Karnataka First

Around 250 tonnes of animal waste is generated in Bengaluru on a daily basis, and with a slight increase in meat consumption on weekends, there is also an increase in waste.

With no accountability for animal waste generation, and no data on existing legal meat shops that generate animal waste in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) has launched the Automatic Animal Waste Management System (AAWMS) mobile application to track meat shops. Within 24 hours of the launch of the application on Monday, 3,045 registrations were recorded.

Speaking to the TNIE, BSWML Chief Executive Officer Karee Gowda stated that registration will close on June 5 and once the agency has a record of the applications, it will be easy to track the shops and monitor their daily animal waste generation. “Fish, poultry and mutton stall waste will be collected and sent to the rendering unit on the city outskirts to make chicken feed and other pet feed,” said Gowda, adding that agencies will be fixed and work awarded for waste collection.

Around 250 tonnes of animal waste is generated in Bengaluru on a daily basis, and with a slight increase in meat consumption on weekends, there is also an increase in waste.

Gowda said waste was earlier mixed with wet waste and ended up on street corners or in drains. Now shops will have to give it to selected agencies.

“From June 10, every meat shop has to give animal waste to selected agencies, who will send vehicles. Failing to comply with rules would mean loss of trade licence,” he said.

So far, Bengaluru West City Corporation tops the list with 893 meat shops, followed by North with 677 stalls, Bengaluru South with 555, East 510 while Central has 410 meat stalls.

SWM unit in Doddaballapur

BSWML got 30 acres registered under its name in Doddaballapur for an integrated solid waste management centre that can house segregation, shredder, rendering unit, incinerator and others under one roof. “We want to set up the comprehensive unit on 100 acres. In the first phase, we got 30 acres on Monday,” said Karee Gowda.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

As part of an initiative by the World Economic Forum, Neo San will install their futuristic smart-bins, ‘Neo-X’, across Bengaluru over the next few months.

Neo San, a Bengaluru-based clean-technology company, will deploy its smart waste-processing units, ‘Neo-X’, across institutions in Bengaluru, as part of a World Economic Forum (WEF)-led initiative in collaboration with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the Government of Karnataka.

The initiative named ‘SafeDispose Bengaluru’ will look at deploying these on-site sanitary and biomedical waste processing units in a phase-wise manner at government and private institutions across the city, including colleges, schools, primary health centres, women’s hostels, government housing and other official buildings.

Solving urban problems

Neo San is a winner of the WEF UpLink Yes/Bengaluru Urban Innovation Challenge, which brought together the GBA and a coalition of private sector partners to encourage startups to develop innovative solutions to the city’s civic and infrastructural challenges across sustainability, sanitation and public health.

Bengaluru is only the second city in the world, after San Francisco, to host this global initiative.

A grant provided to Neo San will fund the deployment of Neo-X units that safely treat sanitary and biomedical waste at the point of waste generation. The initiative aims to reach more than 5,000 women. The current pilot deployment is funded through United Way Bengaluru, one of the challenge partners. The larger expansion across Bengaluru’s public infrastructure will be structured as a government-funded program.

Waste burning

Open waste burning accounts for a significant share of Bengaluru’s total PM2.5 emissions, making it the city’s third-largest source of particulate pollution after transport and industry. Sanitation workers often handle this waste manually, without protection or protocol.

The initiative is aimed at eliminating open burning and manual waste handling at sites. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has reviewed and validated the technology for deployment across the city. Every Neo-X unit has real-time IoT monitoring of each cycle run and every kilo processed, thereby helping in creating robust data for urban planning.

“Waste infrastructure has a major gap that goes largely unaddressed. The third stream — sanitary, biomedical and contaminated reject waste — is generated daily, but lacks a certified on-site disposal route. The most common outcome is low-temperature open burning or dumping, as there is no economic incentive for material recovery,” said Dhwaj Bagrecha, founder, Neo San.

