Mangaluru is the most livable, safest city in Karnataka
MANGALURU, August 14: The coastal city of Mangaluru is the most livable and safest city in the state of Karnataka, according to the Ease of Living Index 2018 released by ministry of housing and urban affairs on Monday. The Index saw the coastal city of Mangaluru top the state with an overall ranking of 41, leaving Bengaluru in the third position with a ranking of 58 after Belagavi (ranking 52). The ranking pertains to 111 cities on the Ease of Living Index released by the ministry on Monday.
The Cities were ranked on four factors – institutions, social, economic and physical infrastructure development of the cities. The Ease of Living Index enables cities to assess their livability vis-a-vis global and national benchmarks and encourage cities to move towards an ‘outcome-based’ approach to urban planning and management.
Interestingly Mangaluru which has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons starting with moral policing and cattle vigilantism was ranked 33 in the Safety and Security aspect with Bengaluru being placed in a distant seventh position with a ranking of 107 after Shivamogga (37), Davanagere (50), Tumakuru (64) HubballiDharwad (67).
Recommended By Colombia In the solid waste management category Mangaluru scored 15 as against 58 of Bengaluru and Davangere was the worst with 90th rank. Even in aspects like Transportation and mobility and Wastewater management Mangaluru has done well with it being in the first two positions.
The city also scored high on education with a rank of 33 as against 55 of Bengaluru. Surprisingly the health capital of the state with many hospitals and medical colleges was ranked 55, a sixth position in state after Shivamogga (12), Belagavi (35), Hubballi-Dharwad (48), with Bengaluru performing worst with a ranking of 103. That the coast has its strong identity and culture was backed by the ranking which placed it in the second position (38) in the state after Belagavi (10). In power supply too, the city was ranked 31, taking the first position in the state.
Where Mangaluru took a beating was in the public open spaces category with sixth position among the cities in state and also on pollution where it was in the fifth position.
The ranking was carried out based on 78 indicators grading the existing conditions of urban transport, waste water management, and solid waste management. In all indicators, the Coastal city was placed within the first three positions among the seven cities that appeared in the index in Karnataka.
Courtesy: timesofindia
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HC says no coercive action against Sonu Nigam over Kannada song row, allows video appearance
Bengaluru, May 15 (PTI): The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed that no coercive steps be taken against singer Sonu Nigam until the next date of hearing, in connection with a recent criminal case registered against him for allegedly making offensive remarks during a concert.The court also permitted the singer to appear via video conferencing for recording his statement, if required by the investigating officer (IO). Alternatively, if the IO insists on a physical appearance, the court said the officer could visit Nigam, with the singer bearing the associated expenses.
The case stems from a complaint lodged after an incident at a concert, where some Kannadiga fans had requested Nigam to sing in Kannada. The singer allegedly took offence to the tone of the request and reportedly remarked, “This is why Pahalgam happened,” drawing a controversial comparison to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the hearing, Nigam’s counsel, Dhananjay Vidyapati, argued that the complaint was filed solely for publicity and that the alleged offence of public mischief under Section 505 of the IPC was not made out.
He also said it was a solitary incident, the concert proceeded smoothly, and the complaint was filed by a third party.
The state counsel, however, maintained that Nigam’s remarks needed to be examined in the course of investigation to determine intent.
“Whether the comments were intentional or not cannot be adjudicated under Section 482 (CrPC). He has not cooperated with the investigation. He could have at least said he was busy,” the State submitted.
Arguing against special privileges, the State’s counsel added, “A person who does not respect due process of law cannot be given benefit under 482… He is not a normal man, but that is precisely why he should not have made such a statement.”
When the court asked why Nigam’s statement could not be recorded virtually or even at his residence, the State objected, saying that would amount to giving the singer “too much convenience.”
Responding to concerns raised by Nigam’s counsel about the media spectacle that would follow a physical appearance, the court observed: “If you want physical appearance, you go to his place and record his statement. He could bear the expenses.”
The court recorded the State’s submission that no coercive steps would be taken if Nigam cooperated with the investigation. It stayed the filing of any final report in the case until the next date of hearing.
