Mangalore: Minister Jain lashes out at CM for supporting Niddodi power project
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 11: Minister Abhaychandra Jain, who lost his cool at the mention of the stand taken by the chief minister in support of the proposed Niddodi ultra mega thermal power plant in the region, asserted that this project will not be allowed to come up as long as he is alive.
“If the concerned are hell-bent on implementing the project, let them do so on my grave,” he challenged.
Jain was addressing a press meet here on Monday February 10. The response of the minister came when one of the reporters drew his attention to the vocal support being extended by the state chief minister to the power project.
"Is the chief minister aware of the ground realities here? Does he even know where Niddodi is situated? Those who are opposed to the project should not stop at visiting New Delhi and extracting promises from leaders. They should keep up the pressure through incessant efforts to force the concerned to step back from the project. The previous government had played politics with regard to these efforts. We will not follow their example, and I assure you that this project will never come up,” he stressed.
Jain assured the people that foundation stone for the work of widening of Mangalore-Moodbidri-Karkala road into a four lane road would be laid after the state budget is presented. He promised to lay a ring road in Moodbidri at a cost of five crore, adding that the PWD minister had concurred with this demand.
“Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, a sum of Rs 13.68 crore has been sanctioned for laying new roads in this assembly constituency. Tender process of these works has been completed. Under the scheme, roads between Angaragudde and Shimantoor via Yelathur, Kudripadavu and Sankalakariya via Patte Cross, as well as Bommalagudde and Mundudreguttu via Guddadka and Varnabettu will be erected. Further, roads in the region will be repaired at a cost of six crore rupees,” he explained.
He opined that the basis on which the previous government had made an announcement on carving out this taluk was not scientific. Jain said that the present state government is committed for the formation of several taluks including Moodbidri, duly setting aside grants for the same. He said that projects like Yatri Nivas at Jainpete and market in the town will be given impetus in the coming days.
Jain said that an industrial training institute will begin functioning at Kinnigoli from the coming academic year, duly adding that he had placed a demand before the government to set up government PU colleges in the town as well as Aliyoor. He said that the desirability of starting a first grade college in the town is also under consideration of the government.