Category: Records, Karnataka

KARNATAKA: NATIONAL PARTICIPATION: 02 Bengaluru College students Krishnan A & Peddi Sai Kaushik, Pedal 3,200 kms to pay Homage to Martyrs at Kargil War Memorial

Two college students from Bengaluru cycled 3,200 km in 60 days to pay homage to the martyrs at the war memorial in Ladakh on Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Navigating through flood-affected areas during monsoon and battling typhoid, two college students from Bengaluru pedalled for more than 60 days covering 3,200 km to pay homage to the martyrs at the war memorial here on the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Inspired by the heroics of Army Captain Vijayant Thapar, who died in the Kargil war, the duo undertook the journey and reached out to National Cadet Corps (NCC) units along the way to spread awareness about the sacrifices made by army personnel.

Krishnan A, a BBA student of Ramaiah College, and Peddi Sai Kaushik, studying BCom at St Joseph’s University, are NCC cadets and aim to clear the Combined Defence Services examination to join the armed forces.

“We started the expedition in May and reached the Kargil War Memorial on July 24, two days before Vijay Diwas. It took us over two months. The journey was really difficult but the moment we were here, it felt magical,” Krishnan told PTI.

They took the Kanyakumari-Srinagar highway (NH-44) hoping to finish the journey before monsoon.

“But by the time we reached Punjab, it was flooded and we thought we wouldn’t make it. My cycling partner got typhoid during the journey and that slowed us down for two weeks. I met an accident and for some time we had to take rest. But it was worth the effort,” he said.

The duo’s excitement know no bounds when upon arriving in Dras, they were honoured and given VIP passes to attend the wreath-laying ceremony on Vijay Diwas.

“On New Year, I was reading a book about Captain Vijayant Thapar who was martyred during the war and was greatly inspired by him. He was awarded the Vir Chakra. I asked my family to name five others who had won a gallantry award. They couldn’t name any. When I asked my friends, they went blank too.

“That’s when we realised that there is a need for awareness, apart from just a day or two of attention for warriors who sacrificed their lives for our nation,” Sai Kaushik said.

The Indian Army had launched a fierce counter-assault, Operation Vijay, to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999.

The war saw Indian armed forces fight in the most challenging terrains amid harsh weather conditions in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors.

Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India’s victory over Pakistan .

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: ENGINEERING: Mangaluru’s Rajendra Kalbavi Elected Secretary General of Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India)

Consulting civil engineer from Mangaluru and executive director of Dakshina Kannada Nirmiti Kendra was elected the secretary general of the Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India) for two years.

Association president Vijay Kishan Sanap installed Mr. Kalbavi as the secretary general during the annual general body meeting on July 17 at Hyderabad, said a release.

Chief Returning Officer M.U. Ashwath had announced the results of the annual central committee elections held on April 26 at Nagpur and issued the certificate of election to Mr. Kalbavi for 2023-25.

Over 700 members attended the AGM at Hyderabad.

Mr. Kalbavi was conferred with the “Eminent Engineer Award” by the association in recognition of his achievement in the field of civil engineering during the Association’s Foundation Day at Nagpur recently.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: Mysuru’s Deia Urs Selected to Represent India at 10th Shitoryu Karate Do Intl. Championship, Jakarta

Mysuru’s Deia Urs won gold medal in the Senior Female Individual Kata at the 26th National Karate Championship organised by All India Shitoryu Karate Do Union (AISKU) at St. Philomena’s College Indoor Stadium in city recently.

She will now be representing India at the 10th Shitoryu Karate Do International Championship to be held at Jakarta, Indonesia, in September this year.

Around 800 karatekas all over the country had taken part in the National Championship. In the pool of 15 participants, Deia Urs entered the finals by securing highest points (24.50) along with Agnes Ashlyn of Kerala (23.80), Varsha of Hyderabad (23.50), Samiksha of Tamil Nadu (22.00), Sahana or Maharashtra (22.00) and R. Greeshma (21.90). 

In the finals, Deia Urs held on to her top position and won the gold medal by securing 25.10 as against her opponent Agnes Ashlyn’s 24.80 who took the silver. The bronze was shared by Varsha & Samiksha with 23.90 & 23.50 scores respectively.

