s temperature will have a devastating effect. Fisherfolk of the Gabit community have also joined in. Recently, they returned the palanquins donated by their MLA and fisheries minister Anand Asnotikar to the local deity for his ambiguous stand on the issue. During the 2008 elections, Asnotikar had assured fishermen of protection of their interests. “But he failed to do so. It became inevitable for us to return the palanquins,” says Uday Poshe, the leader of the fishermen.

Balakrishna Pai, an advocate leading the protests and exploring legal options, sounds a more defiant note. “If the authorities do not stall the project,’’ he says, ‘‘we will launch an agitation on the lines of the people’s protest against the Nano project in Nandigram. We are ready even for bloodshed.”

What is at stake?

The project is proposed to be located a few metres from the Kali estuary. The state’s forest department has identified 49 mangrove species, 93 herbs in the vicinity apart from a floristic composition of 133 species of trees, shrubs, creepers and climbers in the adjoining forest (most have medicinal value) which will be affected. Bisons, spotted deer, porcupines, and various birds and reptiles are at threat as the proposed project lies within 5 km of the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa, and less than 12 km from the Dandeli-Anashi Tiger Reserve. The project is expected to consume 3,200 tonnes of coal each day generating not less than 800 tonnes of fly ash.

And that makes the threat of acid rain in this bio-reserve a distant reality. Since only 65 per cent of the heat is used for power generation the remaining 35 per cent heat will be discharged in the Kali, and that will affect the aqua-fauna in the estuary. This is where the sea fish come to breed in the mangroves.

Which begs the question: All this for 450 MW of power? And the government is not even sure if it will come to Karnataka. And even if it does, at what price?

Lack of transparency

In Bellary, the government pulled the wool over the villagers’ eyes. In Hanakon, however, it was ignorance that did the villagers in. Since most of the area is at a level lower than the high-tide level of the Arabian Sea, saline water gets into the paddy fields every month.

The Khar Land Bund constructed along the banks of the Kali adjoining the village is unable to stop the backwater getting into the paddy fields. Many families found a better calling in Goa and their land turned fallow after they migrated. Villagers allege that the power company has exploited this situation.

In 2006, during the annual fair at the Sateri Devi temple, somebody said a pharmaceutical company was planning to set up shop in Hanakon. Soon enough, agents of the company started buying land at a very attractive price of Rs 2.6 lakh per acre and acquired around 100 acres. Villagers claim they did not know that a thermal plant was coming up even when Ind-Barath obtained an NoC on October 4, 2006, from the Hanakon Gram Panchayat to set up a plant with installed capacity of 140MW. By June last year, panic set in when they got to know what was happening. The Hanakon Ushna Sthavara Virodhi Horata Samithi (a committee to fight against thermal power project) was set up and the villagers decided to oppose the project after a public hearing in October. Accordingly, the Hanakon Gram Panchayat withdrew its NoC.

Protests and the aftermath

After the handful of protesters managed to turn the issue into a big controversy, the district administration asked the company not to take up any work on the spot without getting clearance from the Karnataka Pollution ControlBoard. The National Environment Appellate Authority in New Delhi, based on an

appeal made by the people of Hanakon, ord ered a status quo. The Forest Department closed the cul de sac, the only pathway to app roach the project site from the Londa- Sadashivagad State Highway (locally called as Karwar-Kadra Road) by fencing it.

In the meanwhile, a committee of the Union ministry of environment and forests headed by the Chief Conservator of Forests of the regional office in Bangalore K S Reddy recommended that the Centre order a comprehensive impact assessment study of the site. It found more than 20 lacunae in the Impact Assessment Report prepared by the power company.

Meanwhile, Jyothi and Sunitha — and several other villagers of Hanakon — are awaiting the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission chairman’s report after the local police enquiry gave a clean chit to the officials.

Hanakon villagers have won a few battles but if they manage to win the war against the misplaced priorities and the might of the corporations, they will end up showing the way to protesters in Bellary, Hassan, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bijapur and countless other areas in Karnataka. In the end, it will prove that the “individual does matter”.

The backbone of the protests

He is better known as “Green Swamiji”.

Gangadharendra Saraswathi Swamy of Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt, earned the sobriquet for his fight against activities detrimental to the environment in Karnataka in general and Uttara Kannada district in particular. He has been a source of inspiration to villagers to protest against the thermal power project. During his visit to the spot last October, he called upon the people to participate in large numbers in the public hearing that was held on the last day of that month.

Environmentalist Ananth Hegde Ashisara, who has attended several such public hearings, says he never saw so many people attend a public hearing like when he did that day after the Swamiji’s call.

Swamiji is worried about the greenhouse gases and the impact that the project will have on the local environment. He says that Uttara Kannada district does not need another project, over-burdened as it is with seven large reservoirs and hydropower projects, one atomic power project (at Kaiga), the Seabird naval base and mining activities in addition.

