bangalore news times

Bengaluru ;The Karnataka government has issued an official order introducing a Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) for eligible residents of the state. The Revenue Department has also released detailed guidelines outlining the eligibility criteria and the procedure for issuing the certificate. According to the government order, applicants must have continuously resided in Karnataka for at least 10 years to qualify for the certificate . The condition can also be fulfilled if the applicant’s parents or legal guardians have been permanent residents of the state for a minimum of 10 consecutive years. The certificate will be issued only after the competent authority conducts a thorough verification and is satisfied that the applicant is a genuine and permanent resident of Karnataka. Officials have been directed to examine documentary, electronic or oral evidence submitted by applicants before approving the request. The government has instructed authorities to process a...

Bengaluru: Freight transport across South India could be severely affected from August 1 as truck owners have announced plans for an indefinite strike over a series of unresolved demands, including the mandatory installation of GPS devices and panic buttons in commercial vehicles. South India Motor Transport Association (SIMA) president GR Shanmugappa said the strike would begin if governments failed to respond positively before July 30. He said around 24 lakh lorries across the southern states, including nearly seven lakh in Karnataka, would participate in the protest. The association alleged that the implementation of GPS and panic button requirements has been marked by wide variations in charges across different states. Shanmugappa claimed that installation costs ranged from Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000 despite the equipment serving the same purpose, and described the situation as an irregularity that warranted immediate investigation. He questioned why the requirement was b...

Belagavi : RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat arrived in Belagavi on the evening of Monday, July 6, to attend the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s annual All India Prant Pracharak meeting, which will be held in the city from July 10 to 12. Mohan Bhagwat reached Sambra Airport by a special flight from Hyderabad and was welcomed by senior RSS office-bearers, including Prant Pracharaks and Kshetra Pracharaks. Tight security arrangements were put in place from the airport to Udyambag, with police personnel deployed along the route. The annual conclave will be organised at Sant Meera School in Anagol, the Foundry Cluster Guest House in Udyambag and Jagannathrao Joshi Smarak Bhavan on Goods Shed Road. Bhagwat is expected to stay in Belagavi until July 14 and will participate in internal discussions and preparations beginning July 7. The meeting will bring together senior organisational leaders from across the country, including Prant Pracharaks, Sah Prant Pracharaks, Kshetr...

Mangaluru: Padma Shri awardee Dr Girish Bharadwaj, widely known as the “Bridge Man of India” for revolutionising low-cost suspension bridge construction in rural areas, passed away at a private hospital in Sullia early on Tuesday, July 7. He was 76. Dr Bharadwaj had been undergoing treatment for a heart-related ailment and was admitted to KVG Hospital a few days ago after his health deteriorated. He breathed his last in the early hours of Tuesday. National recognition for constructing more than 140 suspension bridges An engineer by profession, Dr Bharadwaj earned national recognition for constructing more than 140 suspension bridges across India, connecting remote villages that had long remained cut off due to the absence of road infrastructure. His innovative and cost-effective bridge designs transformed the lives of thousands of people in rural communities. In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to rural infrastructure and engineering innovation...

Bengaluru : Seventy-two-year-old Saibanna Ningappa Natikar walked out of Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Saturday, July 4, after spending 37 years behind bars, making him one of the longest-serving prisoners in the country. Released on the grounds of good conduct along with 23 other life convicts, Saibanna’s freedom marks the end of a prison term that has drawn attention to questions of punishment, rehabilitation and criminal justice in India. With long white hair, a flowing beard and slow, measured steps, Saibanna emerged from prison after nearly four decades of incarceration. Prison officials described him as the country’s longest-serving inmate, while Director General of Prisons Alok Kumar said Saibanna had maintained good conduct throughout his years in custody. According to Kumar, he had interacted with Saibanna during his postings in Belagavi and Kalaburagi prisons and found his behaviour to be disciplined. Saibanna, a native of Jevargi ...

Shivamogga : Even as several parts of Karnataka continue to grapple with deficient monsoon rainfall, incessant showers in the Malnad region have brought cheer to farmers in Shivamogga district, with the Tunga Reservoir reaching its full capacity and becoming the first major dam in the state to fill up this monsoon season. Heavy rainfall over the past three days has significantly increased inflows into the reservoir. Officials said the dam is currently receiving an inflow of 20,565 cusecs, prompting the authorities to release 18,051 cusecs of water into the Tunga River through 12 spillway gates as a precautionary measure to maintain safe storage levels. The reservoir has attained its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 588.24 metres and is holding its full storage capacity of 3.24 TMC of water, bringing much-needed relief to farmers dependent on the irrigation project. However, the release of large volumes of water has raised concerns over a possible rise in river levels down...

Bengaluru : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Sri Ram Mandir has unearthed fresh details that point to a wider and more organised network than initially suspected. While the investigation first focused on the alleged theft of cash offerings from the temple’s donation boxes, officials now claim that gold and silver ornaments donated by devotees were also systematically diverted. The alleged involvement of a network extending to Karnataka has added a new dimension to the high-profile probe. According to sources associated with the investigation, the SIT has so far seized more than ₹80 lakh in cash from eight accused persons. However, investigators are yet to recover the gold ornaments allegedly stolen from the temple, with officials suspecting that hundreds of people may have played different roles in the operation over a prolonged period. Investigators believe the alleged fraud began during the process of...