Mysore/Mysuru: At last, the project to install the statue of former Chief Minister late D. Devaraj Urs took a significant step forward today. 

Bhoomi Puja was performed for the installation of the statue at the new Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Siddarthanagar jointly by MLA Tanveer Sait, MLC A.H. Vishwanath, DC Dr. K.V. Rajendra and Congress leader Suraj Hegde, the grandson of late D. Devaraj Urs.

This statue project is a collaborative effort between the district administration and the Kannada and Culture Department, at an estimated cost of Rs. 92 lakh.

The statue will stand at 12 feet tall, sculpted from black granite by Mysuru’s renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj and his elder brother Suryaprakash Yogiraj.

Arun Yogiraj gained national and international recognition for sculpting the Balak Ram statue consecrated at Ayodhya.

Initially, the plan was to install Urs statue at the junction of D. Devaraj Urs Road and JLB Road. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the execution of this plan was delayed. 

Addressing the gathering, MLA Tanveer Sait expressed the fulfilment of the long-standing aspirations of the people of the Old Mysuru region to witness a statue honouring their leader who hailed from Mysuru.

“Beyond his regional roots, Devaraj Urs remains a towering figure in the annals of Karnataka’s history, revered for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of all segments of society. His efforts towards fostering an egalitarian society, ensuring equal opportunities for all, are unparalleled,” Tanveer Sait said.

“It is undeniable that Urs laid the groundwork for providing social benefits to the underprivileged and marginalised sections of society,” Sait remarked.

Highlighting the historical significance of Devaraj Urs’ contributions, it is worth noting that it was he who renamed Mysuru State as Karnataka fifty years ago. In a remarkable coincidence, the unveiling of the statue of Urs comes during ‘Suvarna Sambhrama’ celebrations. 

Reflecting on Urs’ enduring legacy, Sait recalled the renaming of the road stretching from K.R. Circle to JLB Road as D. Devaraj Urs Road in 1978 — a thoroughfare that has since become one of the busiest in city.

 Credit for this project goes to CM Siddaramaiah and District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa. The statue inauguration is slated either during Urs’ death anniversary in June or his birth anniversary in August, Sait said.

Despite the simplicity of today’s Bhoomi Puja ceremony, conducted in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and the Model Code of Conduct likely to be enforced soon, Sait assured that the statue’s inauguration would be a grand affair with the presence of beneficiaries of schemes launched by Urs.

MLC A.H. Vishwanath reminisced about how Devaraj Urs played a pivotal role in shaping his political career. Describing Urs as a beacon of hope hailing from the remote village of Kallahalli in Hunsur taluk, Vishwanath attributed to him and the Congress party the pioneering efforts in sowing the seeds of social justice in India.

Highlighting the late CM’s remarkable initiatives, he noted that under his ‘Uluvavane Odeya’ (tiller is the owner of land) initiative, 30 lakh acres of land were distributed to the landless. Even today, many families regard Urs as their deity, underscoring his enduring legacy.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra read out the message sent by District Minister Dr. Mahadevappa, who was unable to attend the event. Among the dignitaries present were ZP CEO K.M. Gayathri, Additional DC Shivaraju, Kannada and Culture Joint Director V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy, Assistant Director Sudarshan, former Mayors Purushotham and Dakshina Murthy, B.S. Sridhar Raje Urs, Prof. P.V. Nanjaraj Urs, City Congress President R. Murthy, Statue Installation Samiti President Zakir Hussain, Congress leader Dairy Venkatesh and former District Kannada Sahitya Parishat Presidents M. Chandrashekar and Y.D. Rajanna.

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Mysore/Mysuru: In a bid to safeguard the rich heritage of Mysuru, the District Heritage Committee has decided to conserve the historic Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) building on New Sayyaji Rao Road so that the future generations can continue to appreciate the city’s rich historical tapestry.

Chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra, who is the Chairman of the Heritage Committee, the crucial Committee meeting that was convened on Wednesday highlighted growing concerns over the deteriorating condition of the iconic structure. Members expressed alarm over the building’s weakening structure, attributing it to leaks in the roof which pose a significant risk.