— arun@epmltd.com

Hankon Thermal Power Plant - 4 - Events 30th July 2009 onwards

2009-09-13T01:15:00.002+05:30

Population Data for Hankon Village - Source

Total Population - 1,284

Male Population - 596

Female Population - 688

This village population consists of poor agriculturists and land-labourers, and most of

the village folk have migrated to Cities and towns seeking employment.

What happened in this small village on July 30th, 2009, in the backdrop of the Coal-based Thermal Power Plant, has left villagers and the local peace-loving citizens of Karwar shell-shocked....

Teargas shells lobbed to disperse agitating villagers in Karwar

Source - Sahil Online News Service, Thursday, 30 July 2009 - 18:06:38 IST

Police lobbed teargas shells to disperse Hanakona villagers who indulged in violence to protest the demolition of their huts near here today. The villagers had allegedly put up on land meant for Hanakona power plant. The trouble started when workers, on behalf of Ind Bharat Company, which had proposed to install the controversial Hanakona Power Plant, arrived in the morning and started demolishing the huts put up in the proposed plant premises. Additional forces were rushed to the spot and the demolition work was stopped. The situation was stated to be tense but under control.

Also Reported at Mangalorean.com and Daijiworld.com with Pictures....

Villagers Subdued... The Crowd was mostly made up of women....

Three police personnel sustained injuries when police resorted to lathicharge as a protest against thermal power plant turned violent in Hanakona village of the taluk on Thursday. Three buses have been damaged in the incident. More than 500 people took to streets demanding removal of the shed and materials stocked for construction of a thermal power plant by Ind Bharat Power Company. As the authorities concerned delayed to arrive at the spot, the protesters resorted to rasta roko. Efforts of the DySP Babu Kolekar to pacify the irate protesters went in vain.

The police have arrested 38 people in connection with the violence. Ind Bharat Power (Karwar) Company has allegedly constructed a shed and stocked materials for the work on the proposed Hanakona thermal power plant. The Gram Panchayat has issued three notices calling upon the company to clear the area and the company reportedly, did not comply with. Ultimately, the Gram Panchayat, with police assistance, attempted to demolish the shed constructed unauthorisedly and more than 50 labourers had also arrived for the job. However, the GP secretary Sayyad Sheikh was admitted to hospital on complaint of chest pain. The activists of anti-power plant committee who grew suspicious over the sudden hospitalisation, went to the hospital itself and asked the secretary on further course of action, who reportedly maintained silence. The activists then approached the Taluk Panchayat executive officer seeking action. He refused to act in the absence of any instruction. Enraged by the turn of events, the activists started a protest, accusing the officials of complicity. - Daijiworld.com

Hundreds of villagers had gathered to protest against the power plant in their village and to witness the shifting of the construction machinery, but were angered when the Panchayat Secretary Syed Sheikh, who was to oversee the process, did not turn up. Sheikh had reportedly got himself admitted to a hospital on grounds of ill health, police said. The villagers then asked the local MLA to join the demonstration but the MLA was not available as he was in Bangalore. This reportedly enraged the villagers who started pelting stones and set on fire a bus. The villagers said that they were protesting because government officials and people's representatives are hand-in-glove with the company. The thermal power project will also pollute the village and rob them of their livelihood too, they said. Source - Mangalorean.com

Villagers flee, FIR logded against protesters in Hankon

S.O. News Service, Sunday, 02 August 2009 - 12:05:20 IST

Karwar: Erie silence prevails at Hankon village, 15km from here, following Thursday's incident in which an agitation against the establishment of a thermal power project in the village turned violent leading to a clash between the villages tuned violent leading to a clash between the police and agitators. The villagers are afraid of coming out of their houses. Most of the villagers have fled fearing arrest. The police searched many houses on Thursday after the incident to apprehend the agitators. However, most of the agitators did not belong to the village, it is said. According to sources, an FIR has been filed against 200 people. The entire incident had been video graphed and the people who had participated in the agitation have been identified, it is stated. The police are looking out for them. The police have framed an FIR against some leaders, including advocates who allegedly provoked the innocent villagers. These leaders have moved the court for anticipatory bail, it is said.
According to Deputy Commissioner NS Chennappa Gowda, 47 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. They have been sent to Bellary jail. No more arrests have been made, he added. He admitted that the villagers were afraid to come out of their houses.

Police atrocity condemned

Committed on villagers agitating against the establishment of a thermal power project at Hankon on Thursday. False charges had been framed against the agitators. Forty-seven villagers arrested on Thursday had been shifted to Bellary jail. Women agitators were handled by male constables. This amounted to violation of human rights. They alleged that the government had been thrusting the project on the people without taking people into confidence. They regretted that District in charge Minster Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and Fisheries Minister Anand Asnotikar did not come to Karwar to discuss the project had created. They said that the state government had failed to convince people about the necessity of the project. Source

Pictures of the Police Atrocities here :- Most of the pictures are from the local Daily - Karavali Munjavu, published from Karwar.

