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Coorg News - Consolidated News & Views

Feb

7

The First Lady SI of Coorg

February 7, 2009 | 2 Comments

S.M.Veena who was serving as the S.P. in Mysore has taken charge as sub-inspector at Madikeri.
This will the first posting of a lady sub-inspector in Coorg.

Feb

7

15 weather stations coming up at Coorg

February 7, 2009 | Leave a Comment

ISRO to set up weather auto record centres in Kodagu
Madikeri (PTI): ISRO on Sunday announced its plans to establish 15 ‘weather auto recording centres’ at Kodgagu district in Karnataka, each covering a radius of 50 km and requiring minimal maintenance.

Each of these centres would be provided with batteries and solar-run machinery, ISRO scientists told a press meet here.

ISRO Programme Director, Dr T G K Murthy, Assistant Director Dr B Manikyam and Scientist Dr Jagdish said the centres, each costing Rs 1.5 lakh, could run on their own for 15 days without any manual assistance. After a fortnight, some adjustments would have to be made to enable them operate for another 15 days, they said.

The weather reports from each centre would be directly sent through satellite and internet to the main offices in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, he said.

The centres would provide weather forecasts of the next five days, they said.

Farmers and growers in Kodagu could avail the weather forecast from these centres through the various growers organizations and plan their productive activity in the field, they added.

Source: The Hindu

Jun

27

Orange County to expand beyond Coorg.

June 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment

By Gayatri Vijaykumar

About Orange County
Orange County, the brand name of Orange County Resorts and Hotels, a public limited company is part of the Ramapuram Group. Orange County, Coorg is the flagship property of the group. From 2002, Orange County, Coorg has consistently achieved the “RCI Gold Crown Award” year after year for surpassing international standards of excellence in Resort Quality and Hospitality.

An epitome of luxury, Orange County luxury resorts continue to attract guests in search of an experience which is true to the spirit of the land they are located in. George T Ramapuram, managing director of Orange County Luxury resorts speaks about the company’s future plans as well as his vision for the hospitality industry.

The Orange County luxury resorts function around a core theme which is clearly stated in the words of its managing director, George T Ramapuram, who says, “Our vision is to be the most sought after ‘true to the land of origin’ experience in every product we offer. Our mission is also to provide an exquisite holiday experience, while preserving the purity of nature and culture of the land.” Focusing on the high end luxury segment, Orange County luxury resorts has grown from a single property in Coorg, Karnataka. In 2007, the group set up Orange County, Kabini, its second property.

Focus India

The group has already chalked out its plans for Karnataka. According to Ramapuram, Orange County Resorts and Hotels plans to set up three more properties in the next four years. “We have already acquired land in Hampi, Karwar and Bangalore and plan to set up properties in these areas by 2012,” he said. Eco friendly operations are a core value for the group. “We believe in operating in an eco friendly manner, hence we mostly use eco friendly material wherever we can. We have discarded plastic as much as possible and avoid plastic carry bags, using paper carry bags instead as much as possible.” According to Ramapuram, Orange County promotes eco friendliness amongst the guests and have taken this up as a campaign. The properties use wind-generated energy from their own windmills. Solid waste management is also practiced.

Orange County Luxury resorts has almost frozen on its future plans. “We wish to have five resorts by 2012 and seven by 2020. However, the locations have not been finalised as yet,” Ramapuram reveals. The group is planning to invest approximately Rs 160 crore for the three properties. According to Ramapuram, the properties will be renovated and upgraded on a regular basis. “As the years go by, requirements change. As time goes by and more eco friendly technology and automation comes in, we will be forced to review all our projects and upgrade them.” Orange County, Coorg is already undergoing renovation and the work is expected to be completed by October 2008. “The look and feel of the properties will change and will be more in tune with the spirit of the land,” explains Ramapuram.

According to Ramampuram, the Orange County brand vision is aimed at the luxury resort segment. “However, we might start some ancillary services to cater to the luxury segment. The high end clientele that we cater to do not want to go through the hassle of arranging their travel plans; thus, we might consider starting ground handling, airport transfers and tour operations for our guests,” he reveals.

Way ahead

Ramapuram believes that the travel industry is growing in leaps and bounds and will continue growing at a tremendous pace in the years to come. According to him, the inbound market has grown to 4.3 million last year from 2.6 million; this segment is expected to grow at least six times by 2020. Ramapuram also envisages that the high end segment, in particular in the inbound market and more so in the domestic market is expected to grow. Ramapuram also foresees a growth in the mid-market segment. “More people have access to disposable income and do not have any hassles in spending this income on leisure activities,” explains Ramapuram. He also predicts that more hospitality players would migrate into the high end segment. However, he adds that there is a shortage of supply to meet this growing demand.

