Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Aug 29: District in-charge minister U T Khader laid foundation stone and inaugurated several development works worth Rs 47,241.10 lacs under Smart City project, AMRUTH scheme and ADB funded project within the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits on Wednesday, August 29.
The Town Hall was named after social reformer Kudmul Ranga Rao on this occasion.
Addressing the gathering U T Khader said, "Town Hall is being named after Kudmul Ranga Rao. This had to be done long before. Kudmul Ranga Rao was concerned about people and worked for the upliftment of Dalits. He also established ‘Depressed Classes Mission’ for providing education, better housing, drinking water and social empowerment of the backward classes by guarding them against exploitation by upper classes,”
"Young generation should know his contributions and a strong message should be spread about the great personality,” he added.
“Today foundation stone was laid for several development works today and work should take place in greater speed and should finish before stipulated time. In the coming days, we are also making Mangaluru City Corporation paperless with automation and single window system facilities,” he informed.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Town Hall is named after Kudmul Ranga Rao by the support of ruling and opposition parties. It was long pending demand which was fulfilled today with the support of all. Meanwhile foundation stone was laid for many development works which shows that the central government schemes are successfully implemented and there is no politics when it comes to development,”
Total of 40 works have been taken up, in which about 13 works worth Rs 11.55 crore were inaugurated today while foundation stone were laid for 27 works.
Chief whip of MCC Shashidhar Hegde welcomed the gathering. Manohar Prasad compered the programme.
MLA South Vedavyas Kamath, Mayor Bhaskar Moily, MCC commissioner Mohammed Nazir, Corporator Naveen D’Souza and others were present.
About Kudmul Ranga Rao Bhavan
A decision to rename the Town Hall was taken in 2014. Akhil Bharat Mundala Yuva Vedike had submitted a memorandum at the first-ever Mundala get-together in that year, in the presence of district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, health minister, U T Khader, and MLAs, J R Lobo and Moideen Bava, seeking to rename the government hospital after Ranga Rao. Although the dignitaries endorsed this demand, the then deputy commissioner, Ibrahim, said that this move would encounter administrative problems. Therefore he said that Mangala Auditorium in the city corporation building can be renamed. Later, with the support of the then chief whip of the city corporation, Shashidhar Hegde and mayor, Harinath, a scheme to rename Town Hall as Kudmul Ranga Rao Bhavan was finalized.
Kudmul Ranga Rao Bhavan has been thoroughly renovated and equipped with various facilities. Although there are complaints about the charges being high after the renovation, another hall has been built by the side of the town hall now, which can serve as dining hall or separate hall for medium-sized functions.