Bengaluru News Highlights: Karnataka CM on two-day visit to Delhi

Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister V Somanna on Wednesday said that the state will fast-track railway projects that are languishing since 2007, in a time-bound manner. He said, the cost of most of these projects have almost doubled

"Within 15-20 days, land acquisition and other hurdles will be cleared in a time bound manner,'" Somanna said. According to Somanna, the cost of the Tumakuru-Rayadurg line has gone up from Rs 479 crore to Rs 2,432 crore, Ginigera-Raichur from Rs 1,350 crore to Rs 2,565 crore, Bagalkot-Kudachi from Rs 816 crore to Rs 1,525 crore and Tumakuru-Chitradurga-Davangere from Rs 1,801 crore to Rs 2,161 crore.

Karnataka has a 50 per cent share in the cost of these projects.

Other than these four, the other railway projects that have been languishing and will be expedited are Munirabad-Mehaboobanagar; Gadag-Wadi; Shivamogga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur; Chikkamagaluru-Belur; Belur-Hassan and Dharwad- Belagavi (which is yet to start). (PTI)

From this year, the Karnataka government has decided to celebrate ‘Onake Obavva Jayanti’ on November 11 throughout the state. A government order Tuesday stated that the Kannada and culture department has proposed a state-sponsored celebration of the birth anniversary of Onake Obavva, a woman warrior who fought the forces of Hyder Ali single-handedly with a pestle (‘onake’ in Kannada) in Chitradurga in the 18th century.

Read more about Onake Obavva and her legacy in our Explainer here.

The Karnataka High Court has directed the head of a Special Investigation Team of the Bengaluru police to examine reports prepared by his colleagues on a sexual assault allegation case against Ramesh Jarkiholi and a counter-complaint of extortion filed by the former BJP minister.

Earlier this year, in July, the SIT had placed reports of its investigation into sexual assault and extortion complaints before the high court while seeking permission to file them in a lower court. Read more

Following are today's vegetable rates quoted at Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC): Rates in Rs per quintal.
Cauliflower 1000-4500, Brinjal 800-4500, Tomato 300-5600, Bitter Gourd 1000-3000, Bottle Gourd 800-2500, Ash Gourd 800-2000, Green Chilli 1000-4500, Banana Green 800-3600, Beans 1000-4000, Green Ginger 600-5000, Carrot 1000-5200, Cabbage 200-2000, Ladies Finger 800-3600, Snakegourd 1000-2300, Beetroot 600-3200, Cucumber 200-1800, Ridge Gourd 1000-4800, Radish 500-3600, Capsicum 1500-10000, Drumstick 3000-10000, Sweet Pumpkin 300-1600, Knoll Khol 1182-8000, Lime 200-4000. (PTI)

A private resort at Sakleshpura taluk in Karnataka’s Hassan district has allegedly encroached on the forest land by constructing a road, four cottages and an entertainment zone.

Google Earth images shared by the forest department officials show how a valley of forests in Western Ghats of Sakleshpura, Hassan District, have been plundered to build a resort. The resort owners, as pointed out by the forest department, have allegedly cut a road through the deemed forest illegally.

The forest department officials say that the entire violation was done in connivance with revenue officials who manipulated the sketch of the resort. Read more

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai is in the national capital on a two-day visit to meet several Union ministers as well the BJP National President J P Nadda to discuss state issues.

Speaking to reporters, Bommai said he has come to Delhi to meet several union ministers and also attend a media conclave. Bommai said he also plans to meet Nadda if he gets an appointment either Wednesday or Thursday. (PTI)

BBMP Powrakarmikara Sangha (Sanitation Workers' Group) is holding a protest at Mayo hall, MG road highlighting the various problems faced by powrakarmikas.Their demands are that all powrakarmikas, including drivers and helpers, be made permanent employees and their wages be increased to Rs. 35,000.

