Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Feb 1: Speaking after inaugurating ‘Amrita Sangama’ programme organized on the occasion of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the municipality here, district in-charge minister, Dr V S Acharya, informed that the state Chief Minister has sanctioned the first instalment of ten crore rupees towards projects worth Rs 30 crore proposed by the municipality as part of the platinum jubilee initiatives. ‘Amrita Sangama’ was organized here on Monday January 31.
Acharya informed that the Chief Minister had approved a special grant of Rs 25 crore to the municipality this year, and that the above sum was a part of this grant. He informed that this amount will be utilized for Kaslanka-Adi Udupi road works, construction of shoulders and drains. A number of projects of tourism department will also get sanctioned, he added. Acharya further revealed that urban development minister, Suresh Kumar, has been working on a proposal to bring changes to the Corporation Act 1974 and Municipality Act 1964, as proposed in the state level civic convention held in January last year.
The minister felt that the rulers will do well to adopt the declaration pasted outside Silicon City USA, which says, ‘Encroachment, Corruption, Dumping of Garbage, will not be tolerated’.
Acharya also gratefully recollected the contributions of former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Veerendra Patil, Dr T M A Pai, and Swamijis of Srikrishna Mutt, towards the development of this town.
At the programme, chancellor of Manipal University, Dr Ramadas Pai, who has been chosen for the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award, and former presidents and councillors of the local municipality, were honoured.
The programme was presided over by MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, Municipal president, Kirankumar, vice-president, Bharati Chandrashekhar, standing committee chairperson, Sumitra Nayak, leader of the opposition, Jayanand, Udupi Urban Development Authority chairman, Sudhakar Shetty, Corporation Bank deputy general manager, C J Gopal, Union Bank manager, Ramesh Nayak, and a number of other dignitaries were present.
Former municipal president, Dinakar Shetty, welcomed. Councillor, Pandurang Malpe, presented the programme.