2 DECCAN HERALD

Friday, March 29, 2013

Metro
In brief
Train runs over woman
Prameela, 37, was killed on the spot after she came under a running train at Hebbal in Baiyappanahalli railway police limits on Thursday. She was a resident of Hebbal. The accident occurred at around 11.30 am when she was crossing the tracks. She had put on the earphones and was answering a call when the accident occurred. She failed to notice the train and came under its wheels, said the police.

EPIC move to get Citys homeless on electoral rolls

Chethan Kumar BANGALORE: Complaints of deletion of names from the voters list and residents not being able to avail themselves of EPIC card are problems the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the citizens are trying to deal with similar magnitude.

While the Palikes inability to resolve them, coupled with other political interests, continues to worry the civic society, parallelly, the BBMP revenue

officers and election registration officers (EROs) are busy with another project. Following the directions from Vishal, a special officer from the Election Commission of India (ECI) deputed at the BBMP, revenue officers and EROs, in the last 15 days have been busy vetting details of several homeless people seeking to participate in the election process. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Vishal said: It is a herculean task to find details of the home-

less and, to authenticate it is a bigger problem. But, the priority is to provide as many of them as possible an opportunity to cast their votes. Stating that over 50 applications have already been received from such people, he said: The difficulty is that we need to do multiple checks to verify if they really stay in the City and, it is extremely time consuming. But, I hope that this will be taken forward in the coming years too. Soon we will have most of them on the elec-

guidelines on this matter is very clear. We cannot deny the EPIC card to anybody who applies for it as long as there is proof of domicile. We have issued the identity cards to nomads in places such as Gulbarga. The procedures here cannot be more complex, but it certainly is a huge task, he said. Vishal further said that there is a need for some honest NGOs without political agenda ECI guidelines working with the homeless to Vishal pointed out that the ECI take an initiative. toral rolls. The officials have found it difficult to identify the real place of residence of such people. In some cases, the application has come from Shivajinagar, where the person works. But, he sleeps under the flyover in KR Market. In such cases, it becomes difficult to ascertain where they are from, another official said.

Such people do not have a voices and unfortunately, in a system like ours, even crying babies do not get enough attention, so you can imagine them. An EPIC card is important as it not only allows them to participate in the election process, but also gives them an identity. This is as important as being able to vote, he said.

the City had met Vishal about 15 days ago to discuss the issue. After the meeting, he directed his officials to register such people. He also said that applications are also being received from those taking shelter at the Palikes seven night shelters. Authentication becomes a little more easy in these cases Meeting as they come back to the Indo-Global Social Service shelter every day, an official Society (IGSSS), an NGO said. working with the homeless in DH News Service

Constables daughter ends life

Upset with her losing her friends wristwatch, a head constables daughter allegedly committed suicide at the police quarters in Shivajinagar on Thursday. The victim Shruthi was a second year BCom student at Vijaya College, reports DHNS from Bangalore. In a death note, she stated that she was not a good looking girl and had lost a bag in which she had kept her friends watch. Nobody was responsible for her death, she added. Shruthis mother had gone to a temple when she took the extreme step.

VCs welcome move to allow universities to float bonds

Proposal aimed at helping funds-starved institutes to create academic infrastructure
BANGALORE: The Karnataka Knowledge Commissions (KKC) recommendation to the government to permit universities to float bonds to fund their infrastructure projects has been welcomed by the cash-strapped varsities.

Yelahanka MLAs bail plea opposed

BANGALORE, DHNS: The Lokayukta police on Thursday filed strong objections in the Special Lokayukta Court that no relief be given to Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath, accused in illegal transfer of land case. Submitting their objections to the anticipatory bail sought by Vishwanath, Lokayukta Special Public Prosecutor K K Sitaram argued that Vishwanath was the brain behind the operation that saw 32 acres and 4 guntas of government land in Madanapalli, Hessaraghatta Hobli, being purchased by his relatives and aides. He is the main person behind this and the other accused are puppets, Sitaram argued. Vishwanath applied for anticipatory bail after four other accused government officials, including IAS officer M K Aiyappa, were arrested by the Lokayukta police. Aiyappa is accused of being responsible for the transfer of land to Narasimhaiah, who later sold it Vishwanaths nephew and aides. Narasimhaiah is aged 80 plus and lives in impoverished condition and is accused of selling the land for Rs 7 crore. He cannot be responsible for this deal. He does not even have a proper roof over his head. It is a deep rooted conspiracy on the part of Vishwanath to cheat government of its land, Sitaram argued. The police have also submitted that it was not a simple offence but a complete disrespect of rule of law and offence against society. Conceding that the arrest of Vishwanath was imminent as his custody was required for investigation, the Lokayukta police argued that anticipatory bail should not be granted as he was not innocent.

Intimate voters before verication

The Civic organisation has appealed to BBMP booth level officers to intimate the slum dwellers before visiting the spots for verification of voters identity, DHNS reports from Bangalore. Speaking to press persons, the executive trustee of Civic, Kathyayini Chamraj said, Otherwise a lot of people will be deprived of their right to vote. According to her as much as 33 per cent of slum dwellers in the City do not have the right to exercise their franchise.