BBMP Powrakarmikara Sangha is holding a protest at Mayo hall, MG road highlighting the various problems faced by powrakarmikas. #Bengaluru

More updates here: https://t.co/62ffhDdrxG pic.twitter.com/tdVzJ7BVxh

— Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) November 10, 2021

They are also demanding a provision for housing, school fees for children, and other basic amenities, including toilets and restrooms. This is part of the Powrakarmika Jaatha that started on 9th October.

Isolated to widespread very light to light rains are likely over south interior Karnataka districts and isolated to scattered very light to light rains are likely over Malnad and Coastal Karnataka regions on Wednesday, according to rainfall forecast issued on Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, north interior Karnataka region is very likely to see dry weather. 

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, very light to light rains will be likely over the BBMP area. 

The Bengaluru city police has registered a case against a pub owner and his staff for allegedly assaulting a Goods and Service Tax (GST) official. The complainant in the case, Vinay Nandal, a GST inspector and resident of Domlur, said the incident took place after midnight on November 5, when he was at Happy Brew pub in Koramangala.   

According to the complaint, Vinay went to the pub at 8 pm. Around 10.30 pm, a person came to him and asked who he was, to which Vinay identified himself as a GST officer. Then, around 12.30 am, pub owner Rakesh Gowda came up to him and asked him to pay the bill. Over the next 30 minutes, Gowda, bouncers and others assuming Vinay was a fake GST officer, sought his ID card. (Read more)

Here is the Air Quality Index for different parts of Bengaluru as of 11 am on Nov 10. An AQI of 0-50 is considered "Good", with minimal health impact. If the AQI is between 51 and 100, it is termed as "Satisfactory", and warns of minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people. An AQI of 101 to 200 is termed as "Moderate" and warns of breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases. The highest band is termed "Severe" (401 to 500).

BTM Layout: 93 (Satisfactory)
BWSSB Kadubeesanahalli: 76 (Satisfactory)
Bapuji Nagar: 174 (Moderate)
City Railway Station: 87 (Satisfactory)
Hebbal: 104 (Moderate)
Hombegowda Nagar: 97 (Satisfactory)
Jayanagar 5th block: 146 (Moderate)
Peenya: 57 (Satisfactory)

Accused hacker, Sriki alias Srikrishna who was recently arrested in a brawl has secured conditional bail on Tuesday by a local court in Bengaluru. 

Srikrishna who was out on bail was arrested with his friend Vishnu Bhat for allegedly misbehaving, manhandling and trespassing at the Royal Orchid hotel located on Old Airport road. The court on Tuesday granted bail to Srikrishna while Vishnu Bhat who faces charges of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) act is in police custody till Thursday.  

A biography on former Prime Minister of India,  H D Deve Gowda written by senior journalist Sugata Srinivasaraju will be released on November 29.

The book – ‘Furrows in a field -The Unexplored Life of H.D. Deve Gowda' gives an account of the highs and lows of Gowda’s journey in national and regional politics.

A biography on former Prime Minister of India HD Deve Gowda, written by senior journalist Sugata Srinivasaraju, will be released on November 29. #Karnataka #books #devegowda pic.twitter.com/93K9w1yFQn

— Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) November 10, 2021

The book will be launched formally in Delhi during the winter session of Parliament.

Ahead of his trip to New Delhi on Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 11 and is scheduled to meet several central ministers on issues concerning the state's projects.

The Chief Minister, who is also likely to meet BJP national leadership during the visit, did not completely rule out the possibility of discussion on cabinet expansion.

"I'm leaving for Delhi today, where I will be meeting central ministers and I have sought time to meet the Prime Minister, the appointment is expected for tomorrow," Bommai said. (PTI)

Petrol: Rs 100.58
Diesel: Rs 85.01

Bengal stunned heavyweights Karnataka by seven wickets with inspirational performances from pacer Mukesh Kumar and opener Abhimanyu Easwaran to storm into the Syed Mushtaq Ali quarter-finals in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Karnataka however are still in contention having qualified as the second team from the group and will be among six second placed teams fighting for remaining three quarter-final places. (PTI)

The BJP will launch a four-day 'Jan Swaraj Yatra' across Karnataka from November 18 with an eye on winning the coming taluk panchayat and district panchayat elections, the party's state spokesperson Ganesh Karnik said here on Tuesday.