Talking to reporters, Ganapati Tikkam said he was continuously tortured by three sub-inspectors on Friday night and was beaten with lathis and kicked by the police. He named the three sub-inspectors, an ASI and a constable for his condition.

He said he was produced before the DC and SP on Saturday night, but before that, the Chittakula police threatened him and asked him not to show his wounds or tell anything to the DC or SP, saying they would implicate his parents and family members in criminal cases and torture them. He said there was pressure by police on doctors to issue certificate saying that the injury was caused by falling on hard and rough surfaces and not due to torture. So, he went on a hunger strike to protest this manipulation. News Source - Times of India

Several organizations jointly staged protests to show their solidarity for victims of police atrocities who were protesting the construction at the proposed thermal project at Hanakon near here. The victims mostly women who had sustained injuries met the Deputy Commissioner Chennappa Gowda and narrated their horrifying experiences in the jail. They alleged that the policemen kicked them with boots and beat with canes. Advocate Dhanalakshmi Haladankar, one of the arrested women, said that the police kicked them and tore their clothes. Police had arrested 16 women and they were shifted to Bellary jail. They were later released on bail and arrived here on Sunday night. The DC has ordered medical checkup on them. News Source - Mangalorean.com

Nearly 1,000 people, a majority of them women, took out a procession in the town and held demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Monday to protest against the alleged police atrocity on villagers of Hankon, including women on July 30. The committee also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner urging him for an early action against the police officials responsible for the incident. The memorandum stated that the police were responsible for the violent incident at Hankon on July 30. It was alleged in the memorandum that the police themselves set many two-wheelers on fire on that day to implicate innocent people in the case. The police had videotaped the entire incident at Hankon except the one in which the vehicles were set ablaze. This clearly indicated that the police were involved in it, they alleged. The memorandum stated that the order for lathicharge and bursting of tear gas were issued in the absence of either the taluk or sub divisional magistrate. Further the police authorities deliberately recommended the court to lodge the arrested people inBellary jail citing security problems.
The police had arrested many innocent people, advocates and social workers although they were not present at Hankon on the day when the agitation was held.Source - Indian Express

Refuting superintendent of police Raman Gupta’s claim that there was no police atrocity on those agitating against the Hankon thermal power project on June 30, 16 women, who were arrested at Hankon following Thursday’s violent incidents in the village and released on bail on Sunday from Bellary jail, narrated their tales of woes before the deputy commissioner on Monday. All of them, mostly middleaged, said they were tortured mentally and physically by the police. Dhanalakshmi Haldankar, a lawyer, pointing to an injury on her thighs caused by the police assault, said police used vulgar language against her. She said the police kicked some women with their shoes, causing injuries on the knees, arms and the stomachs. The beating continued till they reached Chitakula police station from Hankon, she said. Sunita Suresh Naik, showing injuries on her shoulder and stomach, said police ignored her pleas to let her go to give medicines to her husband suffering from a heart ailment. Another woman Pragati Naik, who suffers from a kidney ailment said that though she had a tumour removed recently, police dragged out of her house at Hankon and took her into custody. Meghana Manoj Bandekar, who has a swelling on the legs and hands, said she was on her way home when the police picked her up. She said she was beaten with batons before being pushed to police van. Dhanalakshmi Haldankar warned that if the police officers responsible for the attack on women are not punished, a hunger strike would be launched in front of the deputy commissioner’s office. The deputy commissioner said a medical test of all the 16 women would be conducted in the district hospital and a report would be sent to the government. He said a report had been sent to the Human Rights’ Commission too. Source - Indian Express News

Another incident of alleged police atrocity, Ganapati Tikkam, a functionary of BJP Fishermen Morcha, who was allegedly beaten up by the police at Chitakula police station near here, is convalescing in the district hospital now. According to Tikkam, he had gone to Chitakula police station on July 30 to offer bail security to BS Pai, a lawyer who was arrested in connection with the violent incident at Hankon the same day. He said that he was taken aback when the police began to beat him with lathis without any provocation. Then he was arrested and jailed. On Saturday, he was admitted to the district hospital by the jail authorities after he complained of severe pain in the leg. Tikkam alleged that he was handcuffed and locked in a room in the hospital. He said the next day police wanted to send him back to the jail by getting a discharge certificate from the duty doctor that Tikkam had recovered.However, a few BJP leaders, including Jagdish Birkodikar, taluk BJP president and secretary Nagaraj Joshi, insisted that he be kept in the hospital for further treatment. They sought blood and urine tests and x-ray before the hospital authorities certifying that Tikkam had no health problems. The x-ray revealed that Tikkam has a fracture in his leg.However, the police denied that they had manhandled Tikkam at the station. They said Tikkam might have fallen on some hard surface from a height and got injured. News Source - Indian Express

