Karnataka Bengaluru August 18 Highlights: PUC students to get free bus travel to attend exams

The Karnataka government has decided to test various health parameters of its over 1.5 crore population of children ahead of an anticipated third wave of Covid-19. According to Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar, the ‘Arogya Nandana’ initiative will be launched by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai within a week.

“While over 1.5 crore children in the state will be subjected to tests, this will help us identify children with low immunity and other co-morbidities. They will then be provided with nutritious food and supplements to boost their immunity and their health will be constantly monitored,” Sudhakar said.

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A Bengaluru teenager’s addiction to mobile gaming cost his father Rs 4.8 lakh, after the boy was cheated with offers of attractive online games.

According to the police, the victim is a private firm employee and resident of Akshayanagar near KR Puram. His 15-year-old son was addicted to Free Fire, an online multiplayer mobile game, through which he met a person called Lakshmi Bai.

An officer said Lakshmi Bai introduced the boy to more online games. In July, she asked him to download some paid games, and sent him a link for the payment. The teen, who often used his father’s phone and a bank account linked to the number, shared the One Time Password (OTP) received on the phone with Lakshmi Bai.

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Justice A V Chandrashekar committee has set a deadline to submit documents before September 9 for Dr Shivaram Karanth Layout landowners. The committee says that the applications both online and offline will not be accepted after September 9. As of June, 3,541 applications have been submitted out of the 6,227 properties that have been identified by satellite imagery.

IPS officer Umesh Kumar has been appointed as nodal officer to coordinate with central government agencies to bring back Kannadigas stuck in Afghanistan.

The University of Mysore (UoM) has decided to organise a one-day workshop for all of its key stakeholders on Friday with regard to the state government's plan to begin implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP) from the academic year 2021-22. 

According to officials of the varsity, the programme will be inaugurated by Commissioner for Collegiate Education Pradeep P and is expected to be attended by top officials of the Technical Education department as well. 

Further, Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji is scheduled to unveil NEP in Karnataka in the presence of Higher Education Minister C N Ashwathnarayan later that afternoon at Crawford Hall on the UoM campus.

The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) police conducted property return parade today. They had displayed 27 kg of gold ornaments worth Rs 56 crore, Rs. 32 crore-worth drugs and Ambergris, mobile phones and other electronic devices. 

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra handed over Rs 3.91 crore worth valuables to 18 victims and announced Rs 18 lakh as reward to the cops.

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Wednesday assured of extending all necessary assistance to the Afghan students studying in the state and to take steps to address their grievances following the political developments in their country.

"The state government will extend all help to those of the students from Afghanistan, studying in Karnataka, in addressing their grievances arising out of the strife, if any, in their nation," Jnanendra told reporters in Bengaluru.

He noted that there are about 300 Afghan nationals, including students presently residing in the state. "The state government will interact with the Union Government relating to any issues on extending Visa of the Afghan students residing in Karnataka", the minister said.

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the students studying in Karnataka grew desperate, fearing for the safety of their relatives back home. (PTI)

In Bengaluru, fuel is priced at Rs. 105.25 per litre today while diesel costs Rs. 95.05 per litre.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s 58th kitchen, sponsored by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was inaugurated by R. Madhavan, the Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, in Jalahalli in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The new kitchen is sponsored by HAL as a part of its CSR project. Through this kitchen, Akshaya Patra will reach out mid-day meals to 7,500 children every day.

R. Madhavan, the Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, said, “HAL has been taking CSR initiatives as a “call from within" even before it was officially mandated. The CSR activities of HAL are tuned towards improving the quality of life of the socially & economically backwards groups and marginalized & weaker sections of the Society, in the vicinity of its operational areas."

Vietnam Ambassador to India SanhChau Pham called on Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Nearly three weeks after he took over as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai will soon move into his official residence in Bengaluru. According to an official notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, the CM will operate from No. 1 Race View Cottage on Race Course Road.

Higher Education Minister and former Deputy Chief Minister, C N Ashwathnarayan, has been staying in the ministerial bungalow. “The CM will be able to shift after Ashwathnarayan, who has been asking for a bungalow on Crescent Road, moves out,” an official said.

According to sources, the house will be repainted and modified as per Bommai’s demands before he officially moves to the residence. Till then, the CM will continue to operate from the Kumara Krupa guest house as a temporary measure.

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The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will allow students taking their Pre-University Certificate (PUC) examinations to travel free of cost to and from examination centres. 

This is in a bid to facilitate those appearing for the supplementary exams, according to a press note from KSRTC.

The students will have to produce their admit cards to avail the service. They will be allowed to travel for free from August 19 to September 3.

Ending the unprecedented 22-month-long impasse, the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana is learnt to have recommended nine names to the government on Tuesday for appointment as judges to the top court. The list has three women judges, including one who could become the first woman Chief Justice of India.

The Indian Express has learnt that the Collegium, for the first time, has recommended the names of three women judges – Justice B V Nagarathna of the Karnataka High Court; Justice Hima Kohli, Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court; and Justice Bela Trivedi of the Gujarat High Court – for elevation to the Supreme Court. Justice Nagarathna could become the first woman Chief Justice of India.

