Tree falls on mini bus

The city experienced light to heavy thunder showers in the evening on Tuesday with heavy wind.

Many of the trees were uprooted and in one such incident a part of tree fell on a mini bus parked at Bogarves. No one was injured in the incident.

All bank ATM’s are now My bank Atm’s

The customers can withdraw money from any (i.e. an Axis bank card holder can withdraw from a ICICI bank atm) ATM without paying any charge.

The Reserve Bank of India has directed the commercial banks to let customers’ free use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for all transactions from 1 April 2009.

According to an RBI announcement, the customers can also use ATMs of other banks for balance enquiries free of cost.
However withdrawal by use of Credit cards and use of international cards will attract a fee.
So from now on, all Bank atm’s are my bank’s atm.

About ATM: Donald C Wetzel introduced the concept of ATM (Automated Teller Machine) way back in 1969, but it was introduced in India by HSBC - the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in the year 1987. Since then there has been an explosive growth in non human interaction at banks. ATMs can be termed as “Life savers” in case of emergency, as you would find that ATMs are placed not only near or inside the premises of banks, but also in locations such as shopping centers/malls, airports, national highways, grocery stores, petrol/gas stations, restaurants.

Walk-in-M&B footwear opens at Nucleus Mall

Leading footwear retailer M&B Footwear has opened its exclusive outlet Walk-in-M&B at Nucleus Mall, Belgaum. The store retails a wide range of shoes such as formal, smart casual, semi and dress casual, outdoor and fashion wear.

Walk-in-M&B is a distinctively unique international footwear retail chain and is contemporary in terms of new age look and approach. They aim to fulfill the needs and aspirations of its already burgeoning target customer through a bundle of well segmented offerings. Walk-in-M&B retails brands including Lee Cooper, ID, Provogue, GEOX, Merrell, Firangi and M&B Sports. Currently, the company operates 45 exclusive concept stores, 38 shop-in-shop stores and 70 factory outlets across the country.

Belgaum Loksabha 2009 Media Coverage

I will be posting the complete coverage done for Belgaum constituency by different media. 

First, one is from the Business Standard: Belgaum constituency set for a keen contest

 Former MP Amarsinh Patil has finally managed to get Congress ticket for the Belgaum Lok Sabha constituency despite opposition from members in his own party. He will take on BJP’s sitting MP Suresh Angadi. 

Former minister and Lingayat leader A B Patil was a strong contender for the Congress ticket and there are indications that he could switch over to JD(S) and contest as its candidate. If that happens, Belgaum will see a keen contest. In Belgaum Amarsinh faces opposition from within his own party. Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi has minced no words while opposing Amarsinh’s candidature.

Congress has three MLAs while BJP has five in the constituency. Suresh Angadi is in a fix now with the Maharastra Ekikarana Samiti (MES) pressing him to hoist the Bhagwa flag atop the Belgaum Municipal Corporation building and making it a pre-condition to support him in the election.

Angadi has incurred the wrath of Pro-Kannada organisations too. The Congress wants to take advantage of the situation and wrest the seat from the BJP. 

Read full story here

Congress Road: Accident zone drive carefully

Year ending time: targets to be achieved

Yallappa Kurbar Belgaum Mayor: Jyoti Bhavikatti Dy.Mayor: Kannada group

Yallappa Kurbar most likely Mayor

VHP supports Varun’s statements

VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia said that every Hindu in the country must speak like Varun to safeguard the interests of Hindutva. However, Togadia did not defend Varun Gandhi who denied his own remarks later due to criticism.

VHP will not support any political party in the upcoming elections; they will support those who will support Hindutva.

On the saffron flag issue, Togadia said that it’s a symbol of Hindutva and that a Saffron flag must be hoisted atop all buildings.

Praveen Togadia was here to address a meeting at the Sambhaji Udyan.

AMARSINH VASANTRAO PATIL is Congress candidate for Belgaum

Belgaum Election observers contact numbers

The observers, described as the “eyes and ears of the Commission,” will be given instructions on enforcement of model code of conduct, rules to be followed during scrutiny of nominations, campaigning, polling and counting of votes and for ensuring free and fair elections with a level playing field for all contestants.

Observing and reporting on the fairness of elections and monitoring the expenditure of candidates, political parties and their leaders will be the job of the observers.
The Commission has asked the Chief Electoral Officers of the States to appoint micro observers, who will monitor election activities, particularly illegal use of money power by candidates and parties and election expenditure of the candidates at the booth level, and report to the respective central election observers. They would not to be under the control of Collectors (district election officers) or the returning officers of the respective constituencies.
Normally two general observers and one election expenditure observer are appointed in each constituency.
Anyone can complain to the below, even and sms would be followed up. So if you guess there is an violation of the code of conduct you know where to contact.