“If demand keeps spiraling up and prices in the high end segment keep increasing, people would prefer travelling abroad. Hence we would have to focus on developing more properties to cater to this demand,” cautions Ramapuram. This would also mean that there will be an increased demand for personnel.

“At the current rate of attrition, there will be a shortage of manpower. However, by 2020 most hospitality organisations will have their own trained pool to pick from. We have training programs for our staff too,” he states.

Ramapuram feels that as one climbs higher up in the luxury resort segment, trends will focus more on exclusivity with lesser requirements. “Higher up the ladder one climbs, people look for quietness and wish to experience the spirit of the land. As we go into the higher end segments, we find that there are more FITs who practice responsible travel. People in this segment are generally more eco conscious,” explains Ramapuram.

Achieving the vision

“I believe that people who appreciate the ‘true to the land experience’ of a destination should be focused on the niche segment rather than the masses. Goa is a classic example of the negative effects of mass tourism. We have to assess the carrying capacity of any place and arrive at a balance to avoid any problems. We stand to lose out on our culture if we do not control the numbers,” cautions Ramapuram. Opportunities should be given to those tourists who wish to experience and enjoy the feel of a place, believes Ramapuram. He feels that in order to tap the potential of the country without harming its culture, foreign visitors should be able to experience India in its natural form. “I have noticed that people who have travelled a lot go for experience rather than thrills and that is what I would like to target. Our country has a vibrant culture and we should be able to tap that and work on the potential. Our art forms are a wonderful experience to foreigners and we should showcase it in its originality,” explains Ramapuram. In order to achieve this vision, Ramapuram said that Orange County luxury resorts will focus on providing its guests with the true to the land experience and will ensure that the environment is not tampered with in the process.

Source: Express Hospitality

Sep

26

Kodagu Superintendent of Police recommends Govt to cancel gun license exemption provided to Kodavas

September 26, 2007 | 34 Comments

MADIKERI: MLC C S Arun Machaiah discloses the move of the Kodagu Police Superintendent, K V Trilok Chandra (in pic ),K V THRILOK CHANDRA who recommended the state government to cancel the gun license exemption given to the Kodava community in the district.

The MLC, who took part at a Kail-Poldu festival get-together conducted by the Dechoor Kodava Keri at the Kodava Samaja here on Sunday, said that the district was already reeling under various problems and the SP’s recommendation would attract another problem. He urged the SP to withhold the recommendation for a time being to avoid any confusions.

He said that in Kodava community, the use of gun, sickle and other weapons had their own place in its tradition and culture and people would not use such weapons for any anti-social activities, he added.

Madikeri Kodava Samaja president MM Suresh Chengappa and others spoke on the occasion.

Sports and entertainment programmes were held as part of the get-together.

Update: The SP, Mr.Thrilok Chandra has clarified that there is no such move.
On Oct 10th, he said that there is no truth in the statement made by MLC C S Arun Machaiah that “the district police are contemplating to cancel the licenses of Jamma bane holders.” “The MLC would have received wrong information from some source,” the SP said and added that “the rule that checking gun and the license by the police existed since many years and it is part of Gun Act. Prevention of illegal guns and arms is the reason behind such a move.”

———Special thanks to Cariz of kodagucommunity.blogspot.com, for bringing it to our notice.———–

May

18

Fake greens create land mafia in Kodagu: Cauvery Sena

May 18, 2007 | 4 Comments

Madikeri, May 16 (Star of Mysore)- Few fake environmentalists on the pretext of conserving the ground water reserve in Kodagu are trying to establish a land mafia, alleged Ravi Chengappa, District Convenor of Cauvery Sena.
Addressing press persons at the Press Club here, Chengappa warned the land owners not to fall prey to the fake environmentalists.
When a reporter drew his attention to a Minister coming forward to buy a coffee estate in Kodagu, Chengappa observed that the reason behind land in Kodagu falling in the hands of outsiders is the handiwork of the fake environmentalists who have created a mafia. The local land owners are being brainwashed and they are coaxed to part with their lands. On the pretext of environmental protection, the so- called environmentalists shed crocodile tears too, he observed.
Fake institutions
There is a threat for the basic lifestyle of Kodavas. Few fake Nursing Schools too have cropped up. The students too are being hoodwinked and lot of money is being shelled out. If stern action is not initiated against such fake institutions within a fortnight, the Sena will launch a protest, warned Chengappa.
He urged to institute a high level inquiry into the case of distribution of fake title deeds in Somawarpet and punish the guilty.
Sena Treasurer Ratan Kuttaiah and City Sena President G.G. Chandra were present