Cochin airport to open on August 26
Kochi, Aug 21: With the flood waters receding rapidly, the Cochin International Airport, one of the three in Kerala and the busiest, will open on August 26 - after 12 days of closure.
Airport authorities have been engaged in a massive cleaning operation of the operational area that was submerged by flood waters.
One side the compound wall of the airport came down after water from the swollen Periyar river and its tributaries, which received an unprecedented amount of water released by major dams, entered the complex, turning it into a virtual sea.
The airport was first closed on August 9, for a few hours, and then on August 15.
Consequent to the flooding, a Rs 60 crore solar power plant, billed as one of the biggest in an airport, was submerged. The Cochin airport handled 10 million passengers in fiscal 2017-18.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Udupi district's opposition to Kasturirangan report intensifies ahead of October 21 by-election
Udupi: Several Gram Panchayat members in Udupi district have demanded that the state government either remove their villages from the Kasturirangan report or address various grievances. They have warned that they will boycott voting in the by-election if their demands are not met. The election process is currently underway, and they plan to present their demands to the government after the voting concludes.
A by-election for the Karnataka Legislative Council's South Karnataka Local Authority constituency is set to take place on October 21 in the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. Udupi's Additional Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Election Officer, Mamata Devi G.S., confirmed that all preparations for peaceful voting are in place at the district level.
In the district, approximately 37 villages in Kundapura, Byndoor, Karkala, and Hebri taluks are listed as affected by the Kasturi Rangan report. Several Gram Panchayats have insisted on being removed from this list, stating that they will boycott the elections if their demands are not addressed. Villages such as Mudhoor, Goli Hole, Jadkal, Hallihole, Alur, Chittur, Edmoghe, Vandsae, Amasebailu, Shedimane, Madamakki, and Belve are among those expressing their discontent.
If these Gram Panchayat members remain firm in their stance, the upcoming election, which is already lacking elected members for the Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat, is likely to face further complications due to the intimidation of members. The outcome may hinge on whether political parties can convince these members in the final hours.
A total of 6,032 voters are eligible to cast their votes in this election, with 2,480 voters in Udupi district and 3,552 in Dakshina Kannada district. Voting will take place at 158 polling stations in Udupi district and 234 polling stations in Dakshina Kannada.
In Udupi district, 30 out of 158 polling stations have been identified as sensitive. Similarly, 23 out of 234 polling stations in Dakshina Kannada are designated as sensitive. A total of 660 officials and staff members, including 14 micro observers, have been deployed across 165 teams for the polling stations in Udupi district. In Dakshina Kannada, 972 officials and staff members have been assigned across 243 teams for the polling stations.
Additionally, 328 police personnel have been deployed in Udupi district, and 540 personnel in Dakshina Kannada district.
Eligible voters are required to present either their voter ID (OTR ID) or an identification document provided by local authority members at the polling station. Only these two forms of identification will be accepted; other documents will not be considered valid.
Voters will be allowed to use only the specific indelible ink pen provided by polling officials to cast their votes. Any votes marked with different pens or marking instruments will be deemed invalid. Voters must indicate their preference for candidates by marking numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) next to the candidate's name, as writing out the numbers in words will not be accepted.
In Udupi district, the Shiroor Gram Panchayat has the highest number of voters, while Hallihole and Edmoghe Gram Panchayats have the lowest. This election will allow voting only for Lok Sabha members, Vidhan Sabha members, Vidhan Parishad members, City Council members, Municipal Council members, Town Panchayat members, and Gram Panchayat members.