"We are launching 'Jan Swaraj Yatra' for four days from November 18. Four teams will travel across the four corners of the state for four days with a focus on winning the Taluk and district Panchayat elections," he said. (PTI)

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the 24th edition of Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021 in Bengaluru according to C.N Ashwath Narayan, Karnataka’s Minister for Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Higher Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood. 

The summit will be organised by the Department of Electronics, IT & BT of the Government of Karnataka jointly with Software Technology Parks of India, from November 17-19. 

Speaking at the curtain raiser event on Tuesday Narayan said, “the technological innovations are redefining the future, and it is in this context that Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021 becomes more relevant. It has emerged as a trendsetter event globally and has become India’s leading technology summit.”

More than 30 countries, including Japan, Sweden, UK, Canada, Australia,Israel, Germany, France, Lithuania, Switzerland, Vietnam, Taiwan, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland and other members of the European Union are expected to participate in the summit. The summit is scheduled to have 300 speakers, over 20,000 exhibitors, over 5000 start ups, and expect an overall digital reach to over a half a million people.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said the list of probable candidates for the MLC elections will be sent to the party's parliamentary board in a day or two.

Amid hectic political activities against the backdrop of the MLC elections for 25 seats to be held on December 10, Bommai said the lists have already arrived from the district but it will be discussed further.

"Discussions were held regarding the MLC elections including the four graduate and teachers constituencies. We have obtained details from the districts. Tomorrow or the day after, the list will be sent to the parliamentary board of our party," the Chief Minister told reporters after the BJP core committee meeting. (PTI)

On Tuesday, zero emission passenger aircraft manufacturer ZeroAvia announced collaboration with the state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to develop a hydrogen-electric powertrain capable of flying the 19-seat Dornier 228 aircraft up to 500 NM.

Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar Tuesday urged more people to donate eyes, following the footsteps of late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar.

The power house Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday witnessed a unique greet to the President of India by Karnataka’s transgender woman Manjamma Jogathi who was conferred with Padma Shri award for her contribution to folk dance.

Here are the Padma awardees of Karnataka:

Tulasi Gowda (environmentalist) – Padma Shri, Harekala Hajabba (social work) – Padma Shri, Vijay Sankeshwar (trade and industry) – Padma Shri, Vidushi KS Jayalakshmi and late KV Sampath Kumar (literature and education) – Padma Shri, Dr BN Gangadhar (medicine) – Padma Shri, MP Ganesh (sports) – Padma Shri, Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji (social work) – Padma Vibhushan, posthumously

To know each one of them and their contributions, click here 

The European Union and the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) funded Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) Support Project titled ‘Waste Solutions for a Circular Economy in India’ will support Bengaluru in transition to low-carbon MSW Management technologies in line with circular economy principles.

The project aims to provide technical and financial support to BBMP for setting up new plants and revamping of existing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), compost facilities and bio-methanation plants. The project will also support in creating a role-model source segregation system through citizen engagement and demonstrating models for integrating the informal sector in Bengaluru.

H.E. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India conducted a joint site visit to one of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Management facilities in Koromangala with Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner, SWM, BBMP. He afterwards met Mr. Gaurav Gupta, IAS Chief Commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Bengaluru Rural and Bengaluru Urban, apart from Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Ramangar, Shivamogga and Kodagu districts on November 10 and 11.

The Karnataka government will begin Covid-19 vaccination for children, once the Centre approves, with a priority for children with co-morbidities, Health and Medical Education Minister Sudhakar said on Tuesday. 

"The Union government will soon start applying vaccines for children. We will provide vaccination to children based on priority as we have already identified kids with vulnerabilities through the Arogya Nandana programme," he said. 

Aarogya Nandana is a mass testing programme that the state government began in August to test various health parameters of over 1.5 crore population of children ahead of an anticipated third wave of Covid-19.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday announced Rs 10 crore for the construction of 'Kannada Bhavan' in neighboring Goa. The Chief Minister gave this assurance to the office bearers of All Goa Kannada Maha Sangha, who met him at his home office ‘Krishna' in Bengaluru. The delegation was led by BJP national general secretary and MLA C T Ravi.

