While the residents of Bengre, a beautiful estuary between the Phalguni (Gurupura) and the Arabian Sea are up in arms against the administration for the past several months for facilitating the construction of a golf course and a luxury resort, the district administration, and the district in-charge Minister, have been conspicuous by their silence.
In stake is about 135 acres of serene land located between the river and the sea on which in normal circumstances any construction is prohibited by the Coastal Regulation Zone norms. While a major portion of this land has trees, some portions have sand dunes.
Though the golf course project was initiated during the tenure of Yogish Bhat, BJP MLA, about five years ago, a change of guard at the helm of affairs did not stop the project from moving ahead. Many dwellings, which are unauthorised, have been denied civic amenities and regularisation of unauthorised occupation citing CRZ norms by government agencies. Surprisingly the very same CRZ norms were not applicable for the project, rue the residents. And Mangaluru already has a golf course near Pilikula, which is not patronised. There is no need for another golf course but for those keen on grabbing government land, the residents alleged.
Stumping the opposition
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party councillors have prevailed over the president of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) president P. Yuvaraj in getting the time extended for the question hour during the general body meeting of the CMC. So on June 29, it was surprising when Mr. Yuvaraj said that only one councillor could speak at a time during the question hour and he had his way.
When Mr. Yuvaraj declared the question hour closed after nearly one-and-a-half hours, BJP councillors pressed for one last question. Mr. Yuvaraj allowed them to ask the question. After they asked, he said that he would answer the question in the next general body meeting, and proceeded to the next item, stumping them.
ANIL KUMAR SASTRY and GANESH PRABHU
