Radio taxi fare to go up

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, DEC. 22. The minimum fare (first 4 km) for radio taxis in the City will soon go up from Rs. 30 to Rs. 35 and from Rs. 8 to Rs. 9.50 per km beyond 4 km. The new fare will come into effect once it is notified, the Minister for Transport, Mr. C.R. Sageer Ahmed (in picture), said here today.

He told presspersons that the Karnataka City Taxi Operators' Association had appealed to the Government to increase the fare following the increase in the price of diesel.

There would be no waiting charge for the first 20 minutes after which the charge would be Rs. 5 for every 15 minutes. The fare between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. would be one-and-a-half times the actual fare, the minister said.

Earlier, the President of the association, Mr. T. Prabhakar, said that the association had also requested the minister to impress upon the railway station and airport authorities to earmark parking lots for radio taxis. The association had also sought a "master pass" for those radio taxis which had all the documents (tax receipt, licence, insurance, emission certificate, etc.)

The inspection drive to ensure that autorickshaws fare meters were calibrated would continue. Of the 57,000 autorickshaws in Bangalore, nearly 37,000 had got the meters calibrated. The Government, he said, may have to consider introducing digital meters, but right now they were quite expensive.

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`Power tariff hike inevitable'

By Our Correspondent

KARWAR, DEC. 22. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) had recommended a 17 per cent overall increase in the power tariffs after holding extensive consultations with consumers, the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, said here today.

He told presspersons that the State Government was not involved in determining power tariff. The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. had sought a 23 per cent increase, and the KERC, a quasi-judicial body, had approved a 17 per cent increase.

The Government had been subsidising KPTCL to the extent of Rs. 1,200 crores annually. This could not continue indefinitely. Therefore, a power tariff increase was inevitable, he said.

Regarding the controversy over sales tax exemption given to Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Ltd., he said many other companies too had been given sales tax exemption to encourage private sector investment in the State. Those who had made the allegation would be given a fitting reply soon, he said.

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JD(S) to oppose tariff hike

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, DEC. 22. The JD(S) State unit President, Mr. Siddaramaiah (in picture), today said his party would launch an agitation against the power tariff increase.

He told presspersons here that the proposed overall 17 per cent increase was unwarranted and amounted to a betrayal of the people. Domestic consumers the farmers using IP sets would be affected badly if the increase was effected.

What was needed were measures to reduce the transmission and distribution losses and hasten the recovery of arrears. Mr. Siddaramaiah said while theft, pilferage and T&D losses alone accounted for 40 per cent of power generated the recovery of arrears was a mere 35 per cent.

When the farmers were already facing a crisis following the steep fall in the prices of agriculture produce, the power tariff hike would add to their woes, he said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah charged the Government with violating all norms reserving wards for the municipal elections due early next year.

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Protect heritage, youth told

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHIMOGA, DEC. 22. The Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Mr. S.S. Mallikarjun, has urged the youth to strive to protect the country's rich cultural heritage.

Inaugurating the two-day State-level Youth Festival at Nagar, a place of historical importance in Hosnagar taluk of Shimoga District, about 100 km from here, on Friday, he said that the Government would provide assistance for the protection and promotion of cultural values.

The Minister of State for Minor Irrigation, Mr. S. Kumar Bangarappa, who was the chief guest, emphasised the need for the youth to continue to make efforts to sharpen their innate talents.

He said it was proposed to desilt nearly 5,000 tanks in the State this year. Under the Jala Samvardhana Yojane launched by his department, it was planned to desilt nearly 70,000 tanks.

The Hosnagar MLA, Dr. G.D. Narayanappa, presided over the function. The Tirthahalli MLA, Mr. Araga Jnanendra, and the Commissioner for Youth Services and Sports, Mr. Ravindranath Tagore, were among those present.

Over 1,000 youths are attending the festival.

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