No ban on mobile phones at MCC, but Mayor lays down restrictions

February 17, 2012

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Mangalore, February 18: The use of mobile phones during the council meetings became an issue of debate at the Mangalore City Corporation council meeting, with majority of the members demanding restriction on the use of the modern communication gadget.

Initiating a discussion, former mayor K Ashraf demanded that use of mobile phones should be banned inside the house as it had become a huge nuisance.

He urged mayor Praveen to pass a ruling banning use of mobile phone in the house, a suggestion which evoked support across party lines. However, there were dissenting voices also. Mariamma Thomas and some others pointed out that a blanket ban on use of mobile phone during the session would deprive them of a communication tool in the event of an emergency.

“This will also create a wrong impression among the voters, who would think that their calls are being deliberately left unanswered,” she said, with several nodding in support.

But, Ashraf, supported by some other members, said that the calls can be answered once the meeting was over. “You can also inform them that you were attending the council meeting,” he added.

After a few minutes of animated discussion, the Mayor gave his ruling and laid some restrictions on use of mobile when the council is in meeting. "The mobile phones should be kept in the silent mode. Let members use mobile phones, but should go out of the house if they want to make or receive calls," he said.

Eariler, corporators, cutting across political lines, blamed officials for not ensuring proper supply of drinking water.

Members from BJP, the ruling party, Congress, JD(S) and CPI(M) alleged that water supply was being disrupted frequently in their respective wards. Earlier, member from Congress Lancelot Pinto had raised objection to MCC's decision to disconnect public taps in the city. "Many poor families, who live in rented houses in the city, use public taps for their daily water requirement. The city corporation officials should make alternative arrangements for those families, who use public taps, before disconnecting it," he demanded.

Members Mariamma, Vijayakumar Shetty, Nagendra, Harinath, Abdul Azeez, Shashidhar Hegde and others too criticized officials for not ensuring proper water supply. CommissionerHarish Kumar said that the city corporation would have to disconnect the public taps and fix meters to all water supply connections to qualify for getting a Rs 2,000 crore grant underJawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM).

"There should be no public taps, no illegal water supply connections and 24x7 water supply should be ensured to all connections, which have meters compulsorily as per the norms of JNNURM. Hence, the city corporation will have to continue the drive against public taps and illegal water supply connections. However, we will disconnect those public taps, which is being used by many poor families, only after providing legal connections to all of them," he said.

Harish said that there is no scarcity of water in the city, but due to the shifting process and other technical reasons supply was being disrupted in some areas.

"A special meet in this regard will be convened by the mayor soon," he added.

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coastaldigest.com news network
March 20,2025

Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), Karnataka’s second busiest airport, has seen 148.5kg of gold smuggled between 2019 and December 2024, with 90% arriving from the UAE. Customs officials recorded 346 cases, averaging 30kg of gold seized per year (2.5kg per month). Most smugglers are from Kerala and Bhatkal.

A senior customs officer revealed that MIA sees at least five gold smuggling cases per month. Numbers dropped during the pandemic but surged after flights resumed. Many offenders are first-time carriers, while some are habitual smugglers. With fewer flights, customs thoroughly checks passengers, making smuggling harder.

Smugglers constantly innovate concealment methods. Hiding gold in the rectum remains common, but gold is also found in trolley bags, mobile covers, chocolate boxes, milk powder, biscuit packets, and clothing layers. Electronic devices like car speaker magnets, LED bulbs, AirPods, wristwatches, and ballpoint pens have been used.

Unusual tactics include hiding gold in a woman’s hairband, a baby’s diaper, and even a kheer mix packet (347g). In one case, a passenger attempted to smuggle 100g in his mouth under a mask but was caught.

Officials note that while the UAE remains a key source, smugglers now bring gold from other Gulf countries, continuously adapting to evade detection.

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Agencies
March 28,2025

Udupi: Deputy Commissioner K. Vidya Kumari has directed officials to expedite land acquisition for designated industrial zones in the district to facilitate new industries. She issued these instructions during a meeting at Rajatadri on Wednesday.

Lands have been identified across various taluks for industrial development. The DC emphasized that KIADB must acquire these lands and ensure essential infrastructure—electricity, roads, and drainage—to attract industries and generate employment.

A total of 77 acres of private land has been acquired and compensated, including 31.2 acres in Kerebettu village, Hebri taluk, and 45.7 acres in Shivapura village. However, approval for 36.5 acres of government land is still pending. She instructed the forest department to assess whether this land falls under an eco-sensitive zone.

For the Belapu Industrial Area, the DC urged officials to accelerate minor land acquisitions for road expansion and commence construction at the earliest. She also mandated rainwater harvesting systems for all units in the Miyaru Industrial Area to tackle water scarcity.

Currently, 22 export-based units operate in the district. The DC encouraged further promotion of exports and an increase in their number.

The meeting was attended by Joint Director of Industries Nagraj V. Naik, KIADB Development Officer Srinivasa Murthy, Small-Scale Industries Association District President Harish Kunder, Deputy Director of the District Industrial Center Seetharam Shetty, District Skill Development Officer Arun B., and others.

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News Network
March 27,2025

nandini.jpg

The Karnataka government has announced that Nandini milk will become ₹4 costlier per litre starting April 1, 2025. This is the second price hike this year.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna and Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh said the increase is meant to support dairy farmers by covering the rising costs of producing and processing milk.

Officials also said that:

>> The extra money from the price hike will go directly to the milk producers.

>> The earlier ₹2 price hike (announced on June 26, 2024) will be withdrawn.

>> The new price hike of ₹4 will apply to both 500 ml and 1-litre packets.

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