'Tourism a priority in Udupi'

Addressing the gathering after receiving the guard of honour during the 63rd Independence Day celebrations here on Saturday, he said construction works of the Koti Chennaiya Theme Park in Karkala has started at a cost of Rs 1 crore. The quantity of the subsidised diesel allotted for the fishermen in the district has been increased to 75,000 Kilo Litre. The four laning of the Kadiyali-Manipal stretch is being taken up in the current fiscal year. The new district administration complex in Manipal is being constructed at the cost of Rs 22 crore and is on the verge of completion. By January 2010, the complex will be open for public service, he said.

Tourism development

Tourism is another priority sector in the district. Plenty of development projects are being introduced. A sum of Rs 22 lakh has been earmarked for the development of Malpe shore. The construction of the harbour at St Mary’s Island is taken up at a cost of Rs 1 core. A sum of Rs 22 lakh has been earmarked to develop the Kaup and Marvanthe shore. Udupi Zilla Panchayath has received as much as Rs 171 crore funds under the planning programme.

Developmental projects

A sum of Rs 52.61 crore has been earmarked for the various development projects under planning programmes. Rs 5 crore under the Rural Roads and Bridges programme and Rs 12 crore under 3rd Finance Commission has been allotted for the repair works of the stretches in the rural areas. A sum of Rs 30 crore proposal has been sent to the government under the Gram Sadak Yojana and plans are chalked out for the development of the 89 km stretch. Rs 25 crore has been earmarked for the programmes taken up under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in the district.

A sum of Rs 24 crore has been sanctioned to the beneficiaries of the first phase of the Suvarna Gramodaya Yojane, of which 17 crore has been utilised for the purpose till date. A sum of Rs 3.5 crore has been earmarked for the small irrigation projects development constructions under the Western Ghats development programme.

Measures have been taken to introduce employment opportunities in the agricultural sector under National Employment Guarantee Programme. A mobile hospital is introduced in the Amasebailu, the naxal infected area. Primary Health centres have been set up in Edu and Kandlur.

As many as 5,800 beneficiaries have been identified under the Housing programme in the district. About 11,896 beneficiaries have been identified under Bhagyalaxmi yojane, Dr Acharya informed.

Pre Metric Hostels for OBCs and Minorities have been set up in Muniyalu. Pre-University English medium Morarji Desai College has been sanctioned for OBC students. Rs 4.34 crore has been allotted under all round development of the Koraga community. As many as 23,168 applicants have received the benefits of the Sandhya Suraksha Yojane in the district, he informed.