Nanjangud: The famed Srikanteshwaraswamy temple at Nanjangud has recorded a hundi collection of Rs.2.04 crore, in the latest counting. 

The counting of 35 hundis collection in the temple was taken up at the temple’s Dasoha Bhavan on Friday, during which Rs. 2,04,98,214 in cash, 82.2 grams of gold jewellery, 4.3 kgs of silver jewellery and articles and 24 foreign currencies were found.

The hundi collection counting was held under the supervision of Muzrai Tahsildar Vidyalatha, Temple EO Jagadish Kumar, Assistant EO Satish, Accountant Gurumallaiah, Bank of Baroda Nanjangud Branch Manager Sangadev and other officials.

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Nanjangud: Former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna has said, “Mid-day meal scheme that was launched during my tenure as the CM at Government Schools was conceived after deriving inspiration from the culture of Anna Dasoha (serving food to visitors) practiced at Mutts.”

He was speaking after inaugurating State-level Bhajan Mela organised as part of Adi Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogi Jathra Mahotsava at Suttur Srikshetra in the taluk yesterday.

“When I was the CM, State witnessed severe drought for three years. However, still I had issued directions to continue mid-day meal scheme at schools as it was not possible for the students to attend classes in empty stomach. I was happy to have launched the scheme,” said Krishna, also a  former Union Minister.

“Pall of gloom had engulfed the State due to drought situation and the kidnap of thespian Dr. Rajkumar. It was during that time, previous pontiff of Adhichunchanagiri Mutt Dr. Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji and Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji instilled courage, that emboldened me to handle the situation,  recalled Krishna.

Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambarish said, “There are several religious institutions in the State but only few of them are contributing with their service to educate and feed the people. The service of Suttur Mutt stands distinctly apart among them.”

Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary said: “Mutts hold a distinguished position in the society, as they have been playing a pivotal role in building a healthy society. Whenever mankind finds itself in difficult situation, Mutts have come to the rescue of people.”

Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, Sri Basavananda Swamiji of Guru Basava Mahamane, Dharwad, sandalwood actor ‘Darling’ Krishna, S.K. Manjunath, entrepreneur Moolchand Nehar and others were present.

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Environment activists start ‘Save Bandipur’ campaign

Mysore/Mysuru: ‘Save Bandipur’ posts are trending on social media following the completion of the aerial survey to prepare the final report for the Nilambur-Nanjangud railway project connecting Nilambur in Kerala and Nanjangud in Karnataka with a rail link through Wayanad. The Government of Kerala has initiated the survey and reports said that the survey was completed on Sunday (Jan. 28). 

The project had been hanging fire for more than a decade. According to reports, the Southern Railway took over the project independently, sanctioning Rs. 5.9 crore for the Final Location Survey (FLS) in May 2023. While the land survey covering 100 kms from Nilambur was completed by Saturday evening, the survey up to Nanjangud was completed on Sunday. 

Threat to flora and fauna

Soon after reports emerged about the completion of the aerial survey, environment activists took objection to the project that passes through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Environment activists posted that neither the construction of the railway line nor the opening up of night traffic at Bandipur and Nagarahole will be advantageous for the people of Karnataka. Instead, these initiatives may detrimentally impact the fragile ecosystem and pose a threat to the flora and fauna in these ecologically sensitive zones, they said.

Kerala is keen on implementing the project as it will take just seven hours to cover the distance between Kochi and Bengaluru if the Nilambur-Nanjangud railway line becomes a reality instead of the present travel time of 11 hours. 

Environment groups have argued against the Nilambur-Nanjangud railway line as it revolves around the potential disruption of wildlife habitats, increased risk of road accidents involving wildlife, and the overall degradation of the delicate ecosystems of Bandipur.

 Kerala is at the same time planning to take the railway line through an 11-km tunnel via Bandipur and this too is opposed by activists. They underline the importance of balancing development and environmental conservation and finding sustainable solutions that consider both economic and ecological factors is crucial for the well-being of the region and its inhabitants.

No info yet: SWR Mysuru DRM 

Speaking to Star of Mysore about the planned line from Nilambur to Nanjangud, Mysuru Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of South Western Railway (SWR) Shilpi Agarwal said that she has no information about the line and the survey conducted by Kerala.