This is the second time Deia Urs will representing India at Shitoryu International Championships. At the APSKF Championship held at Jakarata in 2018, Deia had won a Bronze medal.

Deia Urs, who is doing her Master’s in Journalism & Mass Communication in Manasagangothri, University of Mysore, holds 4th Degree Black Belt in Karate (Shitoryu). She is trained by her father B.S. Srinath Urs. Both practice under AISKU & AKSKA President Kyoshi C.S. Arun Machaiah.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: Jenicia Lobo bags Gold at National level Open Karate Tournament

Jenicia Lobo of Shankerpura (Pangla parish) bagged the gold medal at the recently held national level karate championship.

The karate national level open tournament ‘High Five Championship – 2023’ was held from July 15 and 16 at Rajangana Krishna Math Temple, Udupi.

Jenicia attempted both in KUMITE event and KATA event categories (brown belt) and managed to bag 3rd place in KUMITE and 1st place in KATA category.

She will be participating in the international karate championship to be held in Shivamogga on August 5 and 6.

In the previous years she has won gold, silver and bronze medals in several district, state and national level karate events.

Jenicia was recently felicitated by St John’s parish, Shankerpura for her excellent performance in the national level karate tournament.

She is currently pursuing her BA degree at the girls’ college in Udupi and intends to pursue IAS (civil service).

She is the daughter of Joseph Lobo and Neema Lobo of Shankerpura. Joseph Lobo has been recognized by many associations for his role in agricultural field, nursery etc.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: BUSINESS & ECONOMY / TEXTILES: G.I tagged Udupi Sari dyed with Arecanut ‘chogaru’ Natural Dyes to be launched tomorrow

In addition, the GI tag enjoying Udupi sari has been made using natural dyes from leaf of wild almond, root of ‘manjistha’.

The Udupi handloom sari, which enjoys Geographical Indication (GI) tag, dyed using natural arecanut ‘chogaru’ is set to be launched on Monday.

The ‘chogaru’ is a reddish-brown liquid obtained during the processing of arecanut. After harvesting the unripened arecanut, farmers boil the kernel or tender nuts and later dry the nuts for selling. The water thus boiled is called ‘chogaru’ in Kannada. Farmers discard or throw away this liquid.

Now Talipady Primary Weavers Service Cooperative Society Ltd., Kinnigoli, Dakshina Kannada, under the guidance of Kadike Trust, a non-government organisation based at Karkala in Udupi district, promoter of Udupi sari, has used the ‘chogaru’ for colouring the Udupi saris woven by it. The society is among the five weavers’ cooperative societies which has obtained the authorisation certificate to use the GI tag for Udupi sari.

Mamatha Rai, president, Kadike Trust, told The Hindu that arecanut ‘chogaru’ dyed saris with brown and pink shades will be launched at a function on the premises of the society at Kinnigoli on July 31. “It is for the first time arecanut ‘chogaru’ has been used for colouring Udupi sari,” she said.

In multiple shades

In addition, she said, Udupi sari naturally dyed after processing leaf of wild almond tree has been woven in yellow and black shades. The weavers of the same society have produced sari dyed using the root of ‘manjistha’ (Indian Madder), which is a climbing or scrambling herb. These saris are in orange, pink and red shades. “All the three (arecanut ‘chogaru’, leaf of wild almond tree and ‘manjistha’ root) are new natural dyes used in making of Udupi sari,” Ms. Rai said adding that the latter two will also be launched on Monday.

She said that these initiatives are expected to boost the recognition for Udupi sari further. The Udupi sari received GI tag first in 2016. The Talipady Society was the first authorised user of the GI tag for the sari. The trust arranged training programmes for weavers with the help of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

At Charaka earlier

Earlier, Charaka Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Heggodu, in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district and some other garment makers have used arecanut ‘chogaru’ as the natural dye in their garment products.

According to the trust, the Udupi sari is woven using the best quality single ply combed cotton yarns for both warp and weft. Artificial zari or cotton yarns are used to create design in body, border and pallu portion using extra weft technique. The sari has plain or checked design in the body and dobby or plain design in the border. Light shades are used for the body, bright and contrast colours for the border and pallu.

