WOMAN DIES OF ELECTROCUTION;

Madikeri March 15, 2008

AN AOLD WOMAN AGED 74 DIED OF ELECTROCUTION AT THITHIMATHI YESTERDAY.

The incident occurred at the Chowdikatte forest range, part of Nagarahole National park. Devamma, 74 had been to forest to fetch firewood and stepped over a live wire broken from the pole. She died on the spot.

The villagers have told that a deer and a wild cat have also died due to electrocution.

Devamma was shifted to Gonicoppal hospital mortuary. She leaves five children.

MSIAPPROPRIATION PROVED IN MATSYASHRAYA;

The Zilla Panchayath has said that large scale misappropriation has taken place in “Matsyashraya” scheme.

Presiding over the ZP meet, President Deergakeshi Shivanna disclosed that the Fisheries department has sanctioned houses to those who already have houses and misappropriated funds. She said that a preliminary investigation conducted by a nodal officer has proved it.

CEO Sundar said that two false cases where beneficiaries having house and property have built houses by hiding the facts and few more are being investigated. Member Rajarao said that the officials involved should be booked and suspended. CEO assured that money will be recovered from the false beneficiaries and criminal case would be filed against the officials involved in the misdeed.

Member M.K.nanjappa spoke about the electrification and regretted that the rajivgandhi electrification scheme is pending since years without implementation. Executive Engineer of CHESCOM told the meeting that they have identified around 13763 beneficiaries under this scheme and a private company is asked to undertake the job. He explained the hurdles on the way.

DFO Singh , attached to Nagarahole national park spoke about providing benefits to the Tribes living inside the forests. He said that though the beneficiaries are identified to be electrified, incomplete transactions from the CHESCOM is delaying it. He said that the Forest and CHESCOM departments should conduct joint survey to provide water and electricity to forest dwellers.

PROTEST TO REINSTATE SI;

The Nagarika Horata Samity at Siddapur has begun indefinite strike before Siddapur police station demanding reinstating of suspended SI santosh.

President Bharath and his members alleged that the accused advocate Naveen has misled BAR association and lodged false complaint against the sub inspector.

Protestors said that they will continue their strike till the SI is called back for duty.

It can be recalled that advocate Naveen was booked for trespass and kidnapping while Santosh was booked for assaulting and threatening him inside the police station.

OFFICALS COME OUT OF CONFINEMENT;

The forest officials confined in a house at south Kodagu was released yesterday.

The villagers who had blocked the forest officialsd at the house of one Macchmada Anish Madappa at T.Shettigeri from 13th afternoon have released them yesterday after they promised to capture the tiger by using tranquilizer.

People were outraged as the tiger struck the shed of Anish Madappa and killed a buffalo. Range Forest officers Gajanana Bhat, Nagarajachar and staff who went for inspection were not allowed moving out from the place till they promise to capture the tiger.

DFO Mallesh, who went to the spot yesterday addressed the protesting villagers and said that the Wild Life department was not co operating with the Forest department on certain issues. He disclosed that the state has only two experts who administer tranquilizers and both of them are engaged at Hassan in capturing elephants. He also said that they come under the control of PCCF. He however spoke with Srinivas, one of the experts and requested him to come to Kodagu.