“Already there is a Nanjangud-Chamarajanagar line and we have no information about where Kerala is planning to connect the line in Mysuru. The aerial survey would have been done by some private agency. Once the plan is finalised and approved by the Railway Board, it will come to us (SWR) for approval and as of now, we have no visibility,” she added. 

It may be mentioned here that on Jan. 22, the policy address made by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan mentions the contentious Thalassery-Mysuru new broad gauge rail project, although Karnataka has repeatedly turned down the proposal from Kerala raising environmental concerns. The Governor said that the Thalassery-Mysuru new broad gauge rail line via Kalpetta and Nilambur-Nanjangud rail project are other projects that the State government intends to implement. In the past, Kerala had asked E. Sreedharan, former Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to conduct a viability study on Thalassery-Mysuru rail link, but a negative report was submitted, deeming the project ‘unviable.’ 

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Nanjangud: The Mysuru District Police have filed three separate cases and arrested 39 allegedly involved in the group clash that occurred on Monday in connection with the installation of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar name board at Hallare village in Nanjangud, here yesterday. The accused were produced before the jurisdictional Court which remanded them to judicial custody.

The accused were arrested based on the complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Jagadish at the Nanjangud Rural Police Station.

Following this, the members of the two groups also filed a complaint which was also received by the Police.

It may be noted that Circle Police Inspector Sunil, SI Gopalakrishna and Police personnel were injured in the incident.

Following the incident, both MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayan and former MLA Harshavardhan visited Hallare and urged the villagers to maintain peace, harmony and law and order. The leaders also visited Nanjangud Taluk Hospital where the injured people are being treated.

Darshan promised the villagers that he would try to get compensation for those affected during the group clash. It may be noted that a few vehicles and houses were damaged owing to a stone pelting incident during the clash.

Darshan was accompanied by former MLA Kalale Keshvamurthy, former MP Kagalawadi Shivanna, former Mayor Purushotham and others.

Former MLA Harshavardhan blamed the Police and Taluk Administration’s failures for the incident and urged the officials to initiate measures to restore normalcy in the village. Former ZP Member Chikkaranga Nayaka, Taluk BJP President P. Mahesh, GP former President Mahadevaswamy and others were present.

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Forest staff in a swift operation capture tigress

Nanjangud: A farmer, who was working in his agricultural field, sustained injuries when a tigress attacked him all of a sudden. The incident took place yesterday afternoon at Nagannapura village in the taluk and the Forest Department staff, who acted swiftly, captured the tigress at Belluru Hundi village in the evening.

The injured farmer is 45-year-old Suresh, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Mysuru. Villagers working in neighbouring agri fields, who saw the tigress attacking Suresh, began to shout resulting in the tigress fleeing from the spot.

Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Paramesh, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Narayan and staff, who rushed to the spot, conducted an inspection and helped in shifting the injured to the hospital.

Bandipur Conservator of Forests (CF) Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Veterinarian Dr. Mirza Vaseem, ACF Paramesh and RFO Narayan, who obtained permission from their higher officers, conducted a swift operation and traced the tigress near Belluru Hundi village in the evening and Veterinarian Dr. Mirza tranquillised the tigress, following which the staff secured it with a net. On inspecting the tigress, the Forest officials found that the tigress was injured.

CF Dr. Ramesh told Star of Mysore that the tigress was aged about 12 years and was spotted earlier at Hediyala Range in Bandipur Tiger Reserve. It had sustained injuries in a fight with other tiger and had lost its ability to hunt. The tigress after coming out of the forest, had ventured into the agri field and on seeing the people working, it had taken shelter among the bushes.

It is learnt that farmer Suresh, on seeing the tigress lying in the bushes, ventured close to it only to be attacked by the tigress.

As the tigress was in a critical state, the Forest Department personnel have shifted it to Chamundi Animal Conservation, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Koorgalli on the outskirts of Mysuru, where it is being treated.

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Tense situation prevails at Hallare village in Nanjangud

Mysore/Mysuru: More than 30 people including a Circle Police Inspector were injured in a fight between two groups over the installation of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s name board at Hallare village in Nanjangud taluk here yesterday.

On receiving the information, SP Seema Latkar, Additional SP Dr. B.N. Nandini, Nanjangud Dy.SP V. Govindaraju rushed to the spot with additional force and took more than 25 people, allegedly responsible for the incident, into custody.

