The transport department will soon introduce golf carts (battery-powered vehicles) to minimize sound and vehicular pollution in the secretariat premises. Also called buggies or campus vehicles, these are used on golf courses and by companies with sprawling campuses. They don't use conventional fuel. The department plans to start with five such vehicles on an experimental basis.

The estimate was arrived at by the authorities based on three factors: average annual spending on office overheads, a comparison with the percentage saving recorded in 1983 when the five-day week was introduced for a few months and an estimated saving prepared as part of the budget proposals of 2002-03.

Talking to newspersons here, Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur and Water Resources Minister K S Eswarappa said the Kaginele Development Authority, headed by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, held its first meeting on August 24 and decided to take up work on road links, main entrance and construction of a temple near the saint's memorial and also a research centre.

The main aim of the Centrally-sponsored project, expected to be completed by 2009, was to eliminate open defecation and impart lessons in hygiene. It envisaged strong emphasis on information, education and communication to increase people's awareness on sanitary practices, health issues and usage of safe drinking water.