Ms. Rai said that SELCO India has arranged solar equipment to the Talipady Society. They include dryer, pulveriser, winding device, water heater and lighting system.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: WILDLIFE CENSUS / TIGERS: Tiger Count in Karnataka rose to 435 between 2018-22: Survey

According to the figures, out of the five tiger reserves in Karnataka, the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve has reported the highest number of tigers at 149, followed by the Bandipur Tiger Reserve with 143 tigers.

The number of tigers in the state, assessed through the trap camera method, has increased to 435 in 2022, compared to 404 in 2018, according to the Karnataka Forest Department.

Prior to the International Tiger Day on Saturday, the Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Thursday released the figures of the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) exercise 2022. The forest department in the state in had conducted tiger estimation exercise in all the 37 forest divisions across 31 districts in 2022.

However, the actual numbers will be known on Saturday when the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Wildlife Institute of India release the all-India tiger census report. In 2018, Karnataka ranked second in tiger numbers with 524, while Madhya Pradesh bagged the top spot with 526.

According to the figures, out of the five tiger reserves in the state, the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve has reported the highest number of tigers at 149, followed by the Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) with 143 tigers.

Meanwhile, the Biligira Ranga Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve has reported 39 tigers, Bhadra Tiger Reserve has 26 tigers and Kali Tiger Reserve 19 tigers.

According to the report, there were 4,786 camera trap locations across the 37 forest divisions. The total number of camera trap images captured during the exercise was 66,86,450.

Releasing the number, Khandre thanked the two late Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi for their contributions to forests in the country. “They implemented the Forest Protection Act, Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Right Act, and helped conserve forests for the current generation,” he said.

Meanwhile, noted tiger biologist and conservationist Ullas Karanth, appreciated the survey done by the forest department. “Unlike in the previous surveys from 2006 onwards, when the reports were published by NTCA, which were non-transparent on many details, the present Karnataka report provides significantly more details on the implementation of the camera trap surveys conducted by the department during the year in 2021-2022. We hope this sets a new trend of transparency as opposed to earlier practices of the NTCA,” Karanth said.

Further suggestion some measures for improvement, Karanth said, “The report contains the numbers of individual, unique adult tigers photo-captured at various sites which look reasonable to us, provided all these animals were camera trapped during July-August 2022. Furthermore, they have reported closed model tiger density estimates for several of the camera trapped sites. These densities look reasonable, provided closure was maintained.”

“The total estimated numbers of tigers in sampled areas could also have been generated in date on ‘state space’ area and delineation of tiger habitats had been clearly presented in the report. An issue of concern, which can be addressed if more detailed information can be provided, pertains to compliance with the important assumptions of geographic and temporal closure of populations during the sampling,” he said.

Karanth pointed out that the other gap in the report is the lack of data on population turn over because of the once-in-four-year survey frequency imposed by the NTCA prescriptions. “If on the other hand, the more rigorous protocols for open model population dynamics approached that we developed as far back as 2006 had been implemented, in addition to other numbers, critical population dynamic parameters vital to comprehensive monitoring, such as annual population growth rates, survival rates, recruitment rates and movement parameters could all have been estimated.”

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: CITY NEWS: Bengaluru hailed Best ‘RRR’ City in State

My Life, My Clean City was a national campaign launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Bengaluru has been chosen as the best RRR (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) city in the State in a campaign run by the Directorate Municipal Administration of Urban Development Department. My Life, My Clean City was a national campaign launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Under the programme that was held from May 25 to June 5, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) set up 49 RRR plants for the public to give used plastic and other materials. According to the officials, the campaign received massive response with people giving used materials in large numbers.

On Thursday, Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan issued a certificate to BBMP for excelling in the work carried out under the programme.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath lauded the efforts of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: ENERGY / OIL & GAS: Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals (MRPL) Becomes Largest Single Location PSU-Refinery of India

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a mini Ratna CPSE PSU refinery based in coastal Karnataka and a subsidiary of ONGC, has become the single largest PSU-refinery (single location) in the nation for the year 2022-23. The MRPL achieved this feat by processing 17.14 million metric tons of crude oil during the past financial year. This is also the highest-ever throughput processed by any single-location PSU refinery in India’s Petroleum refining history. The MRPL processes 10% of the total crude oil refined by the PSU petroleum refineries of the nation.