“Through this initiative, our aim is to provide on-site treatment of this waste in a controlled manner, eliminating open burning and reducing overall process emissions by 98%,” he added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

 Kannadiga from Uttara Kannada has brought pride to his native region after winning a local election in the United Kingdom, completing a remarkable journey from offering free tuition to underprivileged students in Kumta to serving as an elected councillor abroad.

Dinesh Bhat, a native of Kadekodi in Kumta taluk, has been elected as councillor from the Eastleaze and Shaw Ward of the West Swindon Parish Council in England. He contested as a Conservative Party candidate and secured a decisive victory in the local elections.

The election was held on May 7, 2026. His campaign was supported by prominent Kannadiga leaders based in the UK, including Suresh Gattapura and Sakeen Chikkaballapura. Contesting on a platform aligned with Conservative Party policies and local development priorities, he received strong backing from voters.

Son of Dattatreya Subraya Bhat and Sumitra Bhat of Kadekodi, Dinesh Bhat completed his schooling at Government Higher Primary School, Dhareshwara, Janata Vidyalaya, and Dr Balaga Mahavidyalaya in Kumta. He has been residing in the United Kingdom for the past 20 years owing to employment.

Even during his student years in India, he was actively engaged in social service. As secretary of the ‘Yuvaka Sangha’, he provided free coaching and academic support to meritorious but economically weaker students, earning recognition for his grassroots contribution.

Continuing his commitment to public service, Bhat is now set to work for the welfare of his local community in the UK as well. His election is being widely viewed as a proud milestone for Kannadigas on the coastal belt, reflecting a journey from community service in India to civic leadership in Britain.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Kohli takes the Bengaluru side home with an unbeaten 75; the bowlers restrict Titans to 155 for eight after Patidar asks them to take first strike; Washington wages a lone battle for Gill’s men.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru crowned a dominant IPL 2026 campaign with a crushing five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday (May 31, 2026), sealing the title with the same authority it had shown through the season.

RCB had set the standard from the opening weeks of the tournament, and reserved its best for the biggest night.

For a side considered favourite, the season ended in fitting fashion — as champion for the second successive year.

The RCB bowlers set the tone early at the Narendra Modi Stadium, relentlessly hitting hard lengths to strangle GT. A sub-par 155 for eight was never likely to be enough to seriously test a power-packed RCB batting line-up.

That gulf in intent was evident when Virat Kohli (75 n.o., 42b, 9×4, 3×6) and Venkatesh Iyer (32, 16b, 4×4, 2×6) came out attacking, in stark contrast to GT’s muddled innings. The pair took on Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada, powering RCB to 70 for two in the PowerPlay.

With the required rate dropping to 6.14, GT was left to play catch up.

Rashid Khan briefly raised hopes when he dismissed Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya in the ninth over, but with Kohli still around, RCB remained in control.

RCB capped a memorable campaign in emphatic fashion, crossing the line with 12 balls to spare. The 90,000-odd crowd, with RCB jerseys in the majority, erupted as fireworks lit up the Ahmedabad sky.

Patidar’s decision to field first was vindicated, as GT never quite found room to breathe. After the RCB pacers struck early, left-arm spinner Krunal tightened the grip with subtle changes of pace and trajectory.

Only Washington Sundar escaped the chokehold. His unbeaten 50 (37b, 5×4) was an innings of resistance, but it was a lone hand in a line-up that never settled.

Shubman Gill’s men appeared wary of RCB’s pace attack from the outset. Intent gave way to preservation, and preservation soon became paralysis.

Introduced in the third over, Josh Hazlewood removed Gill with a length ball. Sai Sudharsan followed soon after, miscuing while attempting to hook Bhuvneshwar Kumar. With its two premier batters back in the pavilion inside four overs, GT retreated.

The promotion of Nishant Sindhu to No.. 3 underlined the mood. Tasked with blunting the new ball, Sindhu could not shift momentum and the move only strengthened RCB’s control.

GT went nearly seven overs after the PowerPlay without a boundary. Jos Buttler, usually quick to change gears, crawled at under a run-a-ball. When he finally tried to accelerate, Krunal outfoxed him with a quicker delivery.

