UPCL fly ash row: Protesters clash with Pejavar seer

March 5, 2011

Udupi, March 5: Pejawar Mutt pontiff Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji will no more be in the fight against coal based power project promoted by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (earstwhile Nagarjuna). A development to this effect was evident at the meeting of the representatives of the UPCL and the Raitha Sangha organizing protests against Nagarjuna, convened by the Swamiji.

As soon as the meeting began Vijay Kumar Hegde and other activists of the Raitha Sangha questioned Swamiji for convening a meeting to discuss ill effects of the power project on the environment. Hegde said, “Swamiji you had personally visited the project site last week and were convinced by the ill effects of bottom ash being dumped in the ash pond and also of the fly ash. On that day you had also given a deadline of March 3 to stop producing power and come for the dialogue. Now without consulting the activists how can you call for a meeting without the company stop its production. You are already convinced of the ill effects during your visit to the site. Now what is there to discuss. You cannot keep changing your stand''.


Hegde also took Swamiji to task for sharing the dais with the representatives of the company making the Raitha Sangha activists, the mere audience.


Some of the activists also shouted slogans against Swamiji and called him the Nagarjuna Agent.


Replying to media persons Swamiji said that though he had visited the site, he was not convinced by the ill effects on the environment. During the question and answer session with the company representatives he wanted to get convinced of the situation. “If the Raitha Sangha or the people does not want me in their agitation against Nagarjuna I will not be there”, Swamiji said.


He said that Raitha Sangha did not have concern for people, they just wanted to organize a protest. Vijay Kumar Hegde spoiled the very purpose of the meeting by bringing hundreds of activists in to the meeting hall.

Hegde told press persons that henceforth Pejawar Swamiji would not be in their protest against Nagarjuna.


Vice President of UPCL Kishore Alva, Chief Operating Manager Raveendra, Site manager Sudarshan Inna, PRO Rajendra Navada, DGM (Environment, Health and Safety) Srinivas Reddy represented UPCL.


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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
November 28,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 28: Karnataka Health Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday handed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to crashing crop prices.

PM Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi, where Gundu Rao welcomed him and submitted the letter. The chief minister’s message stressed that farmers are suffering heavy losses because maize and green gram are being bought far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state urged the Centre to immediately begin procurement at MSP.

According to the letter, Karnataka has a bumper harvest this year—over 54.74 lakh metric tons of maize and 1.98 lakh metric tons of green gram—yet farmers are unable to secure fair prices. Against the MSP of ₹2,400/MT for maize and ₹8,768/MT for green gram, market rates have plunged to ₹1,600–₹1,800 and ₹5,400 respectively.

The chief minister has requested the Centre to:

• Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to start MSP procurement immediately.
• Ensure ethanol units purchase maize directly from farmers or FPOs.
• Increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation, citing high production capacity.
• Stop maize imports, which have depressed domestic prices.
• Relax quality norms for green gram, allowing up to 10% discoloration due to rains.

The letter stresses that MSP is crucial for farmer dignity and income stability and calls for swift central intervention to prevent a deepening crisis.

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News Network
November 21,2025

Bantwal: A domestic dispute appears to have led to a violent confrontation in BC Road area, where the owner of a textile shop was allegedly attacked with a knife by his wife on Wednesday evening.

Krishna Kumar Somayaji, the owner of Somayaji Textiles, sustained serious injuries in the incident and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. He is currently receiving care in the intensive care unit and is reported to have survived the assault, according to police.

The Bantwal Town police have registered a case against Somayaji's wife, Jyothi KT, who has since been taken into custody.

Police stated that the complainant, Namita, an employee at the shop, reported the sequence of events. She stated that around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the suspect entered the shop, wearing a burqa and disguised as a customer, before attacking Somayaji with a knife. The employee then transported the injured owner to a local hospital via an autorickshaw.

Superintendent of Police Arun K confirmed that an ongoing domestic dispute between Somayaji and his wife reportedly preceded the attack. Police noted that Jyothi KT had previously visited the shop and issued threats.

Based on the complaint, Bantwal Town police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Indian Arms Act-1959. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

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