KARNATAKA: CITY NEWS: Bengaluru hailed Best ‘RRR’ City in State

My Life, My Clean City was a national campaign launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Bengaluru has been chosen as the best RRR (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) city in the State in a campaign run by the Directorate Municipal Administration of Urban Development Department. My Life, My Clean City was a national campaign launched by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Under the programme that was held from May 25 to June 5, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) set up 49 RRR plants for the public to give used plastic and other materials. According to the officials, the campaign received massive response with people giving used materials in large numbers.

On Thursday, Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan issued a certificate to BBMP for excelling in the work carried out under the programme.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath lauded the efforts of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Bengaluru becomes First Indian City to join World Cities Culture Forum

The network currently has 40 cities spanning six continents.

The network currently has 40 cities spanning six continents, and Bengaluru is set to join the league of cities like New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and Dubai among others.

Bengaluru has become the first Indian city to become part of the World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF,) a global network of cities that share research and intelligence, and explore the role of culture in future prosperity.

The network currently has 40 cities spanning six continents. Bengaluru being the latest addition is set to join the league of cities like New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and Dubai among others.

The global consortium was founded in 2012 by Justine Simons OBE, London’s Deputy Mayor for Culture & the Creative Industries.

“We have been keen to have an Indian city and a lot of other cities that are part of the network have also been keen about it. Bengaluru is a fast-growing city. It’s very diverse and has got a big commitment to culture,” said Ms. Simons in an exclusive interaction with The Hindu.

“It feels like there is real ambition and drive in Bengaluru around the culture story. It is known as a tech city in the rest of the world. This is a fantastic opportunity for Bengaluru to bring the cultural story alongside the tech story, and to really grow its economy and its status as a global city,” she added.

Bengaluru’s entry into WCCF comes after several discussions that have been happening for over a year. Unboxing Bangalore, a participative project to create a new narrative around Bengaluru through multimedia properties, have been representing the city and leading the discussions.

“Bengaluru, in many ways, represents an aspirational India. There is a lot of culture to the city that is not being talked about,” said Prashanth Prakash, chairman of UnboxingBLR Foundation and founding partner at Accel India.

(Detailed interview in e-paper)

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: ENERGY / OIL & GAS: Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals (MRPL) Becomes Largest Single Location PSU-Refinery of India

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), a mini Ratna CPSE PSU refinery based in coastal Karnataka and a subsidiary of ONGC, has become the single largest PSU-refinery (single location) in the nation for the year 2022-23. The MRPL achieved this feat by processing 17.14 million metric tons of crude oil during the past financial year. This is also the highest-ever throughput processed by any single-location PSU refinery in India’s Petroleum refining history. The MRPL processes 10% of the total crude oil refined by the PSU petroleum refineries of the nation.

Set up as a joint venture refinery in 1988 with a 3.69 MMTPA capacity, the MRPL later underwent a second and third-phase expansion to raise its capacity to 15.00 MMTPA. The refinery configuration has a Nelson Complexity Index of 11.3, one of the highly complex PSU refineries. The MRPL Petchem intensity is currently at 9.5%, aiming to reach 15% in the medium term.

The MRPL can process more than 250 different types of crude from around the world. Crudes from the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, Russia, Africa, South America and the US are the major ones processed in the MRPL. The MRPL is capable of producing almost a full range of petroleum products like Naphtha, LPG, Motor Spirit, High-Speed Diesel, Kerosene, Aviation Turbine Fuel, Sulphur, Xylene, Bitumen, along with Pet Coke and Polypropylene.

In recent times, the MRPL has taken significant steps to build its petrochemical profile. Its 440 KTA Novolen gas-phase polypropylene plant can produce a complete range of homopolymer grades. Its Aromatic Complex can produce 0.905 MMTPA of Para Xylene and 0.273 MMTPA of Benzene. This Aromatic Complex is in the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) and fully integrated with the MRPL. The MRPL has ambitious plans for the Retail business shortly. It has initiated to expand its coveted RO brand HiQ in 1000 locations in South India in the near future.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, managing director Sanjay Varma said, “The MRPL has made a strong bounce back after effectively countering the challenges posed by the pandemic. With the strong support of MOPNG and our parent organisation ONGC and through the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders, the MRPL is now poised to reach greater heights in the days to come. Our focus will be on meeting Atmanirbharata through producing precious petrochemicals while effectively focusing on environmental protection by concentrating on renewable energy solutions.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: BENGALURU CITY: Karnataka Govt. Signs Agreement for suggestions from World Design Organization (WDO), Canada on building ‘Brand Bengaluru’ City  

As part of the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds charge of the city, on Monday the State government signed an agreement with Canada-based World Design Organization (WDO) for suggestions for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to build the city.

Mr. Shivakumar said that 200 engineers from the WDO will be in the city to study and give suggestions on the city infrastructure including roads, flyovers, footpaths, junctions, and other infrastructure.

Earlier, Mr. Shivakumar had launched a ‘Brand Bengaluru’ campaign and also an online portal to invite suggestions on the city’s development by the public.

