Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

1. From heading Western Ghats panel to helping establish world class centres in IISc, Madhav Gadgil had a long association with Karnataka 

Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who passed away in Pune on January 7 night following a brief illness, had a long association with Karnataka and Bengaluru.

Mr. Gadgil headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel also known as the Gadgil Committee, which submitted its report in 2011 to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. The committee, in its report, had made several recommendations to safeguard the fragile Western Ghats. The report had recommended declaring a majority of the Western Ghats running across different States as Eco Sensitive Areas. It had also called for setting up a Western Ghats Authority.

Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, expressing condolences, said that he was deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Mr. Gadgil. He said that many points in the report submitted by Mr. Gadgil are guidelines for India to protect its natural environment. Mr. Gadgil was also closely associated with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) in Bengaluru. He helped establish the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) in 1983.

2. Madhav Gadgil’s divisive legacy in Western Ghats: Respect from conservationists, scepticism from local communities

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who passed away on January 7, had a special connection with people and activists of the Malnad region at the foothills of the Western Ghats due to his research and recommendations regarding the conservation of the hill ranges. He also had his fair share of detractors, who saw his report as detrimental to their livelihood or against their interests.

Many people who did not approve of his report saw him in a different light. His report was deeply contested by those whose livelihoods depended on the Western Ghats and its resources. There were also those who disliked the Gadgil report because it went against their intent of looting the wealth of the Western Ghats for their avarice.

3. Kogilu demolition: Two arrested for encroachment of government land in Bengaluru

Hours after registering an FIR, the Yelahanka police on January 7 arrested two persons for allegedly encroaching on government land at Fakir Colony in Kogilu village, in north Bengaluru. The arrested accused have been identified as Waseem Baig (55) and Vijay Kumar (36).

According to police officials, several individuals had illegally occupied government land in Kogilu village and constructed sheds without authorisation. Acting on complaints, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) removed the encroachments.

Following the eviction drive, the Yelahanka police registered a case under provisions of the Land Grabbing Prohibition Act against those involved in the illegal occupation of government property.

4. 12th century multi-lingual inscription of Hoysala period found at Pandavapura in Karnataka

A rare multilingual stone inscription dating to the 12th century reign of Hoysala king Narasimha I has been discovered outside the Mahalakshmi temple at K. Bettahalli village in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district. The inscription is carved on white granite that measures about two feet in width and two-and-a-half feet in height. It consists of nine lines of text.

“Estimated to be around 850 years old, it is a multi-lingual inscription written in Kannada script employing Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit languages,” said Dr. Shashidhara C.A., an archaeologist, who undertook a field exploration after being alerted by K. S. Mahadevagowda, a retired teacher residing in the area. The temple was originally constructed during the Hoysala period, and later renovated.