Noting that a large number of people from north Karnataka have settled in Goa, and they are promoting and safeguarding Kannada and its culture there, Bommai said, the government is committed to building Kannada Bhavan in Goa in the interests of Kannadigas.

He directed officials to identify land and prepare a detailed project report for construction of the Kannada Bhavan in Goa, the CMO in a statement said. All Goa Kannada Maha Sangha honorary president Siddanna Meti, and other office-bearers expressed happiness about the Chief Minister's announcement, it said. (PTI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced elections to the Karnataka Legislative Council from 20 Local Authorities’ Constituencies for 25 seats to be held on December 10. 

On Tuesday the commission said that the elections will be held for all the 25 seats as the present MLCs term is going to end on 5 January, 2022. 

The elections will be held on December 10 between 8 am and 4 pm and the counting will be held on December 14.

The ECI said, "the Chief Secretary, Karnataka is being directed to depute a senior officer from the State to ensure that the extant instructions regarding Covid-19 containment measures are complied with while making arrangements for conducting the election."

Union Ministry of Jal Shakti Tuesday said it will train 18,000 members of women Self Help Groups (SGHs) in Karnataka on solid waste management and utilisation of solar energy in rural areas.

According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Energy and Development (MGIRED), in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, the Department of Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), is training 18,000 rural women from Karnataka’s SHGs in various aspects such as solid waste management and solar energy utilisation in rural areas. Read More

A 34-year-old woman in Bengaluru has recovered well after getting 222 fibroids removed from her uterus through myomectomy — a surgical procedure — doctors at Sakra World Hospital said.

The Karnataka state action plan on climate change said that around 38 per cent of forest area in the state would be hit by climate change by the 2030s. It also noted that forests in the central and northern parts of the Western Ghats would be impacted by climate change.

BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh Monday said the opposition Congress party was behind rumours of a possible BJP leadership change in Karnataka, in the wake of allegations of wrongdoing in a probe into the illegal activities of a computer hacker.

The Karnataka government has decided to hold the winter session of the state legislature in the border district of Belagavi, the schedule for which will be finalised during the next cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said on Monday.

Sessions have not been held in Belagavi in the last two years, due to floods and Covid-19 pandemic. They were instead held in state capital Bengaluru.  If held, as planned, this will be the first legislature session in Belagavi, after the BJP came to power in 2019.  Belagavi in north Karnataka, bordering Maharashtra, has been hosting legislature sessions once a year since 2006. (PTI)

Short-term travellers from Maharashtra coming to Karnataka for two days or less by any mode of transport will have to be asymptomatic of Covid-19, that is they should be free of fever, cough, cold, throat pain, fever, and difficulty in breathing, according to the latest guidelines issued by the state government.

Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said the last wish of his father and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda is to bring the party to power on its own in Karnataka.

"Where we went wrong and what we need to do going forward...let's focus on this. Deve Gowda's last wish is to bring an independent (JDS) government. I'm formulating programmes for it. I need your cooperation. I need you to work hard and we'll give you all the strength you need," Kumaraswamy said. (PTI)

A power cut has been announced on Tuesday in the areas serviced by the Jayanagar sub-division.

According to a Bescom press release, the areas that will be affected are: 

From 10 am to 5 pm: Urvashi, Swamy Alcove, 4th Cross, Lakshmi Road, Bikasipura, Mango Garden, Prathima Industrial Layout, Kashi Nagar, ISRO Layout, Kumaraswamy Layout, Pipeline Road, Vasantha Vallabha Nagar, Sarada Nagar, Maruthi Layout. S-9 Padmanabhanagar: BDA Complex, KIMS College, 7th Cross, 21st Main, 13th and 14th Cross. S9 Office Ringroad, 27th th Main, 25th Main, 28th Cross, Chinnappa Naidu Layout, Banashankari III Stage, Thyagarajanagara Main Road, BBMP Swimming Pool and surrounding areas, 1st Cross Road, Banagiri Nagar, Outer Ring Road, D.G. Hospital limits. Komarala Brigde Apartment, part of Gowdanapalya.