Sources at Uttara Kannada district administration said that DC Chennappa Gowda has submitted a detailed report on Hanakon violence and its aftermath to the government on Monday. In a separate report to the Home ministry and the State Human Rights Commission, the district administration has also sent a detailed account of the violence and the reasons behind it.
The report recommended disciplinary action against three police sub-inspectors, Manjunath Gowda of DCB Karwar, Channesh of rural police station of Karwar, and John D'Souza of Chittakula police station in Karwar, in connection with the "alleged" torture of BJP worker Ganapati Tikkam in police custody. The report also recommended action against Bhaskar Rai, inspector of Ankola police station, and Babu Kolekar, DSP of Karwar, the sources added. The officials face charges of violation of human rights and women's rights. It is said that though Tikkam was sent to Karwar jail after the "alleged" torture, the DC was informed that he was shifted to Hindalga jail in Belgaum. Various organizations have demanded action against the police officials for the atrocities committed "allegedly" by them, the sources said.
The police had also sent a 17-year-old boy to Bellary jail, instead of a remand home. Realizing their mistake, they also withdrew the cases filed against him.
Sixteen women, who were sent to Bellary jail and given bail later, arrived here on Sunday night. Advocate B S Pai was also granted bail. Headquarter assistant to Uttara Kannada DC said he had directed district surgeon to issue medical certificates to the injured. Advocate Pai said they are waiting for medical report of all women to file complaints in Chittakula and Karwar town police stations against the police for "allegedly" torturing women. Different sections of IPC, ranging from attempt-to-murder and molestation to threat to life, would be filed against the guilty, he added. News Source - Times of India

Accused says Minister responsible for violence

Source - Hindu Online edition of India's National Newspaper Sunday, Aug 02, 2009

Madhav Nayak refuses bail saying there was threat to life

Karwar: The president of the Shanashakthi Vedike, Madhav Nayak, whose name appeared in the second FIR filed by the police relating to the Hanakon violence on July 30, surrendered in the court of the First Class Judicial Magistrate on Saturday. The court granted him bail but Mr. Nayak preferred to remain in jail alleging that he had threat to life from the Fisheries Minister Anand Asnotikar. Talking to the presspersons after he appeared in the court, Mr. Nayak alleged that Mr. Anand Asnotikar was responsible for the Hanakon violence. He said Mr. Asnotikar wanted to take revenge against the leaders who were opposing the proposed thermal power plant. Mr. Nayak said that he was not present in Karwar and was in Mundgod when the riots broke out in Hanakon. He had enough evidence to prove it. But he was implicated in ‘trumped up’ charges because he had opposed the private check-post set up by the followers of Mr. Asnotikar at Baleguli and export of sand to Maldives.

Meanwhile, police sources said they were watching the videos to identify the culprits who had indulged in violence on Thursday. Till Saturday, 129 people were named in the FIR. Of them 59 persons were arrested. The police said over 500 people would be taken into custody in connection with the violence. Eighteen people, including 16 women and a minor and advocate B.S. Pai were granted bail on Saturday. The women were granted the bail on humanitarian grounds because most of them had left their children behind in Karwar.

Excessive force - “Police brutality in Karwar is inexcusable.”

The protesters were reportedly kicked, beaten with canes. There were several elderly women, even toddlers among the injured. Opposition to the power plant at Hanakon has been building up for some time. Many locals are opposed to it as the project is likely to displace thousands of fisherfolk and their families. Environmentalists too are up in arms against the project as it is expected to destroy the biodiversity in the region. It is said that many of the local villagers are angry that neither project authorities nor elected representatives have been responsive to their grievances. The brutal response of the police to their protest demonstrations last week will have fuelled their anger further. The police have alleged that they used force because the protest was not peaceful. The demonstrators had pelted stones apparently. Still, beating up protesters, especially elderly women and children, as savagely as they did is not the way to deal with demonstrations. It is the duty of the police to control public disorder and violence. But in discharging this duty they need to be more circumspect. For one they need to bear in mind that peaceful demonstrations are a legitimate form of protest in a democracy. Besides, they cannot wield their batons, burst teargas shells or shoot into crowds at the first sight of a large, noisy crowd. The use of force has to be the last resort always. And even this cannot be excessive.
There is no doubt that the police action in Karwar was excessive. A full probe into why it happened is essential. Local villagers have alleged that the heavy-handed police response to the demonstration was prompted by vested interests. There have been several instances where mining companies and manufacturing units have used the local police to evict tribals and villagers from the land. In the process, largely peaceful protests quickly escalated into angry armed struggles. The protests in Karwar have their roots in genuine grievances which need to be addressed. Failure to do so will aggravate the situation. Source - Deccan Herald

This post will Continue......