It is said that one of the groups had placed a request before the Hallare Gram Panchayat to name Hura Road after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar following which Hallare Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) Mahesh had given a go ahead. While the group was about to install the name board, the other group raised objection and the matter was taken to the Police Station during which the two groups were advised to discuss among themselves and come to a common decision.

Najangud Rural Sub-Inspector Gopalakrishna, along with few personnel, was stationed at the Hallare village ahead of talks between the two groups. However, the discussions did not yield any results as the two groups stuck to their individual decisions.

Suddenly, at about 7 pm, the two groups started to pelt stones and bottles against each other and in the process, Circle Inspector Sunil, Sub-Inspector Gopalkrishna and one of the Police personnel were injured apart from more than 30 people sustaining injuries in the incident.

It is also said, about 20 two-wheelers were also damaged in the incident. Miscreants also damaged street taps and pelted stones at a few houses.

Learning about the intensity of the incident, SP Seema Latkar rushed to the spot accompanied by 300 Police personnel to bring the situation under control. While the injured persons were shifted to Nanjangud Govt. Hospital and K.R. Hospital in Mysuru, SI Gopalkrishna, who sustained serious head injuries, is being treated at a private hospital in the city.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, the SP said that tight security had been provided at the village and added that about 25 people were taken into custody. She also added that three Police personnel were injured in the incident.

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Nanjangud: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has assured that significant steps are being taken to address the persistent issue of human-animal conflict permanently. Adequate funds have been allocated for installing rail barricades to mitigate the elephant menace in the villages surrounding the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Speaking at a meeting with villagers to discuss the man-animal conflict recently, Minister Khandre emphasised the importance of these measures. He disclosed that an Elephant Task Force has already been formed and efforts are underway to identify vulnerable spots for the construction of rail barricades.

Currently, rail barricades spanning 312 kms have been completed and plans are in place to extend this coverage by an additional 120 kms. He revealed that a request has been made to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to allocate Rs. 200 crore in the upcoming budget to support these initiatives.

Highlighting the ecological significance of Bandipur Forest, Minister Khandre mentioned that the Elephant Task Force, which plays a crucial role in mitigating conflicts, will be further strengthened. Additional facilities, including more vehicles, will be sanctioned to enhance the capabilities of the task force in dealing with the complex challenges posed by human-animal conflicts in the region.

In response to farmers’ demands for compensation in cases of crop loss caused by wild animals such as deer, wild boar, peacock and others, Khandre stated that he is aware of the issue. He expressed his intention to draft a proposal to the Finance Department, suggesting that rather than providing compensation to farmers on the forest fringes, the Finance Department should bear the losses.

He assured that he would bring this matter to the attention of the Chief Minister for further consideration. Additionally, Khandre directed Forest Officers to exercise patience and understanding when dealing with the general public in matters related to wildlife and crop loss.

Earlier, Minister Khandre visited the family of Ratnamma in Ballurhundi, who was recently killed in a tiger attack. He instructed the officers to provide temporary employment to Ratnamma’s dependents and ensure they receive pension benefits.

The meeting was attended by MLAs Darshan Dhruvanarayan and H.M. Ganesh Prasad, former MLA Kalale Keshavamurthy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Subhash K. Malkhede, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Ramesh Kumar, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Paramesh and others.

Allotment of forest, revenue lands to farmers after survey

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has given assurance to farmers that he will initiate measures to distribute forest lands cultivated before 1978 under the Right to Forest Act. This comes in response to the farmers’ demand for land allocation after conducting a joint survey.

Farmers cultivating the land for the past 50 years without any certificate of grant have faced challenges in receiving compensation, often citing the reason of ‘forest land’ mentioned in Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) records.

Khandre stated that a joint survey will be conducted by the Forest Department and Revenue Department. Subsequently, measures will be implemented to issue a certificate of grant for revenue lands by identifying the forest borders.

The Minister emphasised that steps will be taken to distribute lands belonging to the Forest Department that have been cultivated before 1978 under the Right to Forest Act. This move aims to address the concerns of farmers who have long been cultivating these lands without proper documentation.

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Nanjangud: A 35-year-old woman, committed suicide by consuming poison following alleged mental and physical harassment from her husband’s family members. The tragedy took place at Hosakote village in the taluk on Jan. 24.

