“There is a need to talk out the strategy to mobilise investment in Dakshina Kannada,” said KPTCL Managing Director and all Escoms and State Secretary in-charge of Dakshina Kannada District Bharatlal Meena.  Speaking in an interactive meeting on “Taking Dakshina Kannada forward” at Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Friday, he said that the district has many firsts to its credit, but a lot more needs to be done. “We have to educate people on what is to be done, and create opportunities for the next generation,” said Mr Meena and added that only people with multiple skills can survive in any industry now a days. 
   DC M Maheshwara Rao invited Mr Meena’s attention to the delay in Hassan- Mangalore passenger rail service and the need to capitalise on the tourism potential of Dakshina Kannada district. He also urged the co-operation of the industry in power management.
Memorandum
   KCCI President Capt John Prasad Menezes submitted a memorandum to Mr Meena that calls for his attention on various issues related to law and order, tourism, sports, fishing, airport, building code, skills development, utilisation of rivers, power, housing, immigration and many others. Mr Meena promised to consider the matters seriously.
   In the interactive session that followed several issues like, difficulty to get gas connection, development of fishing harbour, condition of roads, footpaths and other basic facilities were discussed. 
   Mr Meena, along with the DC and Capt Menezes answered the queries. KCCI Vice President Kumble Narasimha Prabhu, Honorary Secretaries Shekhar Pujari, Srinivas Kamath and Honorary Treasurer Ahmed Bava were present on the occasion. 

ROADS WILL BE BETTER: DC
   The roads in the district will not be in as bad a condition this year as it was last year, promised Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwara Rao responding to a query put forth during the interactive meeting held at KCCI.
   He said that the potholes that could be patched up have been done and even the problems on NH-17 are more or less solved, he said and added that the only problem will be regarding the width of the roads in some places due to on-going developmental works. Even in the Shiradi Ghat section, the emergency repairs have been done, even while the builders are not ready to take up the work, he said.