Hankon Thermal Power Plant - 3 - Central panel finds Hankon report flawed

2009-09-12T01:09:00.000+05:30

Central panel finds Hankon report flawed - Source - Indian Express News

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the basis of which the conditional environmental clearance for the 450-MW Hankon thermal power project project was granted is riddled with flaws, the report of a Central committee reveals. The threemember committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for a spot inspection of the site, has recommended a comprehensive impact assessment study before the final environmental clearance for the project is granted.

The conditional EIA was given on the basis of the report submitted to the MoEF by the Ind Bharat Power (Karwar) Ltd, a private company which is building the coal-based power plant.
The committee was constituted following large scale local protests against the plant on environmental grounds. The committee members include K S Reddy, chief conservator of forests, M M Kamath and B Sudhakara Reddy.

Key questions raised

◆ Cotegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa, is located at at an aerial distance of 5 km from the project site. The Company’s EIA report says that there is no National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary within a 7-km periphery of the project site, as is mandated by law. Also, the location of any existing National Park/Wildlife Sanctuary within 10 km of the site should be specified on an officially endorsed map. This finds no mention in the EIA report. The proposed project site is only 10 km away from the boundary of Dandeli-Anashi Tiger Reserve, the committee observed.

◆ The company’s report says that there are no lakes/reservoirs/dams within a 7-km radius of the project site. The committee has found three minor irrigation tanks in the vicinity of the project site. Also, mountains and hills within the 7-km radius find no mention in the EIA report.

◆ The existence of a historical fort at Sadashivgad, which is at a distance of 5 km from the project site, has not been mentioned. Although there are a few houses within 500 metres of the project site, the company’s report answers ‘nil’ to a question regarding the number of houses in that specified area.

◆ According to the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, no cooling water discharge shall be permitted into estuaries or ecologically sensitive zones like mangroves. However, the discharge site of the project falls into this category.

◆ The company has failed to mention that forest land is required for the project. The committee says that the project needs forest land for the approach road and a large portion for power transmission by KPTCL.

So What next.....

Karwar Beach - International Coastal Cleanup

2009-09-11T01:02:00.000+05:30

There is a four kms. long beach in Karwar city. It has become dirty due to throwing of waste plastic and other non organic material. So also the Sea throws up a lot of things as there is a ocean going vessel port nearby.

Whether you live near the coast or thousands of miles inland, we are all connected to the ocean. It drives and moderates our climate, it helps provide the water we drink, the air we breathe, and much of the food we eat. The ocean also absorbs much of the pollution we generate. And trash that falls from our hands is one of the most pervasive pollution problems facing our world's ocean.

But it doesn't have to be…keeping our ocean free from trash is one of the easiest things we can do to help protect it.

In partnership with organizations and individuals across the globe, Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup engages people to remove trash and debris from the world's beaches and waterways, identify the sources of debris, and change the behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place.

Join us this September 19th : Sign up for a Cleanup near you and get involved today!

Hankon Thermal Power Plant - 2 - Kyoto Protocol vis-a-vis India

2009-08-12T10:44:00.000+05:30

The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC or FCCC), an international environmental treaty with the goal of achieving "stabilization ofgreenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would preventdangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."^[1] The Kyoto Protocol establishes legally binding commitment for the reduction of four greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane,nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride), and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons andperfluorocarbons) produced by "annex I" (industrialized) nations, as well as general commitments for all member countries. As of January 2009,183 parties have ratified the protocol, which was initially adopted for use on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and which entered into force on 16 February 2005. Under the Kyoto Protocol, industrialized countries agreed to reduce their collective green house gas (GHG) emissions by 5.2% from the level in 1990. National limitations range from the reduction of 8% for the European Union and others to 7% for the United States, 6% for Japan, and 0% for Russia. The treaty permitted the emission increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland.^[3]

Kyoto includes defined "flexible mechanisms" such as Emissions Trading, the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation to allow annex I economies to meet their GHG emission limitations by purchasing GHG emission reductions credits from elsewhere, through financial exchanges, projects that reduce emissions in non-annex I economies, from other annex I countries, or from annex I countries with excess allowances. In practice this means that non-annex I economies have no GHG emission restrictions, but have financial incentives to develop GHG emission reduction projects to receive "carbon credits" that can then be sold to annex I buyers, encouraging sustainable development. In addition, the flexible mechanisms allow annex I nations with efficient, low GHG-emitting industries, and high prevailing environmental standards to purchase carbon credits on the world market instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions domestically. Annex I entities typically will want to acquire carbon credits as cheaply as possible, while non-annex I entities want to maximize the value of carbon credits generated from their domestic Greenhouse Gas Projects.

Among the annex I signatories, all nations have established Designated National Authorities to manage their greenhouse gas portfolios; countries including Japan, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands,Germany,France, Spain and others are actively promoting government carbon funds, supporting multilateral carbon funds intent on purchasing carbon credits from non-annex I countries, and are working closely with their major utility, energy, oil and gas and chemicals conglomerates to acquire greenhouse gas certificates as cheaply as possible. Virtually all of the non-annex I countries have also established Designated National Authorities to manage the Kyoto process, specifically the "CDM process" that determines which GHG Projects they wish to propose for accreditation by the CDM Executive Board.

