Greater Talacauvery' project opposed

October 12, 2011

Mangalore, October 12: Malenadu Janti Kriya Samithi has opposed 'The Greater Talacauvery,' 'Elephant Corridor' and 'Bio diversity Centre' projects which are likely to come up in Western Ghats.

Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, Malenadu Janti Kriya SamithiCommittee President Pradeep Kumar K L said The Greater Talacauvery project is nothing but interlinking of all the protected areas namely Brahmagiri, Talacauvery, Pushpagiri sanctuaries and all other reserve forests which come under it.

“The interlinking of all the protected areas will pose threat to the existence of the 120 revenue villages in five districts and 14 taluks. If the projects are implemented, then community rights would be taken away from the traditional dwellers. The interlinking of all the reserve forests would cover 8,000 sq mts. Jamma, Baane, Kaana, Baana rights would be taken away by the government. The community rights have been guaranteed to the tribals residing in the forest by the Constitution. The project will also affect the culture and traditional of these tribals who would be displaced from their original habitat,” he said.

“In the name of development 50 to 70 small and major dams have been constructed across Kempuhole, Addahole and Gundya projects and several age old trees have been cut. The revenue villages which are situated adjacent to forests in Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Sullia, Puttur, Belthangady, Sakleshpura, Aloor, Sringeri, N R Pura, Udupi, Karkala, Kundapura, Theerthahalli, Soraba, Sirsi, Dandeli, Haliyala would be affected with the proposed project,” he opined .

He added that the project swould curtail the powers of the people to own arms under Arms Rights Act.

“In the name of promotion of tourism and development, the government is giving permission to restaurants, cottages and resorts inside the reserve forest. However, it is not allowing the traditional dwellers to continue to live peacefully,” he said.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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