Observers for Belgaum:
Rahul Bhandari, IAS will be in charge of Belgaum Uttar, Belgaum Dakshin & Belgaum Rural

Nodal Officer of GOI
Govt. of Karnataka Shri. K.R. Srinivasa
Secretary to the Govt. of Karnataka DP&AR, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore, Karnataka
080-22251425, 22033335 (O)
080-22256371 (Fax)
Mobile No.09945357990 &
09448290819
E-mail prs-dpar@karnataka.gov.in

List of Nodal Officer appointed by the CEOs:
Shri. B V Kulkarni Jt. Chief Electoral Officer,
Karnataka, Bangalore.
080-22868768 (O), 080-22865339 (F)
09880409588 (M)

Belgaum’s Kunda sweet sensation fairy-tale

Traditionally known as the ‘sugar bowl’ of Karnataka, Belgaum has been one of biggest producers of sugarcane. Perhaps, this ‘sweet production’ must have prompted many businessmen in the region to prepare various kinds of sweet products over the years. The number of sweet shops in Belgaum is in the house of over 200. So you can imagine the turnover in sweets.
These sweets are mainly prepared by Rajasthani families who migrated to Belgaum over six decades ago and normally called Purohits.
Kunda is produced in large quantities everyday in Belgaum. Belgaum kunda, a sweet prepared from milk and khowa, is a clear favorite and is produced by several local sweet merchants besides the Purohits.
Belgaum kunda also has an interesting history that can be traced back to the times of Gajanan Mithaiwala in Vitthal Dev Galli, Shahpur who set up his sweet shop six decades ago in Belgaum. Referred to as Jakku Marwadi Mithaiwala, he came from Rajasthan and set up a sweet shop at Shahpur area. (The shop is still there and running and serving great Kunda)
Kunda is prepared purely from milk and khowa. A correct quantity of khowa and sugar has to be mixed in milk before boiling it. Once the mixture starts boiling, it has to be continuously stirred until it takes a solid form.
The discovery of this sweet was quite incidental. Once, Jakku Marwadi was boiling milk in his kitchen. In a hurry, he forgot to switch the stove off and the milk continued boiling for a long time. Gradually, the milk had taken a solid form by the time Jakku Marwadi came back to switch the stove off.
When he tasted the solid form of milk, it tasted sweet. Then, he mixed some khowa into the milk and started boiling it for long hours. This time the taste was even better. A happy Marwadi gave the sweet a name — calling it Kunda.
After Jakku Marwadi discovered it was followed up by the Purohits and the one camp became famous for its cleanliness and good quality. With time the packing of the Kunda has changed over time. From the old box packing to the latest canned Kunda with a shelf life of up to 6 months to the tetra pack. Now Sugar free Kunda is also available at Camp Purohit and Kalyani Sweets.
All those visitors who come to Belgaum must have to take back this KUNDA with them. During the recent assembly session held in Belgaum more than 6000 kgs of Kunda was sold in 10 days time.
The prices of Kunda normally range in between Rs.150 to 200. The sugar free costs a bit more.
My bet for the best Kunda in Town: Gajanan Mithaiwala in Vitthal Dev galli, Shahpur, Camp Purohit on High Street and Kalyani Sweets in Camp & Atul Purohit, College Road.(not in any particular order)
Never freeze or store the Kunda in a refrigerator as it tends to become hard and it loses its tastes.
Kunda Recipe Ingredients:
Milk 2 liters, sugar according to taste, cardamom powder 2 teaspoon, curd 1 cup (which is not too sour), dry fruits chopped 1 cup.
Method:
First of all boil the milk and bring it to the 1/8th quantity till it is cooked to make a nice paste of the milk. Now add the sugar and stir it well. It turns to a nice golden brown color and now add the curd and stir well. When it is cooked enough finally add the cardamom powder and also the chopped dry fruits and pour it in the serving dish and serve it chilled.

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama to build an auditorium

Cloth shop in Khade Bazar gutted

A cloth shop ‘Mens Avenue’ in Khade Bazar(Khade Bazar-Ganpat Galli corner) was gutted by a sudden fire at night. The fire started around 10.30pm and gutted the complete shop.

No human loss is reported but financial loss could be huge as the complete shop was burnt down. The fire fighters brought the fire under control later.

Happy Gudi Padwa & Ugadi