The treaty was negotiated in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997, opened for signature on 16 March 1998, and closed on 15 March 1999. The agreement came into force on 16 February 2005 following ratification by Russia on 18 November 2004. As of 14 January 2009, a total of 183 countries and one regional economic organization (the EC) have ratified the agreement (representing over 63.7% of emissions from annex I countries).

The five principal concepts of the Kyoto Protocol are:^{[citation needed]}

commitments to reduce greenhouse gases that are legally binding for annex I countries, as well as general commitments for all member countries;
implementation to meet the Protocol objectives, to prepare policies and measures which reduce greenhouse gases; increasing absorption of these gases and use all mechanisms available, such as joint implementation, clean development mechanism and emissions trading; being rewarded with credits which allow more greenhouse gas emissions at home;
minimizing impacts on developing countries by establishing an adaptation fund for climate change;
accounting, reporting and review to ensure the integrity of the Protocol;
compliance by establishing a compliance committee to enforce compliance with the commitments under the Protocol.

India signed and ratified the Protocol in August, 2002. Since India is exempted from the framework of the treaty, it is expected to gain from the protocol in terms of transfer of technology and related foreign investments. At the G8 meeting in June 2005, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singhpointed out that the per-capita emission rates of the developing countries are a tiny fraction of those in the developed world. Following the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, India maintains that the major responsibility of curbing emission rests with the developed countries, which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time. However, the U.S. and other Western nations assert that India, along with China, will account for most of the emissions in the coming decades, owing to their rapid industrialization and economic growth.

Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol#India

Full Text of Kyoto Protocol (click)

Hankon Village and the Thermal Plant Part - 1

2009-08-07T14:15:00.006+05:30

This is the temple of Sri. Sateri Devi at Hankon village, in Karwar Taluk (Wikimapia Link). This Ancient Temple, recently renovated by its devotees, opens for only SEVEN DAYS in a year..

Sateri Devi temple at Hankon, about 10 km from here on the Sadashivgad-
Kadra state highway, has been attracting devotees not only from this part of the
state, but from Goa and Maharashtra as well.The most significant feature of the
temple is that it is open only for a week in the Bhadrapada month. The festival
is celebrated during this week. Legend has it that about 300 years ago, Sateri
Devi took birth at Hankon in a human form. Having mystic powers, she was revered
by the people. However, one day she disappeared by jumping into a well.When the
villagers prayed for her to resurface, Sateri Devi, who appeared in the dream of
a devotee promised that she would give darshan only on two days in a year. When
they asked her to stay for at least a week, she agreed.Thus the festival is
celebrated from the fourth day of Ganesh Chaturthi every year for one week. More here...

Residents of this village - Hankona are protesting against the establishment of a Coal-based Thermal Power plant in their fields and neighbourhood. The locals allege that the Company behind the proposed coal-based thermal power plant bought land from them in the guise of setting up a resort. The Kali which flows here has created an evergreen thick forest cover, and is the breeding ground for many species of marine and acquatic life.

Despite all this the Ministry of Environment, Government of India gives clearance to the Thermal project. In the Public Hearing that was held at the Hankona village, more than 53 Points, supported by Documentary evidence was tabled by the majority of the people that spoke against the Thermal Plant.

It seems none of these Objections were considered by the Government. The entire Public meeting was documented, and videographed,but what irks the local poeple is that none of their objections were even replied to by the Ministry. This shows that the entire operation was stage managed...

Meanwhile, take a look at this :- Orissa inks MoUs for 10 thermal power plants will be set up with an investment of Rs 45,000 crore to produce 10,920 MW power...

Campaign against Coal Based / Fired Thermal Power Plant Projects in India Petition

2009-08-03T21:48:00.000+05:30

Campaign against Coal Based / Fired Thermal Power Plant Projects in India Petition

To: The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, President, Prime Minister (PM), Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Governors, Chief Ministers (CMs) and Chief Secretaries
Campaign against Coal Based Thermal Power Plant project

Chamalapura plant: KERC wants a re-look at project The Hindu, Sat, May 31, 2008

Centre rejected eco-clearance for Chamalapura project in 1998 : The Hindu Sat, Apr 05, 2008

The Greenhouse Effect (Photo)

Global Warming: causes and effects (Photo)

Causes of global warming (Photo)

How Acid Rain Works (Photo)

Indian Netizens' Forum

Summary report of the study on "Post-Clearance Environmental Impacts and Cost-benefit Analysis of Power Generation in India" Conducted by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute February, 2006

Air Pollution / Pollutant

Almost all >(greater than) 100 MW Coal based / fired thermal power plants or CBTPPs or CFTPPs by consuming thousands of tons of coal daily, heavily pollute the air of the surrounding region. Burning coal also releases massive amounts of toxic mercury and arsenic.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Coal is considered a heavily polluting fuel in terms of black carbon, sulphates and other gaseous pollutants primarily due to incomplete and inefficient combustion. CBTPPs/CFTPPs are responsible for almost 21 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions.