Clearing of sewage lines

The Bangalore Water and Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will deploy 12 jetting and two sucking machines to clear the sewage lines in Frazer Town, Machallibetta, Pillanna Garden and DJ Halli areas of Central-3 sub-division and Hegganahalli, Peenya, Peenya Dasarahalli of the North-West-3 sub-division, reports DHNS from Bangalore.

It is no secret that many universities in the State are lagging behind in infrastructure development for want of funds and, a visit to most of the hostels or laboratories will stand proof of this. The KKC in its report on Higher Education Vision-2020 has recommended to the government that it allow universities to float long term, 10-year plus bonds for creating necessary academic and hostel infrastructure, labs, libraries etc. Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Vice Chancellor Maheshappa said that the VTU is already generating revenue and if the government gives a nod to the KKC recommendation, many universities will benefit. Most universities which are lagging behind for want of funding may see a drastic transformation. The State, in its present situation, has not been able to provide adequate funds. If the recommendation is accepted, then there can be a remarkable change, he said.

Bangalore University ViceChancellor Thimme Gowda said: It is a good move. We are unable to carry out too many projects with the current funds, it will be a relief if bonds dedicated to universities can be used to raise money. Former Bangalore University Vice Chancellor M S Thimmappa said that the universities are left with no options but to go for something like this. With the funds that the government provides, BU is able to fulfil only 60 per cent of its maintenance requirement and the remaining funds are raised internally. The only kind of projects and development that happen are through the UGC funds and even that is not enough if we want to take our higher education forward to stay in the race, he said. He said that a Task Force set up by the S M Krishna government had, in fact, proposed setting up of a University Bank to cater to the needs. Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) Registrar, Ashok Kumar said: We are educational institutions who do not strive to become brands. There needs to be more of an impetus to selfenhanced schemes rather than asking universities to issue bonds, he said.

He also questioned whether the bonds will sell, given the credibility crisis in most Universities. Experts point out that the universities might have to get certified by agencies so as to find subscribers for the bonds. Given the nature of their functioning, this could be one of the challenges, one of them said. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mohan Das Pai, chairman, Mission Group on Higher Education Policy constituted by KKC said: We believe that it is essential for universities to raise money to fund their development projects. It is known that there is a fund-crunch and this will help them. He said that though the bond, according to the proposal, will be floated by the universities they will not be liable to pay the principal amount to the subscribers of the said bonds. The proposal is to allow universities to float bonds with government security which will take care of the principal amount, while the universities will pay the interest, Pai said. M K Sridhar, Member Secretary and Executive Director, KKC said that the recommendations have been submitted to the department of Higher Education recently and that the decision on it is pending.
DH News Service

CLEAN UP ACT: BBMP workers remove posters at T Dasarahalli on Nelamangala Road on Thursday. DH PHOTO

Palikes fresh warning to remove political posters

BANGALORE, DHNS: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah on Thursday issued a fresh warning to zonal commissioners to ensure that all political posters and banners that dot the City are removed immediately.

With the model code of conduct in place ahead of the Assembly elections in the State, the Palike Commissioner had asked the zonal commissioners

in the City to crackdown on illegal political advertisements. Complaints of political banners and posters flooding the BBMP head office made the commissioner issue a fresh warning of launching a crackdown on the offenders, who are yet to remove the posters and banners. Being the district returning officer, Siddaiah also instructed his subordinates to lodge complaints against the offenders

with the police. The BBMP has already launched a massive crackdown against illegal flexes, posters, banners and advertisements across the City but the Palike officers have been confronting resistance by some political leaders at some places. Siddaiah reportedly directed the officials to employ more people and engage political parties to remove political advertisements as quickly as possible.

Flight to Tirupati
Air India, through its subsidiary Alliance Air, will launch a flight between Bangalore and Tirupati from April 1, which will operate thrice a week, reports DHNS. The new ATR 42 aircraft will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Lok Satta Party announces candidates for 15 seats CEC to visit City to check election preparedness
BANGALORE, DHNS: It may be

Planetarium resumes show

Jawaharlal Nehru planetarium has resumed two of its shows, Solar System and Dawn of the Space Age, on March 27. The shows will be shown between 11.30 am- 5.30 pm. It has also started an additional show called Moon a scientific story to be shown at 5.30 pm. For more details call 22266084, 22379725 or visit www.taralaya.org

a fringe party and not have the visibility of the fledgling KJP or the BSR Congress. But the Lok Satta Party has already released a list of 15 candidates for the May 5 Assembly elections in the State. The party is hopeful that its candidates track record will hold the key to garner the requisite votes to win the seats. Our track record and inten-

tions to clean the political system and the possibility of having like-minded individuals campaigning for us will get us past the post in a few of our seats, said the partys campaign convenor N S Mukunda. The Lok Satta Party has stated that its political intent is based on principles and away from todays money and liquor politics. However, the party is willing to accept donations

from all sections of society, even from corporates who wish to bring in the change. We want to move away from the conventional sense of pursuing vote banks by distributing money and liquor. We hope that our party can herald a new age of politics which will clean the system and serve the people with good intent, said Dr Ashwin Mahesh, one of the candidates.