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Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Tuesday said water logging areas in Bengaluru have been identified and will be fixed soon. "I have instructed the officials to construct shoulder drains wherever necessary so that we can prevent water logging on Bengaluru streets," Ashoka said.

Noting that many roads witness traffic jams during rains due to waterlogging, he said it has been decided to remove all such bottlenecks so that the water flows into the drain and there is no water logging. "We will not tolerate any sub-standard work. I recently inspected Commercial Street and ordered the contractor to relay the tiles. The road will get a new look within two months. I have asked officials to regularly inspect the works and take action against sub-standard works," he added.

The Minister further warned that if any official is found to be negligent, action will take action against the erring official. (PTI)

The Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has cautioned the general public against falling prey to unscrupulous elements who are offering employment in the company by charging money.

In a statement, MRPL said some unscrupulous elements are found to be cheating members of general public by taking money for employment and contract employment in the refinery premises. It is reported that these elements are using MRPL's duplicate letter heads and work passes to commit the fraud, the statement said, adding the company has already initiated appropriate legal action against this.

MRPL never charges any money for appointments for permanent or contract jobs and the company has not nominated any broker or agent for the purpose, the statement from Rudolph V J Noronha, general manager (corporate communications), said. 

Being a CPSE organisation, it has a transparent system for recruiting staff and system does not allow any scope for malpractice. The company recruits candidates by notifying the vacancies appropriately and by widely advertising the vacancies in leading national dailies, employment news and also by hosting the same on company websites, the statement said. (PTI)

Karnataka reported 1,298 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths on Tuesday, taking the total number of infections to 29,31,827 and the toll to 37,039. The day also saw 1,833 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 28,73,281.                       

Bengaluru Urban accounted for most of the fresh cases (340), as the city saw 471 discharges and 10 deaths. The total number of active cases in the state is at 21,481. While the positivity rate for the day stood at 1.01 per cent, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 2.46 per cent.

Out of 32 deaths reported on Tuesday 10 were from Bengaluru Urban, Dakshina Kannada had five, Hassan, Kodagu, Kolar, Mysuru and Shivamogga two each, followed by others. Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru Urban accounted for 340, Dakshina Kannada 288, Udupi 122, Mysuru 88 and Hassan 66, while the rest were scattered in other districts.

Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 12,33,512, followed by Mysuru 1,74,767 and Tumakuru 1,18,711. Among discharges too, Bengaluru Urban was on top with 12,09,647, followed by Mysuru 1,71,340 and Tumakuru 1,16,918.

Cumulatively a total of 4,11,53,364 samples have been tested in the state so far, out of which 1,28,269 were done on Tuesday alone. (PTI)

Four people were arrested on Tuesday with 20 kg of banned ambergris or floating gold worth Rs 20 crore, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, the SJ Park police arrested two people with 2.5 kg of ambergris. Further interrogation revealed that there were two more members of the gang. Based on their input, police raided their house in Hoskote town adjoining Bengaluru and seized 17.5 kg of ambergris.

The accused are reportedly residents of Udupi who had got the ambergris from Malpe beach. (PTI)

Harish Bangera, 32, who was arrested in Saudi Arabia over alleged hate posts on social media has been released and returned to India.  

Bangera, a resident of Goyadibettu in Bijadi village of Kundapur taluk, Udupi district, was an air-conditioning technician for a company in Dammam, capital of Saudi's eastern provice. He was arrested on December 20, 2019 for allegedly posting derogatory messages on Facebook against Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammad bin Salman and a community.

In an ongoing drive, the Karnataka government has been able to reclaim 141 acres of land illegally occupied by encroachers around 58 lakes in Bengaluru.

Earlier, the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner, J Manjunath, had directed the stakeholders, including the revenue department, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, KSPCB (Karnataka State Pollution Control Board), forest department and minor irrigation department to survey the lakes and demolish encroachments.

The tehsildars of all the taluks were directed to undertake the eviction drives every Saturday.

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Bengaluru, which is positioning itself to contest local polls in the city and the next assembly polls in 2023, has alleged that BJP MLA and former minister Arvind Limbavali and his supporters are preventing the opening of an AAP office in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bengaluru.

The party has written to the Bengaluru police commissioner Kamal Pant alleging that the owner of a building has been threatened for renting out his premises for establishing an AAP office in Mahadevapura, which is Limbavali’s constituency.

According to AAP, threat calls were made to the owner hours after inauguration of the party office in the Bellandur ward on Sunday.

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Investigation into the death of a dog which was shot led to the seizure of a massive load of explosives in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district Monday. Police seized 1,400 kg of explosive substances stored illegally inside a building in Mangaluru city.

The accused, Anand Gatty (50), was arrested and produced before a court which remanded him in police custody. Police have recovered 400 kg of white sulphur powder, 350 kg of potassium nitrate, 50 kg of barium nitrate, 395 kg of potassium chlorite, 260 kg of aluminium powder of different grades, 161 boxes of 100 air pistol pellets each (.22 bore), 30 kg of lead balls and 240 kg of charcoal from the spot.

