Incriminating documents seized, says investigating agency

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches on the premises of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, members of his family, Prerana Education Trust run by them and two mining companies in Bangalore, Shimoga and Bellary in the early hours of Wednesday.

The raids were part of a probe ordered by the Supreme Court into allegations of corruption against Yeddyurappa. The raiding teams also searched the house of former Muzrai Minister ES Krishnaiah Setty.

Task force is involving forest-dwellers and farmers to protect biodiversity

Ananth Hegde Ashisar, chairman of the Western Ghats Task Force, said on Monday that the task force was drawing farmers, forest-dwellers and students to join it in its drive to protect biodiversity in the Western Ghats.

Water scarcity always evokes a knee-jerk measure - drilling borewells; long-term plans need of the hour.

Every drop is priceless: Scramble for water is a common sight in villages during summer. Given the ever-increasing demand for the precious commodity, only scientific conservation methods will save the day. Elected representatives are demanding more and more funds from the government for drilling borewells in the 123 drought affected taluks spread across 24 districts.

The core area of the Nagarahole National Park, encompassing grassy swampland surrounded by bamboo groves, has been completely devastated by the fire that broke out early this week.

The air in the critical tiger and elephant habitat is hazy with smoke from smouldering embers. Forest watchers and temporary staff roped in from the local tribal community are still stomping out small flames emanating from the destroyed vegetation.

The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday chided the Forest department for attempting to award ''huge'' punishment for a ''trivial'' offence.

The Division Bench consisting Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna did not agree with the government advocate’s claim that Fayaz Khan, a resident of Channapatna, was guilty of illegally stocking sandalwood nine years ago.

In Karnataka, 2,500 farmers took their lives last year. But the BJP government is turning a blind eye to their plight, reports Imran Khan
Bitter harvest Boregowda’s son and daughter-in-law committed suicide due to a debt crisis

The Forest Department will shortly provide a revolving fund of Rs three lakh to each village forest committee across the State, under a Rs 1,100-crore special project, Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwara announced on Wednesday.

Study shows the birth rate drop is more drastic in southern districts

There has been an alarming decline in the fertility rates of women in Karnataka in the past decade, a study of the available 2011 census data has revealed.
The study conducted by the Population Research Centre at Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) shows the fertility rate has declined to two children per woman in the State in the past five years, resulting in a faster negative growth in the child and young population in future.

Reddys are into mining in State as well, says Justice Hegde
Bangalore:The Lokayukta has named Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, four ministers, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, Congress Rajya Sabha member Anil Lad and BJP legislator Anand Singh, among others, beneficiaries of the illegal mining scam in Karnataka.

The ministers, who figure in the report, are B Janaradhana Reddy, Karunakara