During deliberations, heritage experts shed light on the issue, emphasising that rainwater seepage through the roof had led to structural vulnerabilities. They pointed out that previous interventions, particularly during the installation of solar equipment where nails were driven into the ceiling, had caused further damage by creating openings for rainwater to seep into walls, weakening them.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, retired Professor from the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore Prof. N.S. Rangaraju cautioned that without prompt and effective repairs, the heritage Corporation building could suffer a fate similar to that of other iconic structures like Lansdowne Building and Devaraja Market.

In response to these concerns, the Committee recommended immediate repair and maintenance work, stressing the need for skilled labour to undertake preservation efforts in line with the heritage guidelines. This recommendation found favour with the heritage stakeholders, who pledged their support for the initiative.

MCC Commissioner Ashaad-Ur-Rahman Shariff, Commissioner of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage A. Devaraju, Deputy Director Manjula, Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Town Planner Shesha, along with Committee members Vijay Rao, Lokesh and others were present.

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Dr. Rajendra chairs Road Safety Committee meeting

Mysore/Mysuru: In response to a string of recent accidents in the heart of Mysuru city resulting in the tragic loss of four lives — three attributed to poorly designed road humps and one to a falling tree — Dr. K.V. Rajendra, Mysuru’s Deputy Commissioner, chaired a Road Safety Committee meeting this morning. The aim was to emphasise and prioritise road safety measures and prevent future tragedies.

The meeting convened at the DC Office, saw Dr. Rajendra stressing the criticality of adhering to stringent roadway regulations and safety protocols. He shed light on the recent tragedies along the Mysore University Road (Bogadi Main Road), where three lives were lost due to unscientifically designed road humps.

Dr. Rajendra committed to holding accountable those responsible for the oversight and emphasised the imperative of raising public awareness during road maintenance and construction endeavours.

“The District Administration will recommend action against the officials responsible for the lapse,” the DC said.

Mysuru, renowned for its tourism, faces challenges with improperly managed roads leading to accidents. Dr. Rajendra called for the installation of signboards directing travellers to various tourist destinations and underlined the need to clear illegal encroachments hindering pedestrian movement on sidewalks.

Furthermore, the DC stressed the urgency of cutting down and pruning hazardous trees and branches. He asked the officials to coordinate with the Forest Department and take action promptly. Additionally, the DC has ordered an inspection of unauthorised and unscientific road humps across the city and asked the officers to submit a report to the Police Department within a week to decide whether to retain or remove the hump.

The meeting also shed light on the alarming number of accidents in rural areas of Mysuru, with 16 fatalities recorded in January alone. Dr. Rajendra stressed the importance of investigating the root causes of these accidents to implement effective  preventative measures.

To alleviate traffic congestion, measures were proposed to regulate the parking of goods vehicles in Shivarampet Circle, ensuring loading and unloading activities occur off the main road and during non-peak hours. Dr. Rajendra urged regular training sessions for drivers of autos, goods vehicles, and buses to reinforce traffic safety regulations.

The meeting was attended by key officials including MCC Commissioner Ashaad-Ur-Rahman Shariff, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) S. Jahnavi, PWD Executive Engineer Raju and representatives from various departments.

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Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. K.V. Rajendra said that everybody should adopt the Constitutional aspirations after learning about it’s significance.

He was speaking after flagging off the bike rally organised by the Social Welfare Department as part of ‘Samvidhana Jagruti Jatha’, near the Town Hall here this morning.

The month-long ‘Samvidhana Jagruti Jatha’ was launched by the Government in all the 31 districts of the State on Jan. 26, marking Republic Day.

Speaking after flagging off the rally, DC Dr. Rajendra said that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has written in the Preamble on the purpose of the Constitution. Pointing out that the State Government has launched the Jatha with an objective that the Constitutional aspirations as explained in the Constitution should reach everyone, he said that the bike rally is aimed at creating public awareness about the Constitution.

Earlier, floral tributes were offered to the portrait of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in the Town Hall premises. Social Welfare Department Joint Director Rangegowda and other officials were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: The inaugural Bergman Triathlon and Duathlon Mysore kicked off this morning at KRS Backwaters on Anandur-Chikkanahalli Road, with Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra inaugurating the event.

