An Indira Canteen will be opened at Ullal on March 23. It will be the fifth in Mangaluru, after those at Surathkal, Kavoor, Urwa Stores, and Hampankatta.
U.T. Khader, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, told reporters on Thursday that customers would soon be able to use electronic weighing machines to confirm they are being served the right quantity of food.
He said instructions have been given to treat physically challenged people, senior citizens, and single women on priority when food coupons are distributed. The onus of ensuring power supply, cleanliness and drinking water will be on the local bodies, he said.
Mr. Khader, who represents Mangaluru in the Legislative Assembly, spoke of the possibility of 10 to 15 villages in his constituency facing drinking water problems this summer. The local bodies have been instructed to supply water in tankers for up to a week without approval from higher-ups, he said.
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has been requested to sanction ₹30 lakh to ₹50 lakh to address water issues in the summer. The fund is yet to be sanctioned.