Official figures from China in 2003 suggest that TPPs using coal, released over 11 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide or SO2 into the air, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the total emissions in the country.

India is fifth (in the year 2001) in the world in carbon emissions (251 million metric tons of carbon equivalent). Emission levels in the CBTPPs are high.

Black Carbon

Black Carbon or BC due to the TPPs causes dense / intense fog, haze and smog as in the Indo-Gangetic or I-G/IG basin or as in the northern plains during the winter season and brings day to day life to standstill. An intense air pollution will persist throughout the year.

http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/

An increase in the concentration of BC produces changes in the monsoon (rainfall) patterns and abnormal heating of the atmosphere as BC is strongly absorbing in nature.

Global Warming and Climate Change

Coal is the most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels, emits massive amounts of carbon dioxide or CO2 leading to global warming and climate change.

Respiratory Ailments

SO2 causes a number of health problems, including respiratory disorders.

Water Environment

Water slurry is used to take the ash from the power plant to the ash pond for disposal.

The water may contain harmful heavy metals like boron, which have a tendency to leach out over a period of time. Due to this the ground water gets polluted and becomes unsuitable for domestic use.

The second factor affecting the water environment is the release of ash pond decant into the local water bodies. This is harmful to the fisheries and other aquatic biota in the water body.

Geochemical hazard by coal-ash from a CBTPP in Kolaghat, West Bengal, India

Huge amounts of ash rich in toxic trace elements and radioactive elements or radionuclides, are disposed off in large ponds and on open grounds surrounding the power plant, thus contaminating the topsoil and the subsurface aquifer.

Absence of an underground lining permits easy mixing of the ash with the topsoil of the area. Al, As, Zn, Mo, Ba, V, Mo, Cd, Mn, and Pb exceed the WHO guidelines for drinking water in the tube well waters.

People living near the ash ponds are subjected to a high radiation dose from the ash ponds and the soil cover, which is ~ (approximately) 2.6 times higher than the world average.

Noise

The exposure of employees to high noise levels is more in the CBTPPs.

Land Environment

The natural soil becomes more alkaline due to the alkaline nature of flyash thereby damaging the agriculture / agricultural sector.

Biological Environment

The effect on biological environment can be divided into two parts, viz. the effect on flora and the effect on fauna. Effect on flora is due to two main reasons land acquisition and due to flue (combustion exhaust) gas emissions. Land acquisition leads to loss of habitat of some species.

Socio-Economic Environment

The study of the effects of power plants on the socio-economic environment is based on three parameters, viz. Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R), effect on local civic amenities and work related hazards to employees of the power plants.

The CBTPP has the highest number of accidents due to hazardous working conditions.

Assessment of Uncertainties

The development of civic amenities due to the setting of a CBTPP/CFTPP project is directly proportional to its size or installed capacity. Higher the capacity greater the civic amenities, pollution, hazardous working conditions and health hazards.

Influence of coal based thermal power plants on aerosol optical properties in the Indo-Gangetic basin

India is the third-largest producer of coal in the world (365 million tons, 2003-04), where the coal used in the power plants is of poor quality (mostly E-F grade or lignite) with high ash content (35-50\%) and low calorific value.

http://www.eia.doe.gov

Therefore, preference should be given to promotion of cleaner sources of energy to reduce the pollutant load in the atmospheres over India and China.

The total pollution load from the transport sector is quantitatively second to the TP sector.

http://envfor.nic.in/soer/2001/ind_air.pdf

Environmental impact of coal industry and thermal power plants in India

The problems associated with the use of coal are low calorific value and very high ash content. The ash content is as high as 55-60\%, with an average value of about 35-40\%.

Further, most of the coal is located in the eastern parts of the country and requires transportation over long distances, mostly by trains, which run on diesel. About 70\% oil is imported and is a big drain on India's hard currency.

Campaigns Thermal Trauma, February 2007

Ash samples taken from the 735-MW CFTPP in Pagbilao, Quezon in the Philippines operated by Mirant were found positive for mercury, arsenic and lead.

The same must be true for Indian plants, but it would probably need applications under the Right to Information or RTI Act, as industrialists, do not seem to display much loyalty to the people of India.

Despite all the well-documented negative impacts of CBTP generation, the Indian central / state governments are unfortunately bent on going forward with more and more in complete disregard of the impacts.

The Karnataka Industrial Development Board or KIADB has already handed over 263 ha. in Yellur to NPCL, which has begun to level agricultural land and clear forested areas, some privately owned and protected as sacred groves and believed to harbour leopards, wild boar and a rich avian diversity.