Organised by the Deccan Sports Club in collaboration with the Mysuru District Administration, the Department of Tourism and the Triathlon Association of Karnataka, the event drew participation from over 300 individuals hailing from Mysuru, Bengaluru, Kolhapur, Jammu & Kashmir and other locations. Among them was a notable 68-year-old senior citizen.

Of special note, the event welcomed three international triathletes from Germany, adding an international dimension to the competition. The organisers see this as a significant stride towards promoting triathlon as a premier sport in the State and positioning Mysuru as a prime destination for sports enthusiasts nationwide.

Participants will navigate the serene waters of the KRS Backwaters for the swimming segment, while the cycling and running segments will take them through the landscapes of the Anandur-Chikkanahalli area.

The events are divided into three categories: Bergman Triathlon 113 (1.9-km swim, 90-km cycling, and 21.1-km run); Bergman Olympic Triathlon (1.5km swim, 40 km cycling, and 10 km run) and Duathlon. The organisers have announced cash prizes of Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000, and Rs. 10,000 for the winners of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, respectively.

Dignitaries present at the inaugural event included Triathlon Association of Karnataka Secretary Shreyas Hosur, Chief Coordinator Chandan, Tourism Department Joint Director M.K. Savitha and Deccan Sports Club representatives Vaibhav Belgaonkar & Uday Patil.

The organisers aim to make this an annual event, with plans to host a Weekend Sports Carnival in Mysuru next year, featuring multiple sports events such as swimming, cycling and running over a weekend.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra has said that awareness should be created among parents about issues like child marriage and rights of children like education, health and others.

Dr. Rajendra was speaking as the chief guest at a one-day training programme ‘Child Related Laws (Makkalige Sambhandisida Kanoonugalu)’ organised jointly by the Directorate of Child Welfare, Department of Women and Child Welfare, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Karnataka State Open University(KSOU), Nutrition Society, District Legal Services Authority, District Administration, Zilla Panchayat and District Child Protection Unit at Kaveri auditorium, KSOU premises recently.

“Child marriages are rampant in rural areas and we need to create awareness among parents about the rights of a child. Also there is a need to create awareness among children about what is good and what is bad,” said DC while speaking at the training programme.

Stating that we all need to imbibe the traits of humanity and sensitivity, Dr. Rajendra said that parents need to be responsive and pro-active when a girl child brings an issue to their notice without neglecting it. “It is possible to ensure that children become good citizens only when parents and officials are aware of the child related laws in the country,” concluded Dr. Rajendra.

KSOU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Sharanappa V Halse who spoke after inaugurating the training programme said that we have to take care of our children in a responsible manner. We need to educate our children about our culture and tradition to help them evolve as good citizens, he added.

Addressing the officials who participated in the programme, Member Secretary of District Legal Services Authority B.G. Dinesh said that according to Indian Majority Act and POCSO Act, persons below the age of 18 are considered as children. Under various rules of our Constitution there is mention about a child’s right with respect to equality, discrimination, nutritious food, education and health.

“Both Central and State Governments must function according to the wishes of the Constitution and should focus on Child Rights,” added Dinesh. A small play on child marriage was staged by the students of Chayadevi School.

Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Member S. Manju, Deputy Director of Department of Women and Child Welfare H.R. Suresh, District Child Protection Unit’s N.T. Yogesh, KSOU Nutrition Science Department Assistant Professor Dr. C Anita, Deputy Director of School Education and Literacy, Pandu and others were present.

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Project to enhance speed of trains: MP

Mysore/Mysuru: The preparation to conduct the survey for quadrupling of railway tracks, specifically for the routes from Mysuru to Bengaluru and Mysuru to other destinations, is currently underway by the Railway Board, said Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simmha.

After heading a meeting with officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Police and PWD officials at Jaladarshini Guest House in city this morning, he told reporters that land acquisition for the quadrupling project would commence soon after the survey.

He highlighted that upon completion, the project would significantly reduce travel time between Mysuru and Bengaluru. He emphasised that the existing 139 km-long track with 132 curves limits the train speed and the new project aims to eliminate curves, thereby reducing travel time. Regarding the proposed National Highway project between Mysuru and Kushalnagar, he announced that construction would begin by the end of February, addressing concerns related to environmental clearance and land acquisition.

