District- in- charge Minister who is also Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao receives guard of honour during Kannada Rajyotsava held at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru on Saturday.
Credit: DH Photo
Mangaluru: District in charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the government has plans to construct a ring road from Talapady to Surathkal.
Delivering 70th Kannada Rajyotsava address at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru, he said the ring road is being planned to ease traffic congestion in the city and on national highways.
He said the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi had emphasised the importance of respecting one’s mother tongue. Likewise, national poet Kuvempu described Karnataka as a “garden of peace for all people.”
"We must not sacrifice Kannada language for any reason. While linguistic fanaticism should be avoided, a deep love for Kannada is essential. Only with pride and affection can we preserve and promote the language. Those who do not know Kannada should be encouraged to learn it,” he said.
He added that everyone living in Karnataka, irrespective of religion, language, or region, is a Kannadiga.
“The people of Karnataka are known for coexistence and tolerance. We must remain committed to preserving our land’s heritage, history, and culture. By rising above caste and religious divisions and fostering fraternity among all communities, we can maintain harmony and collectively lead the district towards development,” he said.
The Minister said the Karnataka government is committed to bringing administration closer to the people, with a special focus on the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes, minorities, women, farmers, and the economically weaker sections, including agricultural labourers.
Under the Chief Minister’s Amruth Nagarothana (Phase IV) programme, Rs 110 crore has been sanctioned for 13 urban local bodies in Dakshina Kannada, with 144 works completed so far. “There are plans to start seven more Indira Canteens in the district, in addition to the 19 already functioning,” he added.
The Minister said to protect the left bank of the Nethravathi River, the Minor Irrigation Department is implementing a Rs 40 crore project from Pavoor to Boliyaru in Ullal taluk. The government has also approved 18 schools in Dakshina Kannada to be upgraded as Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) — integrated campuses providing high-quality education from nursery to pre-university level. Plans are underway to extend the KPS model to more schools in the district.
For the development and maintenance of Panambur and Tannirbhavi beaches, projects under the public-private partnership model have been approved. Tenders have also been invited for the construction of the long-awaited Ranga Mandira in Mangaluru, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the district’s art and literary enthusiasts, Dinesh Gundu Rao added.
On the occasion, the Dakshina Kannada District Sammans were presented to 95 individuals and various organisations. The Dakshina Kannada Scouts and Guides team won first place in the march past, while students from various schools and colleges presented cultural performances.