Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, May 24: Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake performed the Guddali Puja  for much awaited bridge from Pithrody, Udyavar to Jarukudru Island on Tuesday, May 23. Foundation stone was laid for the 510-meter long road which will connect Pithrody to the bridge, and will cost Rs 65 lakhs.

The proposed project is being undertaken through the Gandhi patha-grama scheme.

Addressing the gathering, MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "The bridge work will be undertaken at the cost of Rs 9.34 crore. More than Rs 100 crore was sanctioned to Udyavar in the last four years for various developmental works. Road and bridge works will start in a week or two. Rs 74 crore has been released for Padukere road widening works under CRF fund."

Sorake added, "The construction of a bridge connecting Pithrody to Jarkudru has been a long standing demand. Many households have migrated from here because of lack of basic amenities. As Jarkudru is an Island, there are chances of tragic incidents during the monsoon, like earlier.

"Chief minister Siddharamayya and the rural development minister approved the bridge project. We have completed road works so far, with a total cost of Rs 40 crores, under Namma Grama-Namma Raste scheme in just four years. This year Rs 47 crores were approved for Kaup constituency for the first time in the state. There are five bridges that come under this project."

Regarding waste management unit, he said, "Nearly Rs 7.5 crores are released to set a wastage management unit in Yelluru under Kaup Town municipality. The tender will open for the same on May 30. They plan to start composting bio-degradable waste soon. The required machines, vehicles will come under the 7.5 crore budget. It is not enough if wastage is only collected in the Town Municipality area. So the municipality has decided to collect wastage from local panchayats areas under this project too. After the tender process, they will start the work at the earliest," said Sorake.

BJP-Congress moot point

In retaliation to the written statement by the district BJP president Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, Sorake said, "We have completed Rs 200 crore of works, but they have done only a few crore worth of works. What have their elected lok sabha candidates and zilla panchayat members done to better their constituencies? How much fund  have they brought in?"

BJP's Ratnakar had earlier said,  "The Congress MLAs are used to saying that the 'state' has sanctioned funds for road construction works. But the abbreviation CRF itself has 'central' in it.  Firstly opposition party leaders should understand the meaning of CRF, under which, the state government send proposals on various projects to 'centre', who approves them on a priority basis."

Apart from this, Sorake performed Guddali Puja and laid the foundation stone for various developmental works like construction roads, bridges and retaining walls.

Sungandhi Shekhar, president, Udyavar grama panchayat, Riayaz Palli, vice president, Sarasu D Bangera, former zilla panchayat president, Ramanand Puranik, PDO, Girish Kumar, Gladis, Rajivi Suvarna, Satish, the nodal officer, Nagesh Udyavar were present.