From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Mar 7: As many as 9 tigers and 11 lions have died due to various reasons in the Bannerghatta Zoological Park in Bangalore during the last 14 months.

Three leopards, and several tortoises, squirrels, cranes, bear and other snakes died in the park during the same period.

In addition, a total of 75 animals, including snakes, crocodiles and squirrels died in the park since January 1, 2010.

This information was given by Karnataka’s Forest Minister C H Vijayashankar in a written reply to an unstarred question from Ramalinga Reddy (Congress) in the State Legislative Assembly on Monday.

Tigers and lions died due to old age, kidney failures, cancer and other infectious diseases, the minister said.

Wild animals rescued from circus had also died due to weakness and old age. The Park officials had taken various steps to prevent spread of diseases, the minister added.

Surplus Netravathy Water for Chikkaballapur, Kolar

Under the Netravathy diversion scheme, surplus water is proposed to be utilised to provide drinking water and groundwater recharge in the drought affected districts of Chickballapur and Kolar, State Water Resources Minister Basavaraja Bommai informed N Sampangi (Congress).

Separate feeder to ensure power supply to Industries

Industries being set up and operating in various industrial areas in the State can look forward to better and regular power supply as the State Government is planning to establish a separate feeder to ensure regular supply, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani informed the Assembly.

In a written reply to an unstarred question from Congress member U T Khader the minister said the government has signed agreements with various companies, including the National Thermal Power Corporation, for generating 18,000 MW of power prior to the Global Investors’ Meet held in June last year.

The government is committed to provide round the clock power to the new industries that come in the State, he said.

As many as 389 projects with a total investment of Rs. 3.92 lakh crore were signed during the GIM. Of these, 14 projects have been implemented and 201 projects were at different stages of implementation. The 14 projects have provided employment to 3984 persons.

Many projects would be implemented soon and the conversion ratio would be more compared to the GIM held during the Krishna government in 2001, he said.

Stating that the department had acquired single crop cultivation lands in districts, Nirani said the government would withdraw lands given to industries if they failed to set up projects in two years after the allotment of lands.

The industries would not be used allotted lands for real estate purposes, he said adding that necessary steps have been taken to supply adequate amount of water to industrial projects in the State.

Earlier, T B Jayachandra of the Congress said the industrial corridors have become real estate corridors and no major project signed during the GIM had been realised.

No Kannada Medium Candidate passes IAS, IPS, IFS

No candidate from the State had qualified in the competitive examinations for central services liked IAS, IPS and IFS services by writing the examination in the Kannada medium in the years 2009-10, and 2010-11, according to information furnished by Kannada and Culture Minister Govind Karjol in reply to a question from Vasant Bangera of Congress.

However, C Somanna of Dharwad was selected to the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) cadre by writing in the Kannada medium. The government had given him cash award of Rs. 50,000, Karjol said.