Court hill loses its green cover forever

May 1, 2012

Mangalore, May 2: Huge trees on the northern slope of the Court hill have been axed to facilitate the work on 'Vakilara Bhavan.'

According to a press release, the northern slope of the Court hill harboured the last patch of the original forest which once covered the entire hill. The patch though small, formed an ecological niche of representative trees of the area. Perched on these trees were lianas – creepers with stems having a girth of a man's arm. It must have taken centuries for them to reach this size. The trees provided a living space for epiphytes like ferns and orchids characteristic of the flora of the region. The tree canopies were a refuge to many a bird in the middle of the city. The early morning walkers on the court road could enjoy listening to them singing to their hearts content in the shelter of the trees. The area was a home to a number of reptiles and frogs which are considered to be endangered.

The uppermost portion of this area below the Museum and the High School Building of St Aloysius College has been preserved as 'Al-Vana,' the biodiversity park of the college. In the past, the authorities had proposed to widen the road by felling the trees on the upper side of the road. However, the proposal was dropped with the agitation. A portion of the green cover was destroyed to make space for the proposed “Ambedkar Bhavan”.

Though this has not materialised till date, the age-old majestic trees which stood there are gone forever.

The Forest Department has given permission to cut an enormous 38 precious trees to make space for the building - and the deed has already been done.

The majestic trees are felled and cut and strewen on the ground. The valuable lianas are dangling, cut off from their base. A condition has been put that the party has to plant two trees for every tree they cut.

It may be said that they will fulfill this condition. But it will not bring back the original tree cover which was there for ages and which forms the last representatives of the original flora of Mangalore.

The cutting of these trees is an irreparable loss for the people of Mangalore and no less for the biodiversity of flora and fauna of Mangalore, said the release.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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