Even the death overs brought little relief. Washington alone kept the scoreboard moving. Dropped by substitute Jordan Cox on four, he dragged GT to a total that kept faint hope alive.

That hope vanished quickly once Kohli and Venkatesh came out to bat.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited / Graphs and charts edited)

In an attempt to tackle water theft and leakage, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will undertake a year-long pilot project using artificial intelligence, acoustic sensing and robotic inspection technologies to identify sources of water loss.

The project, which will be carried out by start-ups, SmartTerra and Solinas, has been selected under the Titan Design Impact Awards 2.0-Deep Impact Phase, and will be fully funded through a grant from Titan Company Limited.

The BWSSB officials said that the study would be conducted at no cost to the utility, except for civil works such as excavation and pipe repairs that may be required during implementation.

“The initiative is aimed at reducing Unaccounted-for Water (UFW) and Non-Revenue Water (NRW)- water that is produced but lost before it reaches consumers due to leakage, theft, metering inaccuracies or other operational inefficiencies,” a release stated.

Under the pilot, the SmartTerra will use AI-based predictive analytics to identify vulnerable sections of the pipeline network and assess the likelihood of leakage before failures occur. The company will also deploy acoustic sensors to locate underground leaks. Solinas, meanwhile, will use robotic devices to inspect water pipelines from within and identify defects, blockage and hidden leakage that are difficult to detect through conventional methods.

BWSSB Chairman V. Ram Prasath Manohar said that the utility is seeking to leverage emerging technologies to address challenges in urban water management. He said that the BWSSB would provide access to its infrastructure so that innovative solutions can be tested under real operating conditions.

He added that the technologies could help improve monitoring of water distribution, identify losses more accurately and improve revenue collection by reducing leakage and unauthorised consumption.

He said that locations for the pilot study are yet to be finalised and would be identified in the coming weeks. Field surveys and deployment of the technologies are expected to begin thereafter.

The utility said the broader objective is to reduce financial losses arising from leakage and water theft, while also addressing defects in the distribution network that could potentially lead to contamination. If found effective, the technologies may be considered for wider deployment across Bengaluru’s water supply system. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Leksa Lighting Technologies Private Limited, a Mangaluru-based lighting manufacturing company, has won the prestigious Lighting Technology Innovation Award at the annual PALM Sound & Light Awards, bringing national recognition to the coastal Karnataka enterprise.

The award was presented during the PALM Expo, India’s largest sound and lighting exhibition, held at the NESCO Exhibition Centre in Goregaon, Mumbai. More than 300 companies participated in the event, which attracted over 50,000 industry professionals. The grand award ceremony was held at the renowned Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai.

Amid stiff competition from leading companies across the country, Leksa Lighting Technologies earned the honour for its manufacturing excellence, technological innovation and high-quality products developed under the government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The company has rapidly gained national recognition for its specialised high-end lighting solutions and has successfully executed several prestigious projects, including those at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Vidhana Soudha, the National Stock Exchange and Ayodhya Dham, besides numerous projects in India and abroad.

Accepting the award, Ronald Silvan D’Souza, founder and managing director of Leksa Lighting Technologies, said the company was established in Mangaluru with humble beginnings, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s vision that India can become a truly developed nation only when industries flourish in every village.

He noted that within just eight years, the company has created employment opportunities for more than 350 youth from rural areas and successfully completed over 800 prestigious projects. Among these, three major projects were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while more than a dozen projects were inaugurated by chief ministers of various states.

D’Souza further said that between 85 and 90 per cent of the company’s products are manufactured entirely in India, making Leksa Lighting a true embodiment of the ‘Make in India’ vision. He also expressed confidence that the company would soon establish a strong global brand identity and credited the achievement to the dedication and hard work of its employees, whom he warmly appreciated.

The success of a company that began in Mangaluru and has now earned recognition across India and internationally is a matter of pride not only for coastal Karnataka but for the nation as well.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

At a 40-minute press meet, Siddaramaiah thanked supporters, invoking Dr Rajkumar’s iconic phrase “Abhimani Devarugalu” (fan-gods).