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The Karnataka government has decided to test 1.5 crore children in the state for Covid-19 ahead of an anticipated third wave of the pandemic. According to Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar, the 'Arogya Nandana' initiative will be launched by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai within a week. 

"While over 1.5 crore children in the state will be subjected to Covid tests, this will help us identify children with low immunity and other co-morbidities. They will then be provided with nutritious food and supplements to boost their immunity and their health will be constantly monitored," Sudhakar said.

While internet and connectivity remained in place allowing students to communicate with their families back in Afghanistan, there is concern that things could change once the Taliban gain complete control at the local level.

A group of Afghan students studying at the University of Mysore met the vice-chancellor of the university G Hemanth Kumar on Tuesday with a plea to look after the interests of Afghan students during the current crisis. Mysore University VC, G Hemanth Kumar, said he will write to the Ministry of External Affairs to help the students.

According to the sources in the Karnataka police department, there are 339 Afghanistan nationals who are legally living in Karnataka. Of them, 202 are residing in Bengaluru. As many as 192 Afghan nationals are on student visas.

Afghan nationals whose visas have expired or is about to expire are expressing their concern. There is no official communication from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or Ministry of External Affairs on visa validity, a student said.

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With the Karnataka government and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) progressing actions required to begin implementing new National Educational Policy (NEP) from the upcoming academic year in colleges, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai dubbed the same as a "necessary move in the realm of education."

Bommai, after reviewing the progress with DHE officials said it was also necessary to 
begin technical educational institutions across all districts in a bid to ensure employment to the youth.

He also noted that the implementation of the new policy should take place by ensuring all the prominent educational institutions in the state are taken into confidence. It was also suggested that the syllabus of B.Ed and D.Ed courses should be revised to be in tune with the provisions of the NEP as well.

The Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) will be held on August 28 and 29, the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) confirmed while hosting admission tickets for candidates on its official portal. 

As per an official notification, candidates can download the admission ticket by selecting the link on the KEA website (kea.kar.nic.in). Candidates have been urged to download instructions and to follow akk guidelines/procedures mentioned compulsorily. 

Earlier, the government announced that admission to undergraduate professional courses including medical, engineering, technology, yoga and naturopathy, farm science, and pharma courses would be based on ranks considering the scores secured by students attending the KCET, and not based on second-year pre-university exam grades or marks.

Despite attaining authorisation from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) to begin commercial operations on the extended Purple Line of Namma Metro in Bengaluru, the same is expected to be further delayed before being open to commuters.

According to a senior official at the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the government had initially planned to complete the inauguration on the day of Varamahalakshmi festival (August 20 this year), considered to be auspicious.

“We have been consulting ministers of both the Centre and the State to arrive at a date for inauguration. However, it looks highly unlikely that we can launch operations on Varamahalshmi Day as it is difficult to get dates of leaders at both levels together in such a short notice,” the official said. However, a date is expected to be announced in the coming days.

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Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who reviewed the works undertaken by the PWD department Tuesday instructed the officials to take up the restoration work of roads damaged by recent rains on priority.

Pointing out that Rs 300 crore has been released for restoration of roads damaged due to rains, the CM asked officials to utilise the funds for the region affected by rains. (PTI)

Noting that the government is taking measures to alert people about possible lightning strikes, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said, "every year, many people die due to lightning, hence, we are introducing a lightning alert system at select villages. This project has been taken up with help from the Central Government." These warning systems will be installed at select gram panchayats and will be connected with the weather office in Bengaluru, he said.

Further stating that the government will be introducing a cyclone warning system in coastal areas, Ashoka said, sirens will be sounded which can be heard up to six km. "Currently, we are planning to install this at 40 places in coastal areas and soon plan to extend it to 60 places. Each centre costs Rs 10 to Rs 12 crore with funding from the central government. This will be especially helpful to warn fishermen and those staying in coastal areas," he added. (PTI)

Karnataka has officially declared 83 taluks in the state  as "flood hit", Revenue Minister R Ashoka said on Tuesday."Earlier, we had declared 61 taluks as flood affected. However, following recent rainfall and flood situation, we have added 22 taluks to the list," Ashoka said.

The list includes Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Hubballi city, Kadur, Davanagere, Dandeli, Alur, Lakshmeshwar, Tarikere, Mundagod, Supa, Hubballi, Bhadravati, Channagiri, Annigeri, Babaleshwar, Nidagundi, Kolhar, Muddebihal, Harapanahalli, Hosanagar and Mudigere, he said.

"With the latest addition, there are 83 taluks in Karnataka which are declared as flood hit." 

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Good morning Bengaluru!
Welcome to the live blog from Bengaluru where we bring to you the latest updates on Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka politics, Covid-19, BBMP and more across Bengaluru and Karnataka. Follow the blog and @IEBengaluru to stay up to date with the state in real time.