CAG report on CM's Nagarothana scheme was tabled in Karnataka Assembly on Dec 23, 2022, Friday (Express/File photo)Karnataka Assembly Winter Session, Bangalore News highlights: A report from Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) alleging that the city corporations of Ballari, Tumakuru and Vijayapura have “diverted” Rs 108.75 crore of funds, meant for the ‘Chief Minister’s Nagarothana scheme’ was tabled in Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The Nagarothana scheme (phase-3) at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore was launched to upgrade infrastructure in 10 city corporations, with each one getting Rs 100 crore.
“In contravention of the scheme guidelines, the test checked city corporations diverted Rs 108.75 crore (40 per cent of the total expenditure of Rs 269.28 crore) towards work taken up under other schemes,” the report said as per news agency PTI.
In other news, Karnataka ministers and BJP legislators belonging to the dominant Vokkaliga community demanded 12 per cent reservation in admission in the state educational institutions and government jobs. The Vokkaligas come under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Karnataka.
The decades old border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra remained boiling as the latter asserted to bring a resolution to the dispute next week. This comes a day after Karnataka unanimously passed a resolution resolving to protect the State interests and not to cede an inch of land to its neighbours.
Municipal workers remove blocks and other obstructions to clear the waterlogged Outer Ring Road after heavy monsoon rains, in Bellandur, Bengaluru, September 7, 2022. (PTI/File)
A mock drill to test the COVID emergency preparedness of health facilities in Karnataka will be conducted on December 27, state Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Friday.
Addressing reporters here, after a meeting with Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya, he said, “We are conducting the mock drill in all our health facilities on December 27 just to make sure all our facilities, right from infrastructure health personnel, our equipment, oxygen generators, everything are in working condition." Mandaviya held an emergency COVID meeting with all the state health ministers and gave a presentation on the prevailing status of pandemic across the world.
(PTI)
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he has asked the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes to submit a report on the various demands of the dominant Vokkaliga community in the state.
Bommai was reacting to the memorandum submitted by the Vokkaliga ministers and BJP legislators demanding increase in reservation for the Vokkaligas, a farming community.
The key demand of these BJP leaders was that the reservation for Vokkaligas under the 3A category of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) should be increased from four per cent to 12 per cent.
(PTI)
In contravention of guidelines, the city corporations of Ballari, Tumakuru and Vijayapura have “diverted” Rs 108.75 crore of funds, meant for the 'Chief Minister's Nagarothana scheme', towards other projects, the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) has said.
The CAG's performance audit on the 'Mukhyamantrigala Nagarothana scheme (phase-3) for city corporations' was tabled in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The Nagarothana scheme (phase-3) at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore was launched to upgrade infrastructure in 10 city corporations, with each one getting Rs 100 crore.
The performance audit covered the period 2014-15 to 2020-21 in Ballari, Mysuru, Tumakuru and Vijayapura.
According to the CAG findings, "In contravention of the scheme guidelines, the test checked city corporations diverted Rs 108.75 crore (40 per cent of the total expenditure of Rs 269.28 crore) towards work taken up under other schemes." It was towards “paying their contribution amounts for other schemes- AMRUT, Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana and 24x7 water supply- or on works being executed under other grants," it said.
(PTI)
A Punjab engineering student was detained for allegedly posting a tweet to bomb Bengaluru airport, police said.
The tweet, posted on December 10, read, “I will bomb the blr airport j so they can rebuild one closer to the city (sic).”
The 22-year-old student, identified as Vaibhav G, was later released, they said.
Read more here https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/student-booked-for-hoax-threat-to-bomb-bengaluru-airport-cop-says-threat-isnt-a-joke-8340711/
A special court in Bengaluru has rejected the 'B report' submitted by the Karnataka Lokayukta police in the case where Additional Director General of Police Alok Kumar and two other officers are alleged to have demanded a bribe of Rs 1 crore.
The original complaint dates back to 2014. Mallikarjun M B. was allegedly involved in a fight in the Organe Bar and Restaurant in 2014.Chandrashekar, then a constable in the Vyalikaval police station, is said to have received Rs 5 lakh bribe to cover up this issue.
The then ACP of Seshadripuram sub-division Daneshwar Rao and Vyalikaval police inspector Shankarachari were accused of receiving the Rs 5 lakh through Chandrashekar on September 1, 2014.
The following day, they allegedly sought Rs 1 crore bribe from Mallikarjun in the name of the then Additional Commissioner of Police, Alok Kumar.
They had allegedly threatened to book Mallikarjun under serious criminal charges if he did not pay up within 48 hours.
After seven years, the Lokayukta police concluded the investigation and on March 19, 2022, filed a report in the court filing a 'B report' stating there was no evidence against Shankarachari and Daneshwar Rao.
