The Department of Science and Technology is planning to start planetariums in all the city corporations in the State and has sent a proposal to the Cabinet for its approval.
Disclosing this to presspersons on Friday, Science and Technology Minister Anand Asnotikar said that the foundation stone would be laid for the planetarium at the Science Centre at Pilikula off Mangalore. It would cost Rs. 24 crore of which Rs.11 crore would go towards the building and the remaining on equipment. Another planetarium was being constructed at Dharwad at a cost of Rs. 12 crore, he said.
Mr. Asnotikar said planetariums would come up in Mysore, Davangere, Gulbarga, Mangalore, Bellary and Belgaum in due course.
He said fisheries jetties would be developed at Malpe and Udupi at a cost of Rs.100 crore each and boatmen would get a parking harbour. One lakh fishermen would be given lifejackets, houses and free boats for which Rs. 4 crore had been set aside in the budget.
On the medical college controversy, Mr. Asnotikar said the proposal to have a college in Karwar Assembly Constituency was on the agenda of the Cabinet meeting, but at the last moment it was dropped when Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri also proposed a medical college in Sirsi Assembly Constituency.
He said most patients in Karwar go to Goa for treatment whereas smaller districts like Gadag and Koppal had medical colleges.