Villagers claim the company did not take prior permission, violating section 28 of the Panchayati / Panchayathi / Panchayti Raj Act. A writ petition challenging the project's environmental viability is pending before the Karnataka High Court (HC).

A National Environmental Engineering Research Institute's (NEERI) study states that the project is unsustainable, even if a Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) plant is installed. Yet, the polluting plant has been accorded clearance.

Though this coastal region is ecologically sensitive and no polluting project should be sited here, successive governments continue to try and extract commercial gains from clearances.

In an act that can only be described as "suicide by climate change," the Maharashtra Government has also sought to double the number of TPPs to eight!

The planners and leaders in India unfortunately neither seem able to comprehend the issues surrounding climate change, nor seem to be aware of the serious consequences for our economy.

Solutions will probably never be found until the government itself works to educate its people against the 'disease' of environmental degradation. Looking at alternate energy sources and investments in energy efficiency would ultimately benefit the economy itself.

Greenpeace India recently initiated a positive and creative campaign, "Switch for Mumbai" to encourage people to adopt energy efficient ways to use electricity so that the city could bridge the energy demand-supply gap.

We can influence the choices we make today by reducing our own power consumption.

We protest against our country's / states' suicidal plans to construct new CBTPPs and appeal to opt for coal-free alternatives as
1. CBTPPs are one of the biggest contributors to global warming.
2. TPPs will pollute the air, water and soil in the area and affect livelihoods of farmers and fishermen.
3. India must look towards earth-friendly alternatives to meet our power demand and adopt energy-efficient ways rather than invest large amounts in destructive CBTPPs.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned

View Current Signatures

What you may not know about Ganesh Festival: An appeal !

2009-07-30T13:16:00.000+05:30

What you may not know about Ganesh Festival: An appeal !

Ganesh Festival is really a time for festivities; it slowly starts to get Indian people into festive season mood that spans till end of Diwali. If you live in cities like Pune and Mumbai, you will know the kind of celebration that happens for 10 straight days. The streets are overflowing with people to see the beautifully decorated Ganesh Idols. The roads are closed at night, loud music and expansive lighting greets you everywhere.

At the end of 10 days, the Ganesh idol immersion is done with even bigger processions. It’s like a carnival. Dhol and Tasha sounds fill the air.

What happens next ?
Have a look…

Source: Ultrabrown

The sight of these Ganesh Idols is appalling. To be honest I could not even see the pictures, it is so awful. Seeing the Ganesh Idols lying on the shores like these, whom we worship all our lives is mind boggling. Thanks to Ultrabrown blog to bringing this pictures up.

This post is an appeal to Trakin readers to spread the awareness and importance of using Environmentally friendly Ganapati Idols. Read this…

The idols are made out of Plaster of Paris(PoP), which casts typically disintegrated water, thus making it necessary to be non-suitable for bathing, showering, or other activities involving contact with water. In addition, Plaster of Paris casts are not air permeable, and thus do not allow for the circulation of air beneath the cast which greatly facilitates the evaporation and removal of moisture trapped between cast and skin. This often leads to skin maceration, irritation, or infection.
These idols are then painted with ‘some’ dyes which contain poisonous elements like lead,mercury,carbon and cadmium.

In Mumbai alone every year 70-80 thousand Ganpati idols are immersed at about 50 different places during Ganesh Chaturthi resulting in huge amount of pollution. This polluted water is a threat not only to water creatures, but to us equally.

*** Do you know that photography is not allowed the next day at the beaches where immersion takes place? If you ask why then that’s because the beaches are full of desecrated idols, decaying flowers and dead fish the next day, and the Government tries its best to hide this from media and other activists.***

EcoGanapati is an initiative by bunch of guys from fropper. I wish them all the best in this initiative and I am sure Indian bloggers will join this cause, spread awareness and sign the petition that they have put up.

Here is the message from EcoGanapti:

Since internet is one of the greatest sources available in the modern world, it will assist us in spreading knowledge, escalating the matter and, thus, a greater and a purer revelry.
So, what we intend to do is:
Spread knowledge
Seek public interest
Learn more ways and ideas of celebrating the occasion with more purity
Share the results of this activity with the Government, the Mayors of Mumbai and Pune and the other concerned authorities.
*** I intend to take print-out of the Petition page and, personally, deliver it to the concerned ministers and the Mayors.***
Also, the matters will not end with just submitting the petition, I will keep on updating about the action being taken by the authorities in this matter and will follow up diligently.
What you can do is:
Participate
Spread knowledge
Learn more ways and ideas of celebrating the occasion with more purity.
Please also check Relevant Links page to read more about this and to learn how to make eco-friendly Ganesha idols at home.
So, please do sign the petition and leave your comments . The onus lies on us to make a difference with whatever resources we have. For suggestions, or if you are interested in joining this awareness campaign, please leave me a mail at ecoganpati@gmail.com.

Again, sign the petition and help the cause.