From 10 am to 5.30 pm: S1, Jayanagar: Jayanagar 6th Block, Sakamma Garden. NIMHANS: Jayanagar 1st and 2nd Blocks. RBI Layout, Yadav Farm. Jaraganahalli, M.S. Layout, GKM College Road, Chikkaswamy Layout, Rajamma Garden, Govind Reddy Layout, part of Rajeev Gandhi Road. J.P. Nagar 5th Phase, K.R. Layout, Venkatadri Layout, Doresanipalya, Katahriguppe Main Road, Kathriguppe Village, KEB Layout, Ramrao Layout, C.K.Acchukattu, Hosakerehalli, Kalidas Nagara.

Asserting that Karnataka government was making all honest efforts to implement the Mekedatu project across Cauvery river, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday slammed opposition Congress for its planned 'Padayatra', demanding its speedy implementation.

"What did the Congress leaders do, when they were in power, instead of implementing the project," Bommai asked, in a statement. Stating that it's not right to mount pressure on the government in the name of a padayatra, he said, "The Congress took years to prepare a DPR (Detailed Project Report). Why didn't they expedite the process and implement the project?"

The Chief Minister said that the Mekedatu project is now before the court, and the government is fighting the case legally. (PTI)

Karnataka logged 283 new Covid-19 cases and six deaths today, taking the total number of infections to 29,90,235 and the toll to 38,118. The day also saw 290 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,44,099, a health department bulletin said.

Bengaluru Urban topped in the number of cases (159), as the city saw 104 discharges and one death.

The total number of active cases in the state is now 7,989. While the positivity rate for the day stood at 0.26 per cent, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 2.12 per cent. (PTI)

With the air quality worsening after Diwali, most hospitals in Bengaluru have seen an increase in the number of patients suffering from lung ailments.

Days after Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that the Mumbai-Karnataka region, consisting of seven districts, would be renamed as Kittur Karnataka, the state Cabinet on Monday rechristened the region.

A 31-year-old court employee, who had recently attacked government officials in Karnataka’s Mangaluru, reportedly attempted suicide at Wenlock District Hospital Monday.

Hotel and restaurant owners here have decided to increase the price of food items by at least 10 per cent from Monday. Restaurateurs said they had to take the difficult decision in view of the rise in the prices of commercial LPG, edible oils and vegetables.

Hours after a circular was issued by the Deputy Director of Pre-University Education in Karnataka’s Mysuru district instructing employees at PU colleges not to wear jeans and T-shirts, it was withdrawn following resentment among teachers and non-teaching staff.

Some of the pre-schools in the state reopend today after the state government allowed to hold offline classes. 

Parents pick up wards from a kindergarten in #Bengaluru after the first day of offline classes held after nearly 20 months. Pre-schools had not functioned in #Karnataka since March 2020 due to #Covid19. @IndianExpress pic.twitter.com/ZyLReSuO3L

— Ralph Alex Arakal (@ralpharakal) November 8, 2021

Three Bengaluru scientists have been awarded Swarnajayanti fellowships for their innovative research ideas and their potential to create an impact on research and development in different disciplines.

Five grenades which are at least 40 years old have been found near the house of an ex-serviceman in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district. Jayakumar Poojary (66), a resident of Ilanthila village in Belthangady taluk, informed the police Sunday that five grenades were found in a plastic cover near his house.

Days after Tripura Police booked Supreme Court lawyers, who were a part of an independent fact-finding team, for allegedly sharing “fake information on social media” on reported communal violence, a protest was staged by activists and lawyers in Bengaluru on Monday. They alleged that false charges have been pressed against SC lawyers Advocate Ansaar Indori and Mukesh by Tripura police. City based activist and advocate Vinay Sreenivasa said, instead of arresting  perpetrators of violence against Muslims, Tripura police slapped false UAPA charges on the advocates and journalists.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Minister R Ashoka and several others paid respect to Kannada film actor late Puneeth Rajkumar on 11th day of death ceremony on Monday.