(PTI)
A delegation of state ministers and MLAs from the Vokkaliga community has submitted a petition to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to hike reservations for the community as well as include the urban poor of the community under the EWS quota.
Ministers R Ashok, CN Ashwathnarayan, Araga Jnanendra, and K Sudhakar are among the signatories of the petition.
BJP MLC MK Pranesh has been elected as deputy chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council in Belagavi on Friday.
The Congress party had fielded Aravind Kumar Arali as its contestant. MK Pranesh received 39 votes whereas Aravind Kumar Arali got 26 votes in the 75-seat House.
JD(S) took a stand to remain neutral as they were not sought for support by both parties, and accused Congress of their double-standards as they refrained from fielding any candidates for Chairman elections held two days ago.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai paid a 'heartfelt obeisance' to the country's former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his 120th birth anniversary. December 23 is celebrated as Kisan Diwas (National Farmers' Day) in India.
CM Bommai took to Twitter on Friday to express his gratitude towards him. He wrote, "My heart felt obeisance to Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh Ji on his birth anniversary which is also celebrated as 'Farmers Day'. His contribution towards emancipation of farmers & the empowerment of weaker sections of society will always be cherished. #KisanDiwas"
Amidst the rising fear of Covid-19 infections in the state as the number of cases surge in other parts of the world, the Karnataka government on Friday mandated Covid testing for all cases of Influenza Like Illnesses (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).
According to Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru, the city will witness clear skies throughout the day. Early morning hours will very likely be misty in some areas.
The maximum and minimum temperatures will very likely be around 27 and 15 degrees Celsius for the next 24 hours.
Ahead of Christmas and New Year, the Karnataka government has released guidelines making the wearing of face masks mandatory in indoor and closed places like pubs, bars, restaurants, malls, offices, buses, and trains.
“It is strongly advised to wear face mask, particularly by the elderly and those with comorbidities in all indoor areas and closed places like pubs, bars & restaurants, cinema halls, buses, flights, trains including metros, shopping malls, offices, etc,” the guidelines signed by health commissioner Randeep D said.
The guidelines also advise the eligible to get the precautionary dose of Covid vaccines. Read more.
The Karnataka cabinet has approved a policy aiming to stimulate 25,000 startups in the next five years and to position the state as a champion of startups.
The Karnataka Startup Policy 2022 aims to set up a Rs 100-crore venture capital fund to support emerging innovative and deep-tech startups in artificial intelligence, machine learning, electric vehicles, robotics, drones and other disruptive technologies across all sectors. A one-time grant-in-aid of up to Rs 50 lakh will also be provided for startups.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held in Belagavi, where the legislature’s winter session is underway. (Read more)
While passing a resolution on the border dispute with Maharashtra on Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai called Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut a “Chinese agent” over his recent statement that “just like how China entered [Indian territory], we will enter [Karnataka]” without permission.
“The way Sanjay Raut spoke, I suspect he is in favour of China. He is anti-national. What else should I call him? If you come like Chinese, we will do what Indian soldiers did,” Bommai told the Assembly in Belagavi during its winter session.
Raut, the MP from the Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction, recently said, “Just like how China has entered [Indian territory], we will enter [Karnataka]. We do not need anyone’s permission. We want to solve it through a discussion but the Karnataka CM is igniting a fire. There is a weak government in Maharashtra. It is not taking any stand on it.” (Read more)
The reservation demand by the Panchamasali community, a sub-sect of the Veerashaiva Lingayat community, received a boost after the state government assured to fulfil their demand by December 29, said BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission submitted its interim report to the state government on reservation for various communities.
Yatnal is among the leaders spearheading the reservation demand for the community. Speaking at a massive Panchamasali convention held near the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha at Belagavi Thursday, Yatnal said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has “promised” that he would announce reservation for the community by December 29. “The government will hold an all party meeting and announce the reservation under the 2A category by December 29,” he said. (Read more)
Officials from the Karnataka forest department and Central Crime Branch (CCB) raided a farmhouse owned by senior Congress leader and former minister S S Mallikarjun in Davangere on Wednesday night and rescued around 29 wild animals.
According to forest officials, 10 blackbucks, seven spotted deer, seven wild boars, three mongooses and two jackals were found at the farmhouse. (Read more)
Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution on the border row with Maharashtra, resolving to protect the State's interests. The unanimous resolution condemned the border dispute "created" by Maharashtra. The resolution moved by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was adopted by a voice-vote.
"There is no compromise on the matters relating to Karnataka's land, water, language and Kannadiga's interest. The feelings of Karnataka's people and members (of assembly) is one of this subject, and if it is affected, we are all committed to unitedly take constitutional and legal measures to protect the interest of the state.
