Pics: Umesh Marpalli & Justin D’Silva

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Jul 8: MLA Raghupati Bhat on Saturday, July 7 said that MLAs from the coastal region are still hopeful of bringing some new projects to the region.

Addressing media at BJP office here Bhat said, “On July 12, a discussion on budget will be held. We, the MLA’s of the coastal areas are hoping that we will get some new projects to our districts. We had visited CM Kumaraswamy on July 3 and given our demands. Until then budget books were not printed. Former MLA Pramod Madhwaraj has no knowledge about the proceedings and says anything.

“We had demanded increase in the quantity of diesel given to fishermen from 1.5 lac kilo litre to 2 lac kilo litre per annum. The government itself has given permission to use 350hp engines. Pramod Madhwaraj in his 5 year term has not taken any effort to meet fishermen’s demands. Even the fishermen community had no confidence on Pramod Madhwaraj which resulted in his defeat. We hoped that at least we could get some package for tourism, but did not,” he said.

Responding to Pramod Madhwaraj’s comment about Malpe – Adi Udupi four lane road, Bhat said, “Within one year the road work will be finished. We have protested against the government for this injustice. But Pramod had not protested even once. Rs 2,025 crore project as said by Pramodh Madhwaraj is not true.

“Street light problem is here since a long time. I do not want to be like Pramod Madhwaraj handling three departments at a time. He had ‘inauguration fever’. He is still inaugurating the works for which money is given from MLA’s fund,” he said.

Earlier, newly elected opposition leader of Vidhan Parishad Kota Srinivas Poojary was felicitated at BJP Udupi office. This was his first visit to the office after he became the opposition leader in Vidhana Parishad. Speaking to the reporters, Kota Srinivas Poojary said, “I am grateful to MPs Nalin Kumar and Shobha Karandlanje and also to BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa for choosing me as an opposition leader. In the recently announced state budget, the three coastal districts did not get any new projects. CM Kumaraswamy has done injustice to our districts. JD(S) had promised to waive off farmers loan within 24 hours of coming to power. But it has failed to do so. As a leader of opposition, I will work for the party all over the state. I am thankful to everyone who supported me in getting to this position.

Lalaji Mendon, Kaup MLA, Dinakar Babu, zilla panchayat president, Sheela K Shetty, zilla panchayat vice-president, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, district BJP president, Uday Kumar Shetty, state executive member, Yashpal Suvarna and others were present.