Pratap Simmha mentioned that Rs. 1,100 crore out of the total Rs. 4,130 crore allocated for the project is reserved for land acquisition, with 190 hectares acquired and Rs. 177 crore compensation already paid to landowners.

Some landowners have raised issues, seeking higher compensation, prompting discussions on a fair compensation formula, he added. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra, PWD Land Acquisition Officer Shivegowda, NHAI Project Director Rahul Gupta and other officials.

Doubts about Nilambur-Nanjangud line

Pratap Simha expressed his dissatisfaction with the State Government’s decision to permit the Kerala Government to conduct a survey for the construction of the Nilambur-Nanjangud railway line. He strongly opposed the project, expressing doubts about obtaining environmental clearance from the Centre and questioned the efficacy of the proposed railway line in enhancing railway connectivity.

The MP also criticised the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for planning a protest in New Delhi against the alleged step-motherly treatment by the Centre towards Karnataka.

Pratap Simmha accused Siddaramaiah of misleading the public with baseless allegations against the Centre, underscoring that the CM, with his extensive budgetary experience, is well aware of fund allocations to different sectors.

He pointed out that some of the projects have been shifted from the north to southern States and none of the northern States are protesting over this, which the CM should take note of.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra has sought people’s cooperation to eradicate leprosy in the district.

He was speaking after flagging off ‘Sparsha Jagruti Jatha’ to create awareness about leprosy organised jointly by the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat and Department of Health and Family Welfare at the premises of Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple in the city, recently.

“Leprosy is not a contagious disease and does not spread from one person to another. It can be cured by getting early treatment. Persons affected by leprosy should not be discriminated by keeping them away, but help them in getting early treatment. I appeal people for  their cooperation to eradicate the disease in the district,” said DC Dr. Rajendra.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. P.C. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Director Dr. Mallika, District Leprosy Control Officer  Dr. Brinda, Department officials, Nursing students from Gopalagowda and Nataraja Nursing Colleges, ASHA workers and staff who are working towards eradicating leprosy participated in the jatha and created awareness among the public by exhibiting placards about leprosy.

The jatha passed through Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Circle (Hardinge Circle), Siddartha Hotel, Crystal Park Hotel, Theobald Road, Nazarbad, SP Office Circle and culminated at DHO Office.

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DC releases final voters’ list; Chamundeshwari highest at 3,41,116,  Periyapatna lowest at 1,96,036

• Periyapatna : 1,96,036
• K.R. Nagar : 2,17,319
• Hunsur : 2,45,312
• H.D. Kote : 2,26,716
• Nanjangud : 2,20,057
• Chamundeshwari : 3,41,116
• Krishnaraja : 2,54,013
• Chamaraja : 2,53,019
• Narasimharaja : 3,01,628
• Varuna : 2,37,176
• T. Narasipur : 2,07,443

Mysore/Mysuru: Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held in April-May this year and preparations are on with the voters’ list.

As per the revised final electoral rolls released by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. K.V. Rajendra yesterday, the final count of voters in Mysuru district — combining all the 11 Assembly Constituencies — now stands at 26,99,835, with 13,31,772 being male and 13,67,843 female. There are 220 sexual minorities. Notably, women voters surpass their male counterparts in the district.

The DC disclosed the list at a press conference held at his office yesterday. In the draft electoral roll from October last year, the voter count was 26,87,773. The final roll shows an increase of 12,062 voters, reaching 26,99,835. Among them, the count of young voters is 50,969. The number of young voters has increased by 16,899 from 34,070 in the draft voters list to stand at the final count of 50,969.

The Constituencies within Mysuru district are Periyapatna, K.R. Nagar, Hunsur, H.D.  Kote, Nanjangud, Chamundeshwari, Krishnaraja, Chamaraja, Narasimharaja, Varuna and T. Narasipur.

Of the total 26,99,835 voters, 54,766 were added, 42,704 were removed and 25,769 voters’ data were corrected. The removal process was done to eliminate voters who have passed away (16,726), shifted from their homes (19,482) or names that have been duplicated (6,495).

Chamundeshwari boasts the highest number of voters at 3,41,116, while Periyapatna has the lowest at 1,96,036. Only Chamundeshwari and Narasimharaja have three lakh or more voters. Some Assembly Constituencies have seen an increase in voter numbers, while others have witnessed a decline after the revision of the electoral rolls.

