Pramod Madhwaraj, Congress candidate from the Udupi Assembly constituency, released the Congress party’s vision document for the development of the constituency, here on Monday.
Addressing presspersons, Mr. Madhwaraj said he would, if elected, strive to provide round-the-clock water supply in Udupi and all the villages in the constituency by getting water from the Varahi and Sita.
Rainwater harvesting would be encouraged and efforts would be made to improve the ground water table in the constituency. The Swarna 2nd Stage Drinking Water Project would be upgraded and vented dams would be built in the constituency, he said.
Piped gas connection in Udupi and Brahmavar, widening of roads in Udupi, adequate payout and alternative land for those sacrificing their land for the widening project, building flyovers and underpasses, widening of rural roads and ring roads, developing tourism and adventure sports facilities in Malpe, developing St. Mary’s Island as an international tourism spot, converting Mannupalla Lake into a ‘nisargadhama’ are some of the promises made in the blueprint. Since power was being generated at the coal-based thermal plant of Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) at Yellur in Udupi district, Mr. Madhwaraj promised to exert pressure on the government to supply power from the plant first to Udupi district and then to the State grid.
Hegde joins party
Chittaranjandas Hegde, former president of Udupi City Municipal Council quit the BJP to join the Congress here on Monday.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Hegde said that he had been associated with the BJP since Jan Sangh days, but the party’s rule in the State during the last five years had left him completely disillusioned.