Condemning border disputes created by Maharashtra people unnecessarily, this house unanimously passes a resolution that it is committed to protect the interest of the state," the resolution moved by Bommai read. (PTI)
Amid the rising cases of Covid-19 caused by the new variant of the coronavirus, BF.7, in China and other countries, the Karnataka Government will issue fresh guidelines to prevent its spread Thursday.
Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister K Sudhakar told reporters the state government would issue directions based on the outcome of the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added masks will be compulsory in all closed spaces and indoor settings, especially air-conditioned places. “We will issue an advisory to that effect,” Sudhakar said while speaking to reporters following a meeting chaired by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. (Read more)
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Thursday sought cooperation of the public if restrictions are imposed in the state to curb the spread of Covid-19. Meanwhile, an emergency meeting was convened later in the day to discuss the preventive measures.
Responding to concerns raised by Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah on a surge in Covid cases in countries such as China, Bommai said that the state government is focusing on prevention. Restrictions on public gatherings and booster doses are among the preventive measures against the spread of the new Covid variant, he said. “I urge the citizens to cooperate with the government. If they do so, we can save lives,” Bommai added. (Read more)
“If I create a fake khata in the name of Vidhana Soudha (Karnataka legislature building), will your office register it in my name?” This question from Congress MLA Krishna Byre Gowda was greeted by silence during the Assembly session in Belagavi on Wednesday.
Gowda said fake Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) documents were being created and that sub-registrar offices in Bengaluru registered sites on the basis of the fake documents. To the members’ surprise, it was revealed that BJP MLAs Goolihatti Shekar and Abhay Patil and Congress MLA Narendra Swamy had fallen prey to the “scam”.
“The sub-registrars in the city have been registering sites based on fake khata documents. When a sub-registrar was confronted, he replied that it was not his job to check the veracity of documents. If I create a fake khata in the name of Vidhana Soudha, will your office register it in my name?” Gowda said. (Read more)
Emergency meeting on Covid chaired by CM Basavaraj Bommai at 3 pm today, says Health Minister K Sudhakar. He also mentioned Only 20 per cent of the people have taken booster dose. Special drive for booster dose across the state, says K Sudhakar.
CM Basavaraj Bommai says that we tried to ensure more people take the booster dose, but there was no enthusiasm from the people
The report is likely to be taken up at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday to decide the future of various demands for OBC reservations from various caste groups including sub castes of the dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities.
A nearly two-year-old agitation for reservation launched by a prominent sub-sect of the dominant Lingayat community, Panchamasali Lingayats, in Karnataka may come to a head Thursday when hundreds of its activists propose to march to the state legislature in Belagavi to press for their demand. The Panchamasali activists have been demanding a share of the 15 per cent reservation given to Other Backward Castes (OBCs) in the state instead of a separate five per cent quota allotted to Lingayats.
The Panchamasali activists led by seer Jaya Mruthyunjay Swamy began a march last Tuesday to the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, where the winter session of the Karnataka legislature is in progress, and reached the Belagavi border Wednesday. They have the support of several ruling BJP MLAs and ministers from the Panchamasali community. They are threatening to lay siege to the state legislature complex indefinitely if their quota demand is not met this week despite the BJP’s assurances. Continue...
"Our Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Covid 19 which has observed the developments abroad has given their recommendations. These recommendations have been forwarded to the Chief Minister and a meeting will be held under his chairmanship today evening," said Tushar Giri Nath, BBMP chief commissioner.
He asked people to follow Covid appropriate behavior and added that BBMP will follow the guidelines which will come out of the high level meeting today evening.
Ahead of a massive protest of Panchamasali community demanding 2A reservation, BJP Parliamentary Board member BS Yediyurappa says that the community will get it's due.
"Their demand is valid and the Chief Minister (Basavaraj Bommai) will consider their demands," he said.
Earlier, Karnataka State Backward Classes Commision Jayaprakash Hegde submitted an interim report to the CM on reservation for various communities.
An all party meeting will be held to discuss Covid measures in the state during the ongoing winter session of legislature in Belagavi. Government likely to issue fresh Covid guidelines later today.
A forensic expert has confirmed in court his finding of DNA match between tissue samples obtained from a toothbrush abandoned at a hideout and 30-year-old Parashuram Vagmore — the alleged shooter in journalist Gauri Lankesh, 55, murder that took place in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.
L Purushotham, an assistant director and technical manager of the DNA section at the Karnataka State Forensic Science Laboratory, confirmed his findings in the trial court on December 15.
Purushotham presented a series of findings, including the DNA match of tissues found on a toothbrush with Vagmore, as well as hair found on bedsheets at hideouts with other key players in the murder plot. Read More