Mr. Shivakumar also met the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) officials on Monday to discuss various issues pertaining to the city.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: KARNATAKA: Bengaluru-based Drone Startup ‘Squadrone Infra & Mining’ Deployed in Indonesia’s Islands to Explore Critical Minerals

Its advanced system enables the mapping of shallow and deep-seated virgin mineral deposits, reaching depths of up to 1,500 metres below the ground.

City-based drone startup Squadrone Infra and Mining Pvt. Ltd. has deployed drone-based geophysical surveys for prospecting and exploration of nickel, gold, bauxite, coal and other critical minerals at Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Sulawesi Islands.

The startup has deployed MagArrow and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technologies, a UAV-enabled drone-based solution equipped with a non-radioactive laser-pumped cesium vapor total field scalar magnetometer.

This advanced system enables the mapping of shallow and deep-seated virgin mineral deposits, reaching depths of up to 1,000 to 1,500 m below ground level.

Geologists, geophysicists, and researchers can now conduct comprehensive studies of the earth’s strata for new and greenfield mineral discoveries in previously inaccessible areas, significantly enhancing efficiency and accuracy. The GPR adds great value to nickel, gold, bauxite and coal prospecting, with high precision.

Kalimantan Island, known for its unique and diverse ecosystems, poses significant challenges to traditional mining surveys due to its remote and difficult-to-access terrain.

With the introduction of MagArrow and GPR, Squadrone offers a revolutionary solution that allows for geophysical surveying without adversely affecting the ecology of the region and minimising the need for human intervention. This technology marks a significant milestone in the field of mineral exploration in such environmentally sensitive areas.

Squadrone Infra and Mining with its expansion into Indonesia and plans to enter other regions of Southeast Asia and Africa, is set to contribute significantly to Net Zero operations and the sustainable development of the global mining industry.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES /INNOVATION: Patent Won for Medicinal Patch by Scientists of BLDE University

A team of scientists from BLDE Deemed University has won a patent for an innovative method of administering drugs to patients.

The Patent Office, Union government, has granted patent for 20 years, under the Patents Act.

The patent has been granted for the development of “pharmaceutical formulations of electro-responsive smart hydrogel for transdermal drug delivery”.

The patent applicant is Raghavendra V. Kulkarni, Registrar of the university and pharmaceutical scientist.

His team from the Sri Sanganabasava Mahaswami College of Pharmacy includes Sudha B. Patil, Krishnacharya Akkamanchi and Kushal K. Das.

The patented method involves reaching medicine to targeted organs through the skin, at regulated timings, through a patch applied on the skin. The method is expected to ensure painless drug delivery at affordable prices. It is scalable, said a release.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: Series of Programmes to mark Karnatak Vidyavardhaka Sangha Foundation Day from tomorrow

A series of programmes will be held for five days to mark the 134th Foundaton Day of Karnatak Vidyavardhaka Sangha (KVS) in Dharwad from Thursday.

Addressing a press conference in Dharwad on Tuesday, president of Karnatak Vidyavardhaka Sangha and former MLA Chandrakanth Bellad and secretary Shankar Halgatthi said that there will be a series of programmes, including an exhibition of paintings, book release, felicitation, award presentation and music events.

Responding to a query, Mr. Halagatti termed the development of parents writing letters to private school management not to teach Kannada to their students in Bengaluru is a matter of concern.

“The parents want employment and all other facilities and benefits from the land of Kannada but they shy away from learning Kannada. The government should consider it seriously and take the private schools to task,” he said.

He said that the whole development is indicative of the apathy of private schools towards Kannada. “The schools take benefits from government but don’t want to teach Kannada. It is a matter of shame and this attitude should go,” he said and added that KVS will write to the Chief Minister asking him to direct the Education Department to conduct an inspection and act against those not teaching Kannada.

Funds crunch

Mr. Halagatti said that the more-than-a-century old sangha is facing severe shortage of funds. Despite it being the parent institute of Kannada Sahitya Parishat, successive governments have failed to provide adequate funds to KVS. The sangha has already submitted a proposal to the government seeking a budgetary allocation of ₹3 crore for KVS to enable it to organise more meaningful and creative programmes throughout the year.

Programmes

The former Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Shankar Bidari will inaugurate the programmes on Thursday at 5.30 pm. Nijagunaprabhu Swamy of Mundargi and scholar Krishna Kolhar Kulkarni will attend.

On Friday, the former director of Akashvani Dharwad unit C.U. Bellakki will inaugurate the Sirigannada Pustaka Mane. On Saturday, Member of Legislative Council Jagadish Shettar will present the Sirigannadam Gelge Raa Ha Deshpande Award to Basavalinga Pattadevaru of Bhalki.

Member of Legislative Council S.V. Sankanur will felicitate Hindustani vocalist Pandit M. Venkateshkumar on Sunday.

On Monday, Chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti will present the Kannada Prapancha Pa Pu Award to writer G. Ramakrishna.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)