Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Nov 1: The formation of Karnataka state, or Kannada Rajyotsava was celebrated with a splending ceremony by the district administration at Nehru Maidan here on Sunday November 1.
District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai hoisted the flag and conferred the district Rajyotsava Awards 2015 on 21 achievers from various fields.
Ramanath Rai received the guard of honour from the civil police, NCC Air, Naval and Army wings, fire service, KSRP, traffic police, police band and others who participated in the march past.
Addressing the gathering, Ramanath Rai said, "Kannada is not only a language but also power. Kannada language and culture has a special place in the entire world. It is the responsibility of every person to preserve the culture of Karnataka. Your house is the first school, and mother the first teacher. Kannada is also a link that joins many hearts together. Love for Kannada language has to be awakened in the minds and hearts of youths and students. Dakshina Kannada district is recognised around the world for education, culture and religious harmony."
Listing out the achievements and plans of the state government, he said, "Our government has implemented several pro-people projects for the welfare of the society. Rs 46 crore has been allotted for 'Anna Bhagya' scheme in 2015-16 in Dakshina Kannada. To remove errors in the documents of land belonging to farmers, Revenue Adalat has been started and so far 310 adalats have been held in the district."
Speaking about plans of new jetty at Mangaluru Old Port, Rai said, "The new jetty will be constructed at a cost of Rs 50 crore on an area of about 8,000 sq ft. Work is expected to start once the environmental and central government clearances are obtained.
"The new DC's offfice at Padil will be constructed on 5.80 acre of land at the cost of Rs 41 crore and tender work is in process. More than 200 developmental works in the five taluks of the district have been undertaken at a cost of Rs 496 crore under the Chief Minister Rural Road Development Programme. In Sullia and Puttur, Mini Vidhana Soudha have come up and already the work has started. in Mangaluru, Mini Vidhan Saudha has been constructed and is awaiting inauguration," he said.
"The first phase of Shiradi Ghat concreting work has been completed at the cost of Rs 69.90 crore for 13 km. The second phase of work for the remaining 11.77 km will be started soon. Mangaluru Udyog Mela will be held on November 19 and 20 at Canara Engineering College, Benjanapadav, where national and inernatational companies will take part. District Karavali Utsav will be held during the end of December every year," he added.
"The state government has set aside Rs 2 crore to establish Konkani Study Chair in Mangalore University and also, grant has been released for the renovation of the house of Kannada's first poet Dr Manjeshwara Govinda Pai," he said.
"To commemorate Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's 125th birth anniversary, for the first time, International Children's Film Festival will be organised in Mangaluru and Children's Day will be celebrated on Novemeber 14 and 15 at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama," he informed.
He also said that 29 works worth Rs 35 crore have been taken up for the district under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP).
"Kannada Rajyotsava should not be limited to just one day. Kannada should be celebrated every day," Rai said, urging the people to strive for the preservation and promotion of Kannada and work for the development of Karnataka state.
Earlier, a procession jointly organized by DK district Kannada Sahitya Parishad and the district administration was taken out from Dr B R Ambedkar circle to Nehru Maidan. The procession reverberated with a festive mood as a number of vibrant tableaux depicted richness of Kannada language and culture of the land.
MLA J R Lobo, MLA Mohiudeen Bava, MLC Ivan D'Souza, IGP Amrit Paul, DC A B Ibrahim, SP Sharanappa, ZP CEO Srividya, mayor Jacintha Alfred, deputy mayor Purushotham, Kripa Alva and Pradeep Kumar Kalkura were present.