Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 14: The Mangaladevi ward development project under the Mangaluru Smart City initiative is set to be inaugurated twice within a week after the district in-charge minister alleged a breach of protocol during the initial event.
On February 9, mayor Manoj Kumar, MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, MLA Vedavyas Kamath, and former mayor Premanand Shetty inaugurated the Rs 7.85 crore project, which includes a state-of-the-art primary health center, a veterinary clinic, a modern bus terminal, a residential complex for municipal staff, and a community park. However, the event was conducted without the presence of district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao or any Congress leaders.
Following the inauguration, the primary health center began operations, and patients started arriving for treatment. However, after concerns over a protocol violation were raised, the center was temporarily closed for a second inauguration, leaving many patients stranded.
On February 13, district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao directed chief secretaries to take action against officials responsible for the protocol breach. He stated that neither he nor his office was informed about the event in advance, calling it a clear violation of protocol.
In response, mayor Manoj Kumar denied any wrongdoing, stating, "We had informed the deputy commissioner and the MCC commissioner ten days prior to the event. It is the deputy commissioner's responsibility to inform the elected representatives of the state government. I have no information about a second inauguration. If it happens, it will likely be a politically motivated event."
MLA Vedavyas Kamath strongly condemned the decision to shut down the newly inaugurated Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Mangaladevi under the Smart City project for a re-inauguration. Expressing his outrage, he stated that the earlier inauguration was conducted in accordance with protocol by the mayor and the city corporation, with no procedural lapses.
He criticized district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao for ordering action against lower-level employees under the pretext of protocol violation, calling it an abuse of power. Kamath also pointed out that the Health Minister should focus on opening health centers, not shutting them down.
"The move to close the health centre just to re-inaugurate it for personal prestige is unprecedented in the state's history. The Congress government is setting a disgraceful record," he remarked.
Kamath further explained that the BJP government had initiated the construction of the health centre, with his active involvement in coordinating the concerned departments. Former mayor Premanand Shetty and former MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had also played a key role in the project, ensuring its completion for public benefit. He accused the Congress government of politicizing the issue and said the public was outraged by their actions.
Mocking the re-inauguration decision, Kamath stated, "If the district minister wants a re-inauguration, then let every event in the district that he previously missed also be re-inaugurated. Let this absurd tradition begin under the Congress government."
Reports indicate that the project, inaugurated on February 9, will be re-inaugurated on February 15.