BENGALURU, 19 FEB

A police case to probe a fire incident in a perfume factory on the outskirts of Bengaluru which claimed three lives triggered a discussion in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday about illegal factories in residential areas of the City.

Invoking the fire incident, which also left five persons injured, BJP alleged in the Assembly that illegal factories were operating in residential areas in the City posing risk to residents. According to police in the district headquarters town of Ramanagara- about 50 km from Bengaluru- the factory was engulfed in flames in Sunday's incident sparking loud explosions which rattled the neighbourhood.

“We have registered a case and started an investigation. The owner of the factory is among the deceased. We have to identify the deceased and injured. We are looking out for the land owner who leased his property to run the factory,” a police officer told PTI.

Yashwanthpur BJP MLA ST Somashekar in the Assembly said that the kin of those killed, and the injured should be given compensation as they were from economically weaker sections of the society. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka pointed out that this was the fifth incident in the City in the last few months -- the first one being the major fire tragedy in a cracker warehouse at Attibele Town on Bengaluru outskirts bordering Tamil Nadu.

KSRTC to get 1.000 new buses by April: Transport Minister

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy in State Assembly said governmnet will release 1,000 new Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses by April to improve last-mile connectivity.

He was responding to Congress MLA DG Shantana Gowda concerns about the severe shortage of buses connecting taluks in Karnataka, especially in the districts of Davangere, Shivamogga, and nearby areas 49 new administrative buildings to come up in new taluks.

New taluks to get administrative buildings

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced that 49 new administrative buildings will be constructed in the new taluks formed after 2018. He assured that each new taluk would have its administrative building. Further addressing the shortage of the village administrator, Gowda said 1,000 assistant village administers will be employed by this year and the government will provide training to them.

KGF MLA flags lack of medical facilities in Kolar

KGF Congress MLA Rupakala in State Assembly raised concerns over the lack of medical facilities in Kolar. She highlighted the shortage of doctors and said the distict just a taluk hospital with 150 regular beds. She also said the region is facing health issues related to lungs and heart due to mining activities. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao assured that orders would be issued to deploy more doctors.