Kundapur, Aug 28: A poisonous species of fish called lion fish was caught by the fishermen of Beejady near here recently.

The scientific name of this fish, as identified by research scholar Vidyarani of Navudara Keri here, is scorpion fish belonging to the family of scorpy onside. Its normal habitat is deep sea and it feeds on planktons and small fishes.

The fish looks like a lion with thorns covering its body. Poisonous pouches are attached at the top of each thorn and the fishermen need to be extremely cautious while catching them, as the prick of the thorns causes severe pain and inflammation of skin tissues. The fish is also capable of changing its colour to suit the environment. Fish of such verities are normally bred in the aquarium for fancy. The wonder fish is now the cynosure of school-going kids in the Blue Sea aquarium near Nehru Maidan in the town.

Kundapur, Aug 26: Dr T M A Pai Foundation Manipal president K K Pai informed that the Vishwa Konkani Kendra at Shakthinagar Mangalore, being built at a cost of around two crore rupees, is nearing completion.

He was speaking at a ceremony organized at Narayanaguru Complex in the town for observation of Konkani Diwas and inaugurating Konkani Ghar, under the aegis of Jai Konkani organization, Kundapur. He explained that the long-cherished dream of the Konkani speaking people would soon be realized with the opening of the Vishwa Konkani Kendra in the month of December this year. This centre is a standing testimony to the unity and solidarity of the Konkani-speaking people, who had migrated from the banks of river Saraswati, mentioned in mythologies. The Konkani speaking people are spread out from Kochi, Kerala in the south to Kashmir in the north and upto Assam in the North East of India, he noted.

Basti Vaman Shenoy, president, Konkani Bhasha and Samskrithi Pratisthan, Mangalore presided. He expressed the opinion that the town can be an ideal place for the development of Konkani culture and language, as fourteen dialects of Konkani are in use within the limits of Kundapur, Byndoor and Bhatkal regions. The organizers of the function have done the right thing in choosing this place for opening a novel home called Konkani Ghar, he stated.

U S Shenoy, president of Jai Konkani welcomed the guests. Laxmidevi Kamath sang a few Konkani folk songs. K Ramananda Kamath compered the programme. Writer P Jayanth Pai proposed vote of thanks.

Kundapur, Aug 26: Gandhi Maidan, situated in the heart of the city, which was a hub of sports activities a few years back, was badly damaged because of official negligence and also it being turned into temporary bus stand cum urinal, during the road concreting work in the town. Sports lovers and athletes had been demanding to give a thorough facelift to this centrally located ground, the only one-of-its-kind available for them here, to hone their skills.

There is good news for them now. The ground is being spruced up and developed by using about Rs 47 lac, with the combined grants of the state and union governments, under the 12th Finance Commission. The Gandhi Maidan would be handed over to the department of sports and youth services. The development works would be taken up under the supervision of the assistant commissioner. A preliminary grant of Rs 26 lac has already been released in this regard.

The project includes construction of a 400-metre track, compound wall for gymnasium, volleyball court, lighting and providing with other amenities with the required infrastructure. As the total extent of Gandhi Maidan is 5.14 acres, the sports stadium committee has decided to provide adequate space for playing cricket with no encroachment on the main tacks to be laid. Necessary permission for cutting down trees has been obtained from the forest department. The sports lovers also have been pressing for the construction of gates both at the entrance and in the middle of the playground.

All those schools across the state which are interested for laying tracks in their play grounds, will be given a grant of  Rs 5 lac each by the government, said youth services and sports department official Dayanand Hegde, providing the above details at a press conference held here recently.

Kundapur, Aug 24:  A training programme on conservation of rainwater was organized by the water conservators group of Kasargod, headed by Sri Padre, to commemorate India's 62nd independence day. The event was held at the St Francis Assisi Church of Tallur.

Sri Padre said it was gratifying to note that Rev Fr Benjamin D’Souza, the head priest of the church, had taken a lead in teaching rainwater harvesting thus helping save water that would otherwise go waste. He informed the gathering on this technique through a demonstration and a screening of slides.

Swasthi Shri Charukeerthi Pandithacharya Varya Maha Swamiji of Jain Math, Moodbidri, inaugurated the programme. Fr Alban D’Souza of Kundapur ward presided.

Among those present were vice-president of Tallur Church, Benedict D’Souza, trustee of Siddivinayaka temple, Hattiangady, Vedamurthi H Ramachandra Bhat , retired lecturer and farmer Richard Rebello, retired principal B Seetharam Shetty Barkur, co-ordinator  Shivananda Shetty of 'Namma Bhoomi', and Arooru Manjunath Rao. Fr Benjamin D’Souza welcomed the gathering.  S Shashidhara Shetty monitored the programme.

Kundapur, Aug 19: The premiere of Kannada VCD ‘Yesu Swami Helida Samatigalu’ (parables of Jesus) was held at Blessed Joseph Vaz parish hall, Gangolli, recently.  The VCD produced by Blessed Joseph Vaz Centre, Gangolli, and directed by Vinod Gangolli was released on the occasion.

Dean of Kundapur deanery Fr Alban D’Souza presided over the programme while parish priest  of Blessed Joseph Vaz parish, Mudipu, Fr Andrew D’Souza, released the VCD. Gangolli parish priest Fr Alphonse D’Lima conducted the prayer service.

Fr Prakash Coutinho, principal, St Mary’s Pre-University College, Kundapur, Fr Anil Cornelio, Trasi parish priest,  Fr Kille D’Cruz, director, Trasi Don Bosco Technical Institute, and Gerald Crasta, vice-president,Gangolli parish council, were the chief guests.

Fr Kille D’Cruz honoured the donors who contributed towards producing the VCD. The disc was produced with the chief objective of spreading the message of Jesus to people all over the state as  Pope Benedict XVI has declared 2008 to be the year of the Bible.

Running for 75 minutes the disc includes four popular parables of Jesus and has been shot in pristine locations in Udupi, Uttara Kannada, and Dakshina Kannada districts, with over 60 versatile actors. Vinod Gangolli had already directed a documentary ‘Parzalik Neketr’ (shining star) based on the life of Blessed Joseph Vaz produced by Blessed Joseph Vaz pilgrimage shrine and Mudipu parish, which has been a grand success.

Fr Anil Cornelio delivered the keynote address while Pramila D’Souza welcomed the gathering. Judy Mendonca compered the programme.