Janata Dal Secular on Monday launched a print edition of its in-house journal ‘Janata Patrike’ ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka.

Veteran journalist P Ramaiah along with JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda released the first issue of the ‘Janata Patrike’, edited by JDS leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, during the ‘Janata Parva 2.0’  the second edition of the eight-day workshop for party leaders. 

Kumaraswamy who is also an editor of the ‘Janata Patrike’ said the monthly magazine will not only serve as a guide for JDS party workers, but also address issues related to the State, its language, major projects, policies, and other issues of Karnataka.

The Karnataka transport department on Monday announced an increase in auto-rickshaw fares in Bengaluru. The base fare has been hiked to Rs 30 from the present Rs 25 for the first two kilometres. Meanwhile, Rs 15 will be charged for every subsequent kilometre.

The #Karnataka transport department increased auto-rickshaw fares in #Bengaluru with the base fare hiked to Rs 30 from the present Rs 25 (for the first 2 km). Rs 15 for every additional km. 

The #Karnataka transport department increased auto-rickshaw fares in #Bengaluru with the base fare hiked to Rs 30 from the present Rs 25(for the first 2 km). Rs 15 for every additional km. @IndianExpress @IEBengaluru pic.twitter.com/CToDNo6smC

— Darshan Devaiah B P (@DarshanDevaiahB) November 8, 2021

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai reviewed the progress of the ‘Bengaluru Mission 2022’ initiative late Sunday evening and directed officials to implement various projects, including Bengaluru Metro and Suburban Railway projects, in the city soon.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath to three additional judges of the Karnataka High Court on Monday.
          
The three judges who took oath at the Raj Bhavan were: Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde, Justice Siddaiah Rachaiah and Justice Kannan Kuyil Sridharan Hemalekha.
        
Chief Justice of the High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
       
With the induction of the three additional judges, the High Court of Karnataka has now a strength of 46 judges including the Chief Justice. (PTI)

It was a moment of elation for Karnataka when Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the statue of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj at Kedarnath on November 5. An MBA from the University of Mysore, Yogiraj had quit his job at a private firm to pursue sculpting – an art, he says, five generations of his family have held dear.

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has expressed its inability to supply milk to Anganwadis in Andhra Pradesh unless the latter immediately cleared the Rs 130 crore payment due and also increased the price by Rs 5 a litre.
          
The milk supply from Karnataka, if stalled, could deprive over 20 lakh children under the age of six of nutritious food as part of the Sampoorna Poshana scheme.
        
The AP government has been procuring 110 lakh litres of ultra-high temperature milk every month from KMF under the brand Nandini.
        
For the past four months, however, the state government did not make any payment to KMF, the outstanding amount now touching Rs 130 crore, even as a row broke out over the revision of milk price, official sources here told PTI.
        
The KMF, under an agreement with the AP government signed in June 2020, had been charging Rs 5 per litre "less than the actual cost" since the Sampoorna Poshana scheme is a "noble social cause." (PTI)
       

The Union ministry of Home Affairs asked the Karnataka government to investigate a complaint made by former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah that he was spied on with the Pegasus spyware.

A US-based firm, Spaceflight Inc, which uses Indian Space Research Organisation rockets, among others to provide global space launch services, has moved a US court as an “interested party” in the wake of the US court allowing identification of assets of ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix Corporation for recovery of a $1.2 billion compensation award.

The ambient air quality measured at seven Continuous Ambient Quality Monitoring Stations at Bengaluru city reveals that the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels during Deepavali this year have increased by 23 per cent when compared to the corresponding period last year. The average AQI during the festive period, between November 3 and 5, was 67. The preceding year the average AQI was 55.

A week after Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar passed away owing to a cardiac arrest in Bengaluru, his family doctor has been provided police protection in the wake of several fans alleging “medical negligence”.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police in Bengaluru have arrested three persons who were allegedly running a Ponzi scheme by luring people to invest in cryptocurrency and assuring attractive higher returns.