Chief Minster Jagadish Shettar landed in Mangalore at 10.30 a.m. on Monday, and before his take off at 3 p.m., he cut ribbons for nearly 250 projects. Of the projects inaugurated, one included an unfinished running-behind-the-schedule synthetic track in Mangala Stadium.
He also “inaugurated” the biogas power generation plant in Urwa Market, functioning since February 2012; Fire Station in Pandeshwar, functioning for the last six months; and Heritage Village in Pilikula, functioning for nearly two years.
The Election Commission of India has indicated that the elections to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly may be announced shortly. Previous elections were held in May 2008.
The 160 cubic meter biogas produced at the biomethantion plant in Urwa Market was being used as a fuel for the generator that has been producing 240 units of power every day. This power is being used to light up the Urwa Market area since November 2012.
The 400-meter synthetic track at the Mangala Stadium is expected to be completed only by May. President of Dakshina Kannada Athletic Association Secretary Arun V. Rao said several portions of the track continued to be uneven. One part of the track has come up over a drain. “Athletes will have the risk of injury running on uneven surface. Still lot of work needs to be done to get the necessary recognition from the national body,” Mr. Rao said. But that did not prevent Mr. Shettar and his colleagues from jogging on the tracks after inaugurating it.
He also laid foundation stone for a new building for Government First Grade College for Women, Balmatta, which is now running from a school premises for more than five years.
Missing inauguration
The one project that officials were awaiting for was conspicuously missing from the ribbon-cutting list. That is the three-storied Lokayukta police office in Urwa Store — ready since November last year. “It will take a few more days to inaugurate it,” Additional Director General of Police (Lokayukta) Satyanarayana Rao told The Hindu from Bangalore. The Dakshina Kannada Lokayukta Police has been functioning in a crammed office located within the premises of the office of Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner.
Road projects
Mr. Shettar’s programmes started with the inauguration of pending work related to widening the 6-km-long stretch between Karnataka Polytechnic Junction and Maravoor Bridge, near the Mangalore Airport.
He also launched projects related to 125 roads being taken up at a cost of Rs. 8 crore out of special grants given to MLA Krishna Palemar.
He launched 110 road projects taken up in the area coming under Deputy Speaker and MLA N. Yogish Bhat. No clear details were made to the media about the road works.
Mr. Shettar also inaugurated projects related to 3-D planetarium that is proposed at Pilikula Nisargadhama. The events were grouped and held at four venues.
