Karnataka is bringing in new telecom policy to set up towers: Minister Khader
First time in country
Mangaluru, November 20: Housing and Urban Development Minister UT Khader said that for the first time in the country, the state government is bringing in new telecom policy to set up telecom tower in Karnataka.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, the Minister said that the companies have to get the permission from the government compulsorily and follow certain norms to set up telecom towers in the state. As per the policy, tower should not be constructed within 50 meters radius of schools and colleges, worshipping centres and hospitals.
The companies have to pay certain taxes to the BBMP, city corporations, city municipal councils, town municipal councils, town panchayats and gram panchayats to get the licences. The government has fixed Rs 1 lakh tax in BBMP limits, Rs 30,000 in city corporation limits, Rs 25,000 in city corporation, and Rs 15,000 in gram panchayat limits to get the licences. For the existing towers, the companies or owners were given three months time to get licence from the concerned authorities, the Minister said.
Rs 198 cr funds for drinking water project in Mangaluru constituency
The Cabinet has approved the sanction of Rs 198 crore for the drinking water project from the Thumbe vented dam to the Mangaluru Assembly constituency, he said.
Barrage, bridge across Nethravathi river at Harekala
The government has approved Rs 178 crore project to construct barrage and a bridge across Nethravathi river at Adyar Harekala. The project would be implemented to avoid sea water entering into the river and helpful to drinking water. The KUIDFC and the city corporation would construct a market and a commercial complex at Kankanady in the city at a cost of Rs 41 crore. It was planned to open a division of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology in Mangaluru, he said.
Centre fixed price for sugarcane, not CM
The central government held a discussion with the sugarcane farmers and fixed the price. But the BJP and the people have been accusing about the Chief Minister. It was the central government which fixed the price and not the state government, he said.
Mayor Bhaskar, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Congress leader Mamatha Gatti, Sadashiva Ullala and others were present.
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Allahabad HC orders FIR against Rahul Gandhi in alleged dual citizenship case
Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the registration of an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in connection with an alleged dual citizenship controversy.
The court also observed that after the registration of the FIR, the state government may seek the assistance of a central agency to investigate the matter.
The order was passed by a bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi on a petition filed by S Vignesh Shishir, who had challenged a January 28, 2026 order of a special MP/MLA court rejecting his plea for an FIR against Gandhi, who is also the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The special court had earlier held that it was not competent to adjudicate on issues related to citizenship.
The petitioner, a BJP worker from Karnataka, had sought registration of an FIR and a detailed probe into the matter, levelling allegations against Gandhi under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act.
The complaint was initially filed before the special MP/MLA court in Rae Bareli. However, on the petitioner's request, the high court transferred the case to Lucknow on December 17, 2025.
The MP/MLA court in Lucknow subsequently dismissed the plea on January 28, 2026, prompting the petitioner to approach the high court, which has now ordered registration of an FIR.
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