Bowing out as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah listed out his achievements during the two tenures he had over eight years and thanked the seven crore Kannadigas as well as the Congress leadership for the opportunity to serve the state in a press conference.

At a press conference at his residence, Krishna, on Thursday that lasted 40 minutes, Siddaramaiah used the Kannada matinee idol late Dr Rajkumar’s legendary phrase ‘Abhimani devarugalu’ (fan-gods) to express his gratitude to his supporters. He also thanked the Congress leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for giving him the opportunity as well as party workers, legislators and MPs who showered their affection since he joined the party in 2006.

Siddaramaiah, who broke down in a breakfast meeting he hosted for his cabinet colleagues earlier in the day, eventually looked composed at the press conference which he addressed after submitting his resignation at Lok Bhavan in the afternoon. “I come from a village with no political background. My family members, including my parents, were illiterate. So, I never dreamt of becoming an MLA, minister, LoP or CM,” he said.

“Until my last breath I will fight against communal forces. I have faith in the Constitution. If it was not for the Constitution, I would not have become an MLA and CM, but would have remained a shepherd or a tenant farmer,” he said.

He said politicians can sustain their power only if they have the backing of the people. “I never compromised with my ideology of ensuring that every last person in society gets access to basic needs such as food, health, education and housing,” he said.

The Five Guarantees worked in that direction, he added. He said that since the beginning of his political career starting as a taluk board member in Mysuru in 1978, he has believed in the principles of Buddha, Basavanna and Mahatma Gandhi. He said he believes in Rashtrakavi Kuvempus’ concept of ‘sarva janangada shantiya tota’ (garden of peace of all communities), saying that everyone should get equal opportunities in society.

He said that as CM he fulfilled 158 of the 165 promises during his first term (2013-2018) and 300 out of the 550 promises during the current term. He said that Rs 1.4 lakh crore was spent on the five guarantees that revolutionised the lives of people as their purchasing power has improved.

Siddaramaiah said he disproved of the ‘false propaganda’ of opposition parties and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Congress government will go bankrupt if the guarantees were implemented. Karnataka stands first in per capita income, second in GST collection for the financial year 2026-27, and the state’s growth rate stood at 8.1 percent as against country’s 7.4 per cent, he pointed out.

He dismissed allegations that the debts were on the rise, saying they were within the parameters of Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2002, enacted during the tenure of late SM Krishna. The total liabilities were at 24.94% of GSDP, below 25%, and the fiscal deficit (2.95%) is below 3%, he pointed out.

Siddaramaiah, who has presented a record 17 budgets, blamed the Centre for the state’s revenue deficit of Rs 22,957 crore in the 2026-27 budget as it had not released the grants due to the state. The state was deprived of Rs 11,495 crore grants, Rs 5,300 crore promised in the 2023-24 Union Budget, Rs 17,000 crore under Jal Jivan Mission, he said. The GST compensation too was stopped, he added.

He recalled that it was Sira’s (Tumakuru district) Ashraf Hussain who introduced him to the late Ahmed Patel who, in turn, introduced him to Sonia Gandhi that eventually led him to join Congress with eight JDS MLAs.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Former Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao inaugurates ‘MYHOPE – 2026 Conference on Mysore Hospital Operations and Patient Experience‘.

Former Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that Mysuru has all the potential to become a Tier-1 Good Quality City in Health Sector.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating ‘MYHOPE-2026 Conference on Mysore Hospital Operations and Patient Experience,’ themed  ‘Transforming Mysuru: From Traditional Care to Global Standards,’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mysuru Zone, at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in city this morning.

Gundu Rao, citing his own experience of reaching Mysuru from Bengaluru in merely two hours by road, said “Mysuru city has better transportation connectivity through road, rail and air. However, in Bengaluru, which witnesses heavy rush, it takes a minimum of two to three hours to reach a destination.”

The State Government is focusing more on health sector, by devising better plans and policies. A  sensitive and emotional sector that is, Mysuru has all the potential to become Tier-1 Good Quality City in Health Sector, with its myriad attractions like culture, tourism, heritage and yoga, to make it a health hub, he said.

