Mangalore This Week : Nov 5 - 11
Weekly Round-up by Anisa Fathima
Daijiworld.com - Mangalore
Nov 11, 2006
Full-fledged Cricket Stadium for Mangalore
The week brought heartening news for the cricket lovers in the city with the Karnataka State Cricket Association's plan to set up a full-fledged cricket stadium here. According to reports, the association is looking for 25 acres of land to set up the proposed project.
The news comes as a breather to many die-hard fans of the game. People here rarely get the opportunity to watch a cricket match at a stadium, what with very few international matches taking places even in Bangalore after the National Cricket Academy was set up. However, the association and the administration should be careful about the location they choose - ample parking space, proximity to five star hotels (for the cricketers and officials) and facilities of international standards are a must. Traffic congestion would be another problem; therefore, it would be better if the locale is outside city limits.
MANGALORE: STATE CRICKET ASSOCIATION PLANS STADIUM FOR CITY
Omlette Man's Honesty
Instances of honesty are rare these days, but Abdul Qader, who runs an omelette kiosk in Puttur rekindled the faith in human nature when he returned a wallet he had found on the wayside to its owner. The wallet was carrying Rs 4,000, and when the owner got it back all intact, he rightly rewarded Qader in the form of cash.
When man is at war with fellow human beings and treachery, dishonesty and other malpractices are rampant, such honest acts not only deserve applause, but also need to be looked up to as examples to follow. It is easy for people, especially our leaders, to talk of being honest and inculcate virtues of integrity, but very few practice the same. Interestingly, this was not new to Qader; he had done a similar act once before. When there are pickpockets and those who try to cheat others of their hard-earned money, people like Qader come to rescue our ever-declining trust in human nature. Like the locals in Puttur said, may his tribe increase!
PUTTUR: OMELETTE MAN GOES 'EGG-STRA' MILE ON HONESTY
Succesful Heart Sugery for Pak Citizen
Mangaloreans had more to cheer about when a Pakistani national underwent a successful heart surgery at the city's AJ Hospital. Having suffered from coronary blockage for six months, Tabriz had taken the help of Dr Purushotham to arrange for the Visa.
It was one more feather in the city's already brimming cap of education and health care. That the surgery took place successfully close on the heels of not-so-good reports of government hospitals in the city makes the achievement even more significant. In the past, there have been heart patients from across the border coming all the way to Bangalore for treatment, but for a hospital in Mangalore to have achieved this feat means that along with other international health care destinations, our city too will be up right up there.
MANGALORE: SUCCESSFUL HEART SURGERY FOR PAK CITIZEN AT A J HOSPITAL
Nagarjuna Survey
Meanwhile, the proposed Nagarjuna thermal power plant in Udupi was in the news again, this time receiving stiff opposition by various committees, elected representatives and even the locals. The survey work for the project, which was supposed to have begun this week, was stalled by the protestors which led to the work being postponed.
The coal-based thermal power plant has been receiving opposition from various quarters right from the time it was first proposed, on the basis of environmental concerns. The coastal region, being on the brink of big developmental works, needs thermal power plants that can not only lead to establishment of many more multi-national companies in the region but also solve the already existing electricity problems in several areas. Many of the villages and even towns suffer from constant electricity disruptions, and this needs to be attended to. Environmental concerns too need to be dealt with; instead of mere protests, people should work towards seeking a middle line which will solve the problem of electricity while also taking care of the environment.
UDUPI: NAGARJUNA SURVEY WORK POSTPONED AMIDST PROTEST - PICS
Corporate Politics!
The week also saw two corporators being expelled from the Congress party for having indulged in cross voting during the Town Planning standing committee elections. One of the corporators Kavita Sanil was said to have stood for the elections though the party had already chosen their candidate. The other corporator, James D'Souza, was expelled for supporting her.
It is normal for politicians to switch parties according to their whims and go along with what suits them best, with little or no consideration to their own party. Integrity is something that is rarely present in our politicians, and this incident should come as no surprise. Kavita Sanil acted in the way most politicians do. Probably James D'Souza stood to gain something out of supporting her. Not only that, she was even supported by rivals BJP. No wonder the Congress couldn’t stand it.
MANGALORE: CORPORATORS JAMES D’SOUZA AND KAVITA EXPELLED FROM CONGRESS
New Arrival Hall for Bajpe Airport
The city's Bajpe airport is improving in leaps and bounds. The new arrival hall at the airport is slated to be completed by April 2007, much to the relief of frequent travelers arriving at the airport.
The new arrival hall is a necessity in view of the increase in passenger traffic what with the introduction of the international flight from Dubai and increased number of flights to other domestic destinations. The airport has a unique anti-hijacking hall that is not found in other airports of South India. This rare distinction sets it apart from the rest, and the security measures, which meet international standards, is something that makes us proud. Though the airport has a long way to go and there's scope for improvement, it does kindle many hopes for many more international flights to other destinations too.
MANGALORE: NEW ARRIVAL HALL AT BAJPE AIRPORT TO BE READY BY APRIL
Lokayukta in Mangalore
Though the communal violence that rocked the district last month may be behind us, there is still a long way to go for victims to rebuild their lives. The end of the week saw Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde listening to public grievances from people not only regarding the violence but also other issues like garbage disposal, drinking water problems, illegal constructions and others.
It is not very often that the public get to voice their grievances to people who are actually serious about solving their problems. When the administration machinery fails to solve people's problems, it is bodies like Lokayukta that have to come for rescue. There are lots of things that the public is unhappy about, and rightly so. Roads, for example, still remain the same. Illegal constructions go on and encroachment of land is nothing new either. Garbage lied strewn in almost every area of the city. Justice Hegde has given the MCC a few weeks time to solve these problems, but it remains to be seen how seriously it would be followed.
MANGALORE: LOKAYUKTA RECEIVES 93 COMPLAINTS AT PUBLIC GRIEVANCE HEARING
That’s the news this week. See you next week, with some more happenings around the district.
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