Candidates list Sridhar Pabbisetty, who resigned recently as the chief operating officer of the Centre for Public Policy at the IIM-B to contest the election, will enter the poll fray as Lok Satta Party candidate from Hebbal. The other candidates are: Dr Ashwin Mahesh (Bommanahalli), Dr Meenakshi Bharath (Malleswaram), Shanthala Damle (Basavanagudi), Ra-

jashri Muralidhar (Mahalakshmi Layout), Ravi Krishna Reddy (BTM Layout), Yogaiah V C (Byatarayanapura), Sumithra Iyengar (Padmanabha Nagar), Roopa Rani (Rajajinagar), Mahadevappa Gowda (Sira), Ramanna R H J (Raichur City), Guruswami (Raichur Rural), Shankarlinge Gowda (Chikmagalur), Vasantha Dalwai (Athani) and Naveena C K (Krishnaraja).

BANGALORE: Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath will be on a two-day visit to Bangalore on April 8 and 9 to oversee the preparations for the May 5 Assembly elections.

Bomb-like gift packet triggers panic in Indiranagar

BANGALORE: Situation turned tense at 12th Main Road in Indranagar on Thursday as hundreds of people gathered in front of a house after a packed material resembling a bomb was found placed there. A man, who introduced himself as Pratap had called the house owner J Basanth Surana, an industrialist, that he had sent him a gift and had placed it outside his house. JB Nagar police, who rushed to the spot along with bomb detection and disposal squad, examined the packet and declared that it was not a bomb. We have sent the component to the Forensic Science Laboratory and the truth will be out once we receive the report, said DCP (East) T G Krishna Bhat. Action will be taken against those who placed the packet and called up Surana. We will consider the issue seriously at a time when the State is getting ready for Assembly polls, the DCP added. Surana was driving towards Peenya when he received the call from a landline number at 12.30 pm. The man spoke to him in Hindi. I called up my daughter and asked her to col-

Interviews postponed
The interviews for the recruitment of Field Assistants by the University of Agricultural Sciences has been postponed due to the model code of conduct in force ahead of the Assembly polls. The interviews were scheduled to be held from April 2 to 6.

On April 8, Sampath will have a meeting with political party leaders and hear their suggestions and complaints and also clarify their doubts, if any. On April 9, he will hold a meeting with all deputy commissioners, senior police officials and other government officials. Chief Electoral Office Anil Kumar Jha told reporters on Thursday that a seminar on Role of Media in Election Reporting will be held in Vikasa Soudha on April 3 in association with the Karnataka Media Academy. Director General of Election Commission, Akshara, will spearhead the event. KPSC interview To a query, Jha said the election code of conduct will not come in the way of Karnataka State Public Service Commission (KPSC) holding interviews for different posts. However, walkin interview scheduled for the post of field assistants in the University of Agricultural Sciences between April 2 and 6 have been postponed. The Government has been asked to put on hold only programmes such as distribution of rice at Rs 2 a kg through Food and Civil Supplies Department as it could impact the election process.

V S Sampath

City weather
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky.

TEMPERATURES Maximum Minimum Rainfall Humidity Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

36.4 C 22.4 C Nil -6.18 am 6.31 pm 8.19 pm 7.32 am

Members of the bomb detection and disposal squad inspect the materials found in the gift box placed outside J B Suranas house at Indiranagar on Thursday. DH PHOTO

lect it, Surana told Deccan Herald. The man called him again from a mobile phone number and asked Surana in Hindi and English if he liked the gift. Soon, Suranas daughter called back and said there was a time piece wrapped in tubes inside

the packet. Surana asked his daughter to come out of the house immediately and informed the police. Suranas daughter and daughter-in-law were at home then, he added. As soon as the police reached the house with sniffer

dogs, hundreds of people gathered there. We barricaded the entire area and cordoned off the spot where the packet was kept. The dogs searched for explosive materials, while members of the bomb disposal squad examined the content.

They opened the tubes and found some sand-like component in white and brown colours, said Bhat. Within minutes, the police declared that it was not a bomb and the crowd dispersed. Checkposts set up DH News Service Assembly constituency-wise DH News Service

police checkposts have been set up to maintain law and order during the elections. In Doddaballapur constituency, checkposts have come up at Avalahalli, Kanasavadi, Hulikunte, Gunjur, Raghunathapura Gate and Railway Station Circle. In Devanahalli, checkposts have been set up at Karahalli Cross, Venkatapura and Boodhigere Cross. In Nelamangala, checkposts have come up at Gollahalli, Muddalinganahalli, Lakshmipura Cross, Jas toll plaza, Lan Co Town, Navayuga Town, NICE Road junction. In Anekal, checkposts have been established at Chowdareddy Circle, KSRTC Depot on Hosur Road, toll checkpost and Dommasandra Circle. They have also come up at Boodhigere Cross, Chintamani Road and Malur Road in Hoskote. The Election Commission has established control rooms at the deputy commissioners offices and taluk offices in all the districts. People can lodge complaints at excise control rooms in taluks in regard to illegal sale or distribution of liquor .