“Moreover, Mysuru is attracting people in such a way that, some of my friends in Hyderabad sold their assets there and settled down in Mysuru city. Such is the peaceful atmosphere the city boasts of,” said Rao.

Unlike 2011, when the rate of urbanisation was recorded at 31% in Karnataka, it has now touched 50% and is expected to reach 70% in the future. Similar is the rate of urbanisation in Mysuru, with healthcare being the main attraction, with the existence of reputed hospital chains, both in public and private sector.

N.G. Bharateesha Reddy, Senior Vice-President, Rest of Karnataka, Apollo BGS Hospitals said, Mysuru is promoting organ donation in a big way, thus emerging as a Southern Healthcare Hub.

Dr. Chandrabhan Singh, President of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Mysuru Chapter said, with the invention of Artificial Intelligence (AI), newer technologies are being incorporated in the health sector. On the other hand, the Government should reform and address issues plaguing health sector.

Dr. B. Suresh, Pro-Chancellor, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, recalled that compared to when he shifted his base to Mysuru in 1980, the city now offers a strong healthcare eco system and healthcare sustainability, with healthcare becoming affordable.

Utsav Agarwal, Chairman, CII Mysuru Zone, Savitha Mallappa, Vice-Chairperson, CII Mysuru, Dr. G.R. Chandrashekar, President, Mysore Association of Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Clinics and Diagnostic Centres  (MAHAN) and others were present.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

The Karnataka government on Monday launched a state-owned, state-of-the-art centralized command and control centre to ensure the smooth operation and management of emergency ambulance services across the state.

The facility, inaugurated by chief minister Siddaramaiah, is an initiative announced in the 2025–26 state budget, officials stated.

They noted that this marks a transition from the previous public-private partnership model that had managed the 108 emergency ambulance service since 2008, moving towards a fully government-owned and operated system aimed at improving accountability, efficiency, and response times.

Speaking on the occasion, Siddaramaiah emphasized that advanced technology-enabled ambulance services will now be available in all districts of the state, and the primary focus must be on reaching the public effectively.

“For the first time in the country, Karnataka has launched the 108 Arogya Kavacha Centralized Command and Control Centre for health services. In emergency situations, treatment must be provided rapidly. To that end, this centre will be highly instrumental in ensuring healthcare through an advanced model,” he said.

As announced in the 2025-26 budget, a dedicated system has now been established for the management of emergency ambulance services. Stressing the importance of the service reaching people effectively, he added that quality healthcare services from the government foster public trust.

The chief minister pointed out that when the 108 ambulance system was in private hands, it was difficult to ensure accountability effectively. However, with the system now under government control, accountability is expected to significantly improve.

According to an official statement, the Command and Control Centre integrates various emergency and public health platforms, creating a unified emergency response network. This includes the 108 Arogya Kavacha ambulance services, 104 health helpline, 112 emergency response support system, Tele-Manas (14416), e-Sanjeevani, women’s helpline (181), and children’s helpline (1098).

The integrated system facilitates immediate coordination, GPS-based ambulance tracking, computer-aided dispatch, hospital mapping, and automated caller location detection, ensuring a swift emergency response.

The system also supports SMS alerts, digital patient records, and two-way communication between ambulances and the control centre, the statement added.

The CCC has been developed on the CDAC NG-ERSS V2.0 platform and is supported by a 50-seat call centre connected through the Karnataka State Data Centre (KSDC), Karnataka State Wide Area Network (KSWAN), and LAN infrastructure.

It utilizes SIP-enabled telephone services provided by BSNL and Airtel and relies on mobile data terminals installed in ambulances across all 31 districts.

Officials stated that the CCC will be headed by an executive director (IAS) and supported by teams managing operations, finance, and medical coordination, along with a programme management unit.

The system mandates rapid call response protocols, structured workflows, and comprehensive digital documentation to ensure strict monitoring of ambulance movement and overall service delivery, they added.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)