Pics: Suvarna Brahmavar/Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (HB)

Mangaluru, Mar 15: The budget presented by chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday March 15 has brought some good news to the coastal districts.

The long-awaited dream of taluk status for Moodbidri, Kadaba, Kaup, Brahamavar and Byndoor moved closer to reality with the CM announcing the creation of 49 new taluks in 21 districts of the state.

It may be recalled that just before its term ended in 2013, the then BJP government under Jagadish Shettar had announced formation of 43 taluks in the annual budget, but the move was kept on hold by the Siddaramaiah government which came to power two months later citing financial reasons.

One wonders, with the Assembly elections coming up next year, whether the announcement would turn into action or remain just on paper.

Nevertheless, the announcement has brought much ray of hope to those fighting for taluk status for the respective towns for years. Over the last few months, the demand for formation of Kaup taluk had gained momentum, with Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake himself joining the chorus.

"Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah presented the 12th budget of Rs 1.86 lac crore in Bengaluru. This budget is special because a detailed consideration was given to all sectors," said district in-charge and minister for sports and youth services Pramod Madhwaraj

"The CM has allotted Rs 100 crore for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. He has given priority for drinking water problems, irrigation, sports, health, problems faced by farmers and many others. He has also increased the fund amounts. This year’s budget is pro-development and favourable to poor," he said.

"In the budget, the financial package for sports department was doubled from Rs 145 crore to Rs 285 crores. Now Udupi has been split in to three taluks. It is a good move and will help in better administration," he added.

Welcoming the move to announce new taluks, Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "Kaup is more suitable for taluk panchayat and people have supported the proposal a lot. As many as 28 different offices will come in Kaup related to taluk panchayat, including a Mini Vidhana Soudha. There is are a lot of opportunities available for development. We had created awareness among public on making Kaup a taluk. The state budget has met the people’s expectations and is a suitable budget for the Karnataka state."

Celebrations in Kaup and Brahmavar

Satish Poojary Barkur, president, Brahmavar Taluk Horata Samiti said, "Finally, the long-pending demand of forming Bramhavar Taluk has been fulfilled after much struggle. In 2013, total 43 taluks had been announced in the budget. Brahamavar lost many opportunities because of withholding the decision of forming a taluk. It was a four-decade-long demand. Nearly Rs 8 crores budget has been announced for each taluk ni this budget. The taluk status would be a base for over all development of Brahmavar, because it is the fastest growing city after Udupi."

Bhujanga Shetty, former zilla panchayat member said, "Yes, it is commendable. Brahmavar has all the basic infrastructure and features to become a taluk. The committees in 1975 and 1986 headed respectively by M Vasudeva Rao and Hundekar, as well as the Hundekar committee in 1986, which went into the desirability of forming Brahmavar taluk, had strongly supported the idea. Finally chief minister Siddaramaiah government took a favourable decision."

Nityananda Shetty, block Congress president, Brahmavar, said, "The state budget is favourable to all classes of the society. CM Siddaramaiah has taken this decision with social commitment and political maturity. Brahmavar has all the material features to become a taluk and a few new offices related to taluk panchayat will also come up in the city."

Nityanada B R, president, Varamballi gram panchayat said, "A 13-acre plot has been reserved in Varamballi gram panchayat to build Brahmavar taluk panchayat office. On behalf of the people of Brahmavar, I would like to thank the district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj and revenue minister Kagodu Thimmama, for their concern and hard work."

Deviprasad Shetty, president, Belapu gram panchayat, said, "The Kaup taluk Horata samiti was formed just six months ago. The complete credit goes to MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake. He is a true leader and walked his talk. The opposition party does not have any words to criticise. In totalality, it is a historical day."

In Byndoor, the announcement was met with joy as well as apprehension. "We welcome the creation of new taluk, but it should not be confined to announcement. The administrative machinery should work in a better and efficient way," opined JD(S) district minority cell president Mansoor Ibrahim.

"Grants should be properly used. All plans should be ably implemented. There should be transparent administration. Comprehensive development of Byndoor is a must," said former Byndoor BJP president B M M Sukumar Shetty.

Zilla panchayat member Shankara Poojary said, "This has been a long-time demand. All measures should be taken to make the announcement a reality as soon as possible. People should not be required to travel to distant Kundapur for official work. People's problems should be solved in an efficient way."

Other announcements for DK and Udupi

Among the other announcements specific for the twin coastal districts, was the setting up of the desalination plant in Mangaluru on PPP model to convert seawater into potable water. This is expected to solve drinking water problems in the district. The project gains significance in the wake of Yettinahole project, specially given the fact that Dakshina Kannada has been declared drought-hit.

There was only disappointment for the coastal district of DK as far as the controversial Yettinahole project was concerned. The CM made no remarks except to state that it was well under progress and would be completed, besides mentioning that 8 weir works have been taken up and remaining 6 works are in progress at different stages. Rising main of 34 km has been completed and remaining works are in progress.

Other announcements included setting up of Beary Study Center in Mangaluru University, a welcome move to preserve and promote Beary literature and language.

Two other key announcements were related to the district Wenlock hospital - upgradation at a cost of Rs 10 crore and setting up of Regional Advanced Children Health Institute in the hospital, on the lines of Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Bengaluru at a cost of Rs 3 crore to provide additional health facilities to the children of Mangaluru and the surrounding areas.

Mangaluru will also get a Haj Bhavan at a cost of Rs 10 crore, a promise that Siddaramaiah had made in 2013 too.

Being in line to become a Smart City, Mangaluru along with five other cities in Karnataka would be getting Rs 800 crore and works are expected to begin this year.

In a bid to boost tourism, the CM announced an annual national surfing festival in Sasihitlu beach, Mangaluru from this year.

The CM also announced that the state-of-the-art planetarium at Pilikula Regional Science Centre, built at an estimated cost of Rs 35.69 crore, will be operational before December this year.

Another important announcement was the development of 2.5 kms road on Mangaluru-Athradi state highway connecting Mangalore International Airport at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

Moreover, the CM said that his government has submitted a proposal to the government of India for the expansion of Mangaluru airport including acquisition of 286 acres of land; and that necessary facilities will be provided by the state government.

Bantwal will get an RTO of its own, which will definitely benefit the locals.

The CM also announced Rs 5 crore for the extension of jetty up to 75 metres in Malpe and Mangaluru fishing harbours for safe landing of boats, in order to handle congestion due to increase in number of boats at these fishing harbours.

Sports in Udupi is set to get a boost with establishment of a swimming academy.

Another announcement was the increase in electricity subsidy to Rs 1.75 per unit and to Rs 3.50 lac per plant/annum, for 200 ice plants and 35 cold storages in 3 coastal districts at Rs 6 crore.

Construction of vented dams under 'Paschima Vahini' project at a cost of Rs 100 crore was also announced.

Mangaluru district court complex will have a grid-connected solar rooftop on PPP model.