Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jul 3: Minister for fisheries and sports and district-in-charge Pramod Madhwaraj on Saturday July 2 visited Kota Shivaram Karanth theme park and unveiled the sculpture of a bullock cart that signifies the culture of hard work.

Third finance commission chairman A G Kodgi unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion.

The minister was later honoured by Kotathattu gram panchayat and Karanth theme park committee.

Addressing the gathering, minister Madhwaraj said, "Dr Shivaram Karanth brought name to this district in the world of literature. His achievements are unparalleled. We are truly fortunate to have been born in the same district as him.

"I had seen Dr Shivaram Karanth when I was studying in MGM College. He had extraordinary discipline and punctuality," he added.

"This theme park does not look like a government building. It looks as if it is managed by a private group. MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary had invited me to come here several times. I was destined to come here as a minister," he said.

"A G Kodgi has several plans for the development of the district. I have decided to visit Kodgi at his residence with my officials and discuss at length about irrigation projects.

"In 2004, Jayaprakash Hegde, Kota Srinivasa Poojary and I had faced each other in the election from Brahmavar. Now I have got an opportunity to be Udupi district in-charge minister and Jayaprakash Hegde has become an MP," he said.

Kota Srinivasa Poojary, businessman Ananda C Kunder, Zilla panchayat president Dinaker Babu, Udupi taluk panchayat president Nalini Pradeep Rao, Kotathattu grama panchayat president Pramod Hande, zilla panchayat member Raghavendra Barikere, UPCL’s Kishore Alva and others were present.