In Mysuru, there are 31,631 specially challenged voters, 1,148 service voters and 2,862 VIP voters. There are a total of 2,915 polling booths, with Chamundeshwari having the most (341) and T. Narasipur the fewest (228).

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Mysuru recorded a total of 20,86,413 voters, comprising 10,43,635 male voters, 10,42,625 female voters and 153 others. The voting percentage for that election was 70.39%. Fast forward to 2024, the number of voters in Mysuru has seen a significant increase. The current count stands at 26,99,835 voters, indicating a substantial growth of 6,13,422 voters compared to the 2019 figure of 20,86,413.

Dr. Rajendra announced the formation of a robust team to maintain the integrity of the electoral process in all 11 Assembly Constituencies. The team comprises over 241 sector officers, flying squads, static surveillance teams, video surveillance teams and election expenditure teams. Their primary objective is to prevent and address any potential electoral malpractices during the upcoming elections.

The DC urged voters to visit https://ceo.karnataka.gov.in to verify their names. The revision of the voters’ list is an ongoing process and voters can use online platforms like the voters’ service portal, VHA mobile app  or Garuda app and contact Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) to request additions, deletions and corrections.

He assured that Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) would be sent to voters’ addresses and that the voters’ helpline (1950) and control rooms in all Constituencies were operational. Eligible electors who have not got the EPIC cards can re-apply with corrections and the cards will be generated within a fortnight.

Karnataka has 5.38 crore electors

Karnataka boasts a total of 5.38 crore electors, with 2.68 crore women and 4,920 individuals in the others category. Providing insights into the final electoral rolls in Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Meena informed the media that the overall number of electors has seen an increase of 4.08 lakh since the publication of the draft electoral rolls on October 27, 2023.

A total of 58,834 polling stations have been identified for the upcoming elections. During the rationalisation process, 845 polling stations were added and 293 were merged. This results in a net increase of 552 polling stations compared to the 2023 Assembly elections.

Breaking down the data further, Bengaluru South emerges with the highest number of voters at 7,17,201. On the other hand, Sringeri in the Chikkamagaluru district has the least number of voters at 1,67,556. These figures highlight the dynamic distribution of voters across different constituencies in the region.

How to get your name on the list of voters

Eligible unregistered electors still have the opportunity to include their names in the electoral rolls up to 10 days before the final day for filing nominations. This initiative aims to ensure that all eligible individuals have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process by having their names correctly included in the electoral rolls.

To facilitate this process, individuals can submit applications online using the Voters Service Portal (https://voters.eci.gov.in/) or the Voter Helpline Mobile App.

Prospective electors who meet the eligibility criteria on Jan. 4, 2024, July 1, 2024 and Oct. 1, 2024, can also submit their applications in advance. For any information related to electoral rolls, Electors’ Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) and the submission of applications, individuals are encouraged to reach out to the respective District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers.

Additionally, they can seek assistance by calling the toll-free number 1950 (180042551950).

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The Deputy Commissioner (DC) XI won the one-day Friendly Cricket Tournament held at Firing Range Grounds at the foot of Chamundi Hill here recently.

The DC’s team defeated the City Police Commissioner’s (PC) team by 10 runs in the final match. The DC XI, which batted first after winning the toss, scored 128 runs for the loss of two wickets in the stipulated 10 overs. The Police Commissioner’s

XI, chasing a target of 129 runs to win, could muster only 119 runs for the loss of 4 wickets losing the match by 10 runs.

For the DC XI, Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra, who scored 43 runs, was the highest run getter for his team. The Police Commissioner’s team, which was chasing an imposing target of 129 runs, began promisingly with openers Divakar and Vasudev scoring half centuries. But soon as the duo got out, the rest of the batsmen failed to keep up the tempo and the PC’s team slipped in the run chase, mustering only 119 runs in 10 overs.

The Superintendent of Police (SP) team bagged the third place and the Mysuru District Journalists Association (MDJA) team secured the fourth spot.

Earlier in the day, DC Dr. Rajendra and City Top Cop B. Ramesh inaugurated the Tourney at a simple ceremony. DCPs M. Muthuraj and S. Jhanavi, Addl. SP Dr. B.N. Nandini and other Police personnel were present.

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