Set up as a joint venture refinery in 1988 with a 3.69 MMTPA capacity, the MRPL later underwent a second and third-phase expansion to raise its capacity to 15.00 MMTPA. The refinery configuration has a Nelson Complexity Index of 11.3, one of the highly complex PSU refineries. The MRPL Petchem intensity is currently at 9.5%, aiming to reach 15% in the medium term.

The MRPL can process more than 250 different types of crude from around the world. Crudes from the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, Russia, Africa, South America and the US are the major ones processed in the MRPL. The MRPL is capable of producing almost a full range of petroleum products like Naphtha, LPG, Motor Spirit, High-Speed Diesel, Kerosene, Aviation Turbine Fuel, Sulphur, Xylene, Bitumen, along with Pet Coke and Polypropylene.

In recent times, the MRPL has taken significant steps to build its petrochemical profile. Its 440 KTA Novolen gas-phase polypropylene plant can produce a complete range of homopolymer grades. Its Aromatic Complex can produce 0.905 MMTPA of Para Xylene and 0.273 MMTPA of Benzene. This Aromatic Complex is in the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) and fully integrated with the MRPL. The MRPL has ambitious plans for the Retail business shortly. It has initiated to expand its coveted RO brand HiQ in 1000 locations in South India in the near future.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, managing director Sanjay Varma said, “The MRPL has made a strong bounce back after effectively countering the challenges posed by the pandemic. With the strong support of MOPNG and our parent organisation ONGC and through the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders, the MRPL is now poised to reach greater heights in the days to come. Our focus will be on meeting Atmanirbharata through producing precious petrochemicals while effectively focusing on environmental protection by concentrating on renewable energy solutions.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: BENGALURU CITY: Karnataka Govt. Signs Agreement for suggestions from World Design Organization (WDO), Canada on building ‘Brand Bengaluru’ City  

As part of the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds charge of the city, on Monday the State government signed an agreement with Canada-based World Design Organization (WDO) for suggestions for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to build the city.

Mr. Shivakumar said that 200 engineers from the WDO will be in the city to study and give suggestions on the city infrastructure including roads, flyovers, footpaths, junctions, and other infrastructure.

Earlier, Mr. Shivakumar had launched a ‘Brand Bengaluru’ campaign and also an online portal to invite suggestions on the city’s development by the public.

Mr. Shivakumar also met the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) officials on Monday to discuss various issues pertaining to the city.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: KARNATAKA: Bengaluru-based Drone Startup ‘Squadrone Infra & Mining’ Deployed in Indonesia’s Islands to Explore Critical Minerals

Its advanced system enables the mapping of shallow and deep-seated virgin mineral deposits, reaching depths of up to 1,500 metres below the ground.

City-based drone startup Squadrone Infra and Mining Pvt. Ltd. has deployed drone-based geophysical surveys for prospecting and exploration of nickel, gold, bauxite, coal and other critical minerals at Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Sulawesi Islands.

The startup has deployed MagArrow and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technologies, a UAV-enabled drone-based solution equipped with a non-radioactive laser-pumped cesium vapor total field scalar magnetometer.

This advanced system enables the mapping of shallow and deep-seated virgin mineral deposits, reaching depths of up to 1,000 to 1,500 m below ground level.

Geologists, geophysicists, and researchers can now conduct comprehensive studies of the earth’s strata for new and greenfield mineral discoveries in previously inaccessible areas, significantly enhancing efficiency and accuracy. The GPR adds great value to nickel, gold, bauxite and coal prospecting, with high precision.

Kalimantan Island, known for its unique and diverse ecosystems, poses significant challenges to traditional mining surveys due to its remote and difficult-to-access terrain.

With the introduction of MagArrow and GPR, Squadrone offers a revolutionary solution that allows for geophysical surveying without adversely affecting the ecology of the region and minimising the need for human intervention. This technology marks a significant milestone in the field of mineral exploration in such environmentally sensitive areas.

Squadrone Infra and Mining with its expansion into Indonesia and plans to enter other regions of Southeast Asia and Africa, is set to contribute significantly to Net Zero operations and the sustainable development of the global mining industry.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)