Send skywalk proposal to Centre: Naik

Tannirbhavi project files stuck between departments

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Sripad Y Naik, (partially seen third right) Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (Independent Charge) after inaugurating Pilikula Reginal Science centre going through some of the hands on science entertainment centre being explained by A.B.Ibrahim, (right) Deputy Commissioner in Mangalore on Wednesday 1st October 2014. S.R.Patil, ( third left) Minister IT, BT, Science & Technology, is seen. Photo: R. Eswarraj

In an effort to break the deadlock over the much-delayed Tannirbhavi skywalk (hanging bridge), Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Culture and Tourism Shripad Naik on Wednesday asked the State government to forward the proposal to the Union government to make it a reality.

The Rs. 12-crore, 410m-long skywalk across the Gurupura has been stuck with both the State Tourism and Public Works Department passing the file to each other.

Though the foundation stone has been laid three times since 2011 — including by two different BJP Chief Ministers — the work has been suspended after the erection of a few piers.

With the local political representatives bringing up the matter, Mr. Naik urged State ministers B. Ramanath Rai and S.R. Patil to send the project details to the Union government. “I will ensure it is sanctioned as soon as possible,” he said, during the inauguration of the Regional Science Centre at Pilikula here.

The inaugurated centre is spread over 12 acres of land, and has exhibits on Biodiversity and Emerging Technology, Fun Science Gallery, Outdoor Science Park, state-of-art Amphitheatre, among others.

“Science needs to be made interesting and the galleries and exhibitions here will go a long way in achieving that,” said Mr. Naik.

Eradicating blind faith

Inaugurating the science centre, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke on the importance of science and technology in the 21 century, saying that development was impossible without science.

“While on one hand science is progressing, on the other, belief in blind faith and superstitions are also rising. Dakshina Kannada has achieved 100 per cent literacy; but we have to ask what the rate of scientific literacy is here. Let the science centre here cut down on superstitions,” he said.

He said centres such as this should encourage children to “question and understand” a topic. Citing the “power of science” through the success of ISRO’s Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission, Mr. Siddharamaiah urged more students to pursue studies on basic sciences.

The Chief Minister added that the State government would extend all support to science learning and would aim to establish centres like this all over the State.