The deceased is Vijayalakshmi, wife of Harish and a resident of Hosakote village. The couple has a 12-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son.

Vijayalakshmi, a native of Bommenahalli in Mysuru taluk, was given in marriage to Harish, son of Mahadevamurthy of Hosakote village 12 years ago.

The couple were leading a happy life for seven years when difference in opinions cropped up between them leading to frequent quarrels, it is learnt. Vijayalakshmi had lodged a complaint against her husband’s family members resulting in her husband’s family members beginning to harass her mentally and physically. She later filed a divorce petition at the Family Court in Mysuru.

On Jan. 24, a fight broke out again, during which her husband Harish, father-in-law Mahadevamurthy, mother-in-law Malligamma. brothers-in-law Mahendra and Raghavendra and Mahadevamurthy’s sister Shivamma humiliated her and told her to go out of the house and die besides harassing her mentally and assaulted her, resulting in Vijayalakshmi consuming poison.

She was immediately rushed to a hospital in Hosakote, where Vijayalakshmi was provided first-aid and was later admitted to KR Hospital in Mysuru, where she breathed her last on Friday (Jan. 26), Police said.

Vijalakshmi’s father, alleging that his daughter was harassed mentally and physically leading to her committing suicide, has lodged a complaint against his daughter’s husband and his family members with Biligere Police, who have registered a case.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Cycle Pure Agarbathi, the leading agarbathi manufacturer in India, has extended crucial support to nursing mothers visiting the Srikanteshwaraswamy Temple at Nanjangud. This initiative involves creating two portable feeding and nurturing spaces for mothers, allowing them to partake in a tranquil worship experience while attending to their infants.

The initiative was inaugurated recently by Nanjangud MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayan in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner R. Lokanath, Managing Director of Cycle Pure Agarbathi Arjun Ranga and Jannavi Murthy.

In his address, Darshan Dhruvanarayan said that Cycle Pure Agarbathi has embarked on a unique and commendable initiative. “It is heartening to witness a locally rooted brand consistently contributing to the welfare of society,” he said.

Arjun Ranga said that his company is dedicated to making positive changes in people’s lives daily and this initiative stands as evidence of their commitment. “We firmly believe that mothers, especially those in their early stages of motherhood, deserve moments of respite while ensuring the well-being of their children,” he said.  “Through the provision of this dedicated space, we aim to empower mothers, instilling in them the confidence to visit the temple with their children and fervently pray for the well-being of their families,” he added.  

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Mysore/Mysuru: Three Ayyappa Swamy devotees including a SSLC student met their watery grave at Kapila River in Nanjangud on Friday.

The deceased are identified as Gaviranga (26), son of Guddarangaiah from Naraganahalli, Rakesh (19), son of Srinivas and Appu (16), son of Ramakrishna from Kalluguttarahalli in Tumakuru district.

While Appu was a SSLC student, Rakesh was studying first year BA. Eight relatives including the deceased had been on a pilgrimage to Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple in Kerala on Jan. 17 and were on a return journey to their native Tumakuru, when the tragedy struck en route home.

It is said that, Ramakrishna, Nikit Gowda, Madesha, Bhuvan Gowda, Chikkaranga and the deceased trio stopped by Kapila River near Hejjige bridge in Nanjangud town. All went to river for bathing at 10.30 am. Barring the deceased, others returned to the River Bank soon after having a bath. The deceased, who were still swimming in water, went ahead further, only to be pulled by the force of vortex (Suli)  in water.

Ramakrishna and Madesha, who noticed them drowning, also made a bid to rescue them, but to no avail.

Learning about the incident, Nanjangud Town Police Station Inspector Basavaraju, along with his staff, rushed to the spot and made arrangements to retrieve the victims from water, with the help of Fire and Emergency Services personnel and expert divers. By the time, they were pulled out of water, it was afternoon and barring Gaviranga, who was still breathing, the other two had breathed their last. Gaviranga was rushed to General Hospital in Nanjangud, where he succumbed after sometime.

The bodies were handed over to the relatives after post-mortem.

Nanjangud MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayan, who visited the hospital, gave financial assistance from his pocket to grieving relatives, towards funeral expenses.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Seema Latkar, Additional SP Dr. B.N. Nandini, Dy.SP (Nanjangud Sub-Division) Govindaraju and others visited the spot.

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