THIS IS NOT CAT WALK, BUT A JUMBO WALK!

Madikeri February 15, 2009

The residents of of Valnur - Tyagathur near Siddapur had a shock of their life on this Saturday as a herd of elephants walked majestically on the main road. A school bus skidded to halt and people walking by ran helter skelter. But the herd maintained its dignity and entered a coffee estate, without scaring or attacking anyone.

Those who witnessed the scene with fright and excitement explained that the forest sleuths slogged day and night to capture them a month back inside the forests, but they are roaming round freely from estate to estate.

The elephant herd is now raiding on coffee estates to feast over ripe coffee berries. The agriculturists and planters are demanding capture of elephants in large number.

The forest department has so far captured about eight elephants and two of them died during the operation.

TWO FROM KODAGU DIE INN ACCIDENT;

Two from Kodagu died in a road accident occurred near Maduarai yesterday.

A family from Kodagu living in Mysore had gone on a trip in a TATA Sumo vehicle. The Sumo bashed against a lorry between Maduarai and Kanyakumari. Two [persons died on the spot and few others were injured seriously. Those who died are Puttamane Lakshmana, 74 and Mannakamane Susheela, 69.

Madurai police have registered a case and the details are yet to be known.

CO OPERATIVE SECTOR TO GET MORE POWER;

The deputy speaker K.G.Bopaiah has said that the co operative sector would be given more power to improve financial situation of the farmers and to implement government schemes.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new building at Kotur Vyavasaya Seva Sahakara Sanga Niyamita yesterday.

He informed that the government is all set to accept the Vaidyanathan Report and instructions are given to implement them early. Loan and interest waiver announced earlier would be implemented by the end of March, he said.

President of the DCC Bank, Matanda Ramesh , assistant registrar of Societies, Jafrulla Khan spoke on the occasion. President of the Bank M.G.Monnappa presided over.