UNI
Bangalore, Jun 4: The Karnataka Cabinet on Sunday approved setting up of a Bio Tech Park at a cost of Rs 103 Crore, minister for transport Chaluvarayaswamy said here.
Briefing newsmen after a cabinet meeting here, he said that buildings would be constructed for Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) and the Center for Human Genetics (CHG) and Administrative Building for Karnataka Biotech Training Society (KBITS), which are currently functioning in rented buildings.
He said that establishment of Biotech Incubation Centre and Common Instrumentation Facility in the Park would be taken up at a cost of Rs 67 Crores.
He said that 92 acres of land, of the the total 106 acre required for the Park, has already been acquired.
Chaluvarayaswamy said that the Union Government, Department of Biotechnology, has allotted Rs 14 Crore as its contribution for setting up of the Park and has already released Rs 11 Crore.
He said that setting up of the Park would give a fillip to the efforts of the State to be in the forefront of cutting edge technology in the field of Bio Technology and new entrepreneurs would be able to use the Common Facility Center and testing facilities, bringing down their capital cost and encouraging fresh investment in the State.
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JD(S) issues notices to 8 MLAs of Siddaramaiah faction
UNI
Gulbarga: Eight legislators belonging to the Siddaramaiah faction have been have been served showcause notices by the Janata Dal (Secular) for defying its whip in the recent elections to the Karnataka Legislative Council.
Disclosing this at a press conference here on Sunday, former Deputy Chairman of the Council and All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) leader B R Patil, MLA, said the eight legislators had been served the notices for ''anti-party activities'' and given a week's time to reply.
''However, we have sought three months' time to submit our explanation. We will be filing a writ petition questioning the validity of the whip issued by the JD (S) as it is against the fundamental rights and unjust,'' he added.
Besides former Deputy Chief Minister and AIPJD Leader Siddaramaiah and Patil, the others who received the notice are M K Somasekhar, K Venkatesh, B K Yamanappa, Krishnamurthy, Mahadev and H Y Maty.
Critcising the functioning of the H D Kumaraswamy government, Mr Patil said the delay in forming the Cabinet Sub-Committee had crippled several development activities in the state. Though funds had been allocated for various departments, they had not been disbursed due to non-formation of the Sub-Committee, he pointed out.
K'taka govt accused of inept handling of CET issue
UNI
Hubli: Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council H K Patil on Sunday accused the coalition government, headed by H D Kumaraswamy, of handling the Common Entrance Test (CET) for professional courses in an immature and irresponsible manner.
Talking to newspersons here, he claimed that the social justice adopted by former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily in the CET had been completely defeated under the present JD (S)-BJP rule.
He alleged that the government lacked farsightedness and pointed out that the number of seats available at the disposal of the government had reduced to less than 5,000 this year from 38,000 last year.
''Even now things can be set right if the nine amendments proposed by him during his tenure as Law Minister are implemented,'' Mr Patil said.
Referring to the State High Level Clearance Committee sanctioning over 5,000 arces of land to real estate bigwigs for five projects under the garb of allotting it for Information Technology and allied industries, Mr Patil demanded that the government withdraw the decision immediately.
Coming down heavily on the government for failing to implement the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said though the scheme came into force on February two last, the government was yet to notify it. Of the Rs 100 crore received from the Centre for the purpose, the state had not spent even Rs 10 crore, he pointed out.
On the Kalasa Bandori project, Mr Patil said 40 days had passed since an all-party meeting was held in this regard and the Chief Minister was yet to lead a delegation to New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister. ''I only urge Mr Kumarswamy to discharge his duties on time,'' he added.
BJP for special security to BJP, VHP, RSS leaders
UNI
Gulbarga: Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka General Secretary Arvind Limbavali today demanded special security to BJP, RSS and VHP leaders and its buildings in the country following attempt by the militants to blow up the RSS headquarters in Nagpur recently.
Expressing concern over the attack, Mr Limbavali told UNI here that BJP, RSS and VHP leaders are in the hit list of Militants and it is boundan duty of the Union Government to provide proper security.
"The attempt was an attack on the nation and nation's integrity.
The militancy should be dealt with iron hand", he demanded.
Alleging that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by Congress led has totally failed too contain the militant activities in the Country, Mr Limbavali demanded reintroduction of Prevention of Terrorist Act (POTA).
News from our correspondent
Laptop thief arrested
Bangalore: A thief, Pandy by name, was arrested while trying to sell a laptop near Garuda Motors on Lalbagh Road.
It is alleged that this Rs.60,000 worth laptop was stolen from a house in J. P. Nagar. The Halasur Gate police who arrested him have taken him to judicial custody.
Three robbers nabbed in Peenya
Bangalore: Three persons were arrested by the Peenya police here, while robbing a house with a duplicate key.
The arrested are Farook(23), Vishwanath(19) and Aadhishanker(21). Police have recovered Rs.1.75 lac worth gold ornaments and a camera from them.