Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Apr 18: The Karnataka government, under the leadership of chief minister Siddaramaiah, has sanctioned Rs 2,600 crore for urban development across the state under Phase 2 of the Mahatma Gandhi Urban Development Scheme, with Rs 200 crore earmarked for 25 projects in Mangaluru even as a Rs 9 crore road and drainage project was launched in Maravoor.
Urban development minister Byrathi Suresh announced that Rs 200 crore, including GST, has been allocated to the Mangaluru City Corporation, while district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said works worth Rs 165 crore, including those funded under the NGT compensation fund, are being rolled out in the region.
Byrathi Suresh was speaking after inaugurating the foundation stone-laying ceremony for 25 urban development projects at Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan in Urvastores on Saturday. Dinesh Gundu Rao, who also addressed the gathering, later laid the foundation stone for a Rs 9 crore project involving a four-lane concrete road and drainage system from Maravoor to Marakada.
Suresh said the state government has approved projects worth Rs 24,000 crore to ensure comprehensive urban development. Highlighting Karnataka’s economic contribution, he noted that the state is among the highest tax-paying states in the country, alongside Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, but receives only 10–12% of its share back from the Centre.
He emphasised that funds have been distributed equally among all 13 municipal corporations in the state, adding that the government is functioning beyond party and caste lines. He also noted that Rs 40 crore has already been released for underground drainage works in Mangaluru.
Dinesh Gundu Rao expressed gratitude for the release of a special grant of Rs 165 crore for Mangaluru’s development and said a proposal has been prepared to establish an IT park in the district through KEONICS at a cost of around Rs 100 crore.
He further outlined plans for coastal road development and measures to prevent encroachment in river areas. Additionally, a new OPD block will be constructed at Wenlock Hospital at a cost of Rs 70 crore, while development works will also include Kudmul Ranga Rao Memorial and Ambedkar Circle.
“Government funds are public funds, and there should be no narrow thinking in their usage. We should not differentiate between state and central funds,” Rao said, stressing the need for additional support for underground drainage systems.
MLA Vedavyas Kamath, who presided over the programme, urged the government to allocate Rs 1,000 crore for the city’s drainage infrastructure and called for the continuation of previously stalled projects.
Speaking at Maravoor, Rao said the Rs 9 crore project covering the Maravoor–Marakada stretch will be executed under Phase 2 of the Mahatma Gandhi Urban Development Scheme along with NGT compensation funds. He added that a total of Rs 165 crore worth of works are being launched as part of the initiative.
The programme at Urvastores was attended by MLC Ivan D’Souza, former MLA J R Lobo, MESCOM chairman Harish Kumar, Coastal Development Authority chairman M A Gaffoor, Cashew Development Corporation chairperson Mamatha Gatti, Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee chairman Bharat Mundodi, State Eco-Tourism Development Corporation chairperson Shyalet Lavina Pinto, State Seed Corporation chairperson Lavanya Ballal, Ganiga Development Corporation chairman Vishwas Das, Konkani Sahitya Akademi president Joachim Swany Alvares, MUDA chairman Sadashiva Ullal, deputy commissioner Darshan H V, MCC commissioner Ravichandra Nayak, former mayors Shashidhar Hegde and Bhaskar K, former corporators Appi, Lancy Lobo Pinto, Anil and Prakash Salian, among others.
Those present at Maravoor included MLC Ivan D’Souza, MESCOM chairman Harish Kumar, Cashew Development Corporation chairperson Mamatha Gatti, deputy commissioner Darshan, former mayors Harinath and Shashidhar Hegde, Konkani Sahitya Akademi president Spany Alvares, R Padmaraj, former corporators Naveen D’Souza, Anil, Praveen Chandra Alva, Vishwas Das and others.