Mangaluru: State Minister for Urban Development and Housing and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister U T Khader instructed the officials of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to complete the patchwork of the road, before Mangaluru Dasara.

Chairing the first quarterly Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting after the formation of new government, at Nethravathi Auditorium at Zilla Panchayat building in Urwa Store, he said, “As Mangaluru Dasara will be grandly celebrated between October 10 and 19, all the roads that lead to Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple should be beautified. The potholes should be filled and all patch works should be completed. As Nanthoor Junction and Mahaveera Circle fall under NHAI, officials should take all measures to complete the patchwork”, he said.

When the officials started giving reasons for the delay in executing the work, Khader strictly said, “Don’t give me excuses. Officers should be pro-active and take all measures to solve the problems. If there is any problem in undertaking the work, the officer concerned should inform the deputy commissioner of the district and set right it. I will be ready to rectify any problems if it comes to my knowledge”, he said.

Special permission needed to sell all tobacco products

When the issue of repeated incidents of peddling cannabis was raised at the meeting, Khader informed that there was a plan to put a ban on selling tobacco products at shops. “As most of the shops now are engaged in selling beedi, cigarettes and other tobacco products, younger generation including students are addicted to the same. Hence, it is the need of the hour to put a ban on such practice. If anyone wants to sell any tobacco products, they should secure a special permission from the local bodies like Gram Panchayat, Town Municipality or City Corporation. Such strong measures help to prevent students and younger generation from drug and tobacco addiction”, he said.

KDP meeting will be conducted in taluk centres too

Khader informed that the KDP meeting would be conducted in taluk centres too. “As there were several obstacles in undertaking the development works at the taluk level, the meeting will be undertaken in taluk centres. The main intention of the government is to set right the problems and provide good governance to the people”, he said.

‘In-depth study needed before proceeding with Pashchima Vahini project’

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that under the Paschima Vahini project, a total of 10 check-dams will come up in Dakshina Kannada district. “However, before going ahead with the project, there is a need to conduct an impact study on that. Hence, a meeting will be convened shortly inviting water experts, elected representatives and public,” he added.

Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat President Meenakshi Shanthigodu, Vice President Kasthuri Panja, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Selvamani R, Standing Committee President Janardhana Gowda, Commissioner of Police T R Suresh Kumar and Superintendent of Police Ravikanthe Gowda among others were present.