Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, Nov 14: The renovated Town Hall here was inaugurated in a colourful ceremony on Saturday November 14, more than a year after the work on it began in September 2014.

District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai cut the ribbon while urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake inaugurated the formal ceremony.

Addressing the gathering, Rai said, "When Mangaluru City Corporation planned the Town Hall renovation, everybody welcomed the move. It is true that during the renovation, there were many delays, still, the Town Hall looks beautiful now. Today is Children's Day. We must remember Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary."

Referring to the untoward incidents in the district over the last couple of days, he said, "I request the people of Dakshina Kannada to maintain communal harmony. There are bad people in society and I pray to god that they become good from heart."

Minister Sorake said, "The future of our world is in the hands of our children. It is the children who will guide our country to a better future. The Town Hall of Mangaluru is in the heart of the city. There were lots of problems and criticism during renovation, but end of it all, Town Hall has now adorned the city.

"We live in a competitive world. The central government has included Mangaluru in the list of Smart Cities, and out of the 20 cities selected by the centre in the first phase, Mangaluru stands first. Every person has to join hands in developing the city," he added.

"Once the Thumbay vented dam is completed, we plan to provide water round the clock. Many projects were taken up after 2011, and there are unused special grants. We are planning to use them for more projects," he said.

MLC Ivan D'Souza said, "I have seen Town Halls of other districts, but none of them is as good as the one we have in Mangaluru. This is the best of all Town Halls, and it is the biggest gift to society. Maintaining an AC hall is not at all easy, but do not hurt artistes by charging them exorbitantly. I request the state government to introduce a uniform rent system for town halls across Karnataka. The MCC must install solar system to produce electricity for Town Hall. I am ready to do my bit in terms of funds for this purpose."

Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim said, "Town hall is the main hub in many cities of the world. Even in Mangaluru, the Town Hall should be the centre of all cultural events. The renovated Town Hall should be looked after very well, so that even after five years, it looks as good as new. Even if the maintenance costs cross Rs 10 lac a month, there should not come a situation where it has to be renovated again."

A colourful dance higlighting the traditional and culture of the coastal region was a special attraction of the programme. A tribute was paid to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary.

MCC deputy mayor Purushotham welcomed. Minister Abhaychandra Jain, MLAs J R Lobo and Mohiuddin Bava, mayor Jacintha Alfred, Kodijal Ibrahim, Sudheer Shetty, Harinath and others were present.