MCC to present U S Mallya Gaurava Prashasti

Remembering the contributions of Ullal Srinivas Mallya to the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, the MCC will present U S Mallya Gaurava Prashasti on November 21. Mallya is known as the architect of Dakshina Kannada.

Mayor Kavitha Sanil said on Saturday, the award will carry a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a citation, the awardee will be felicitated in a ceremony. A committee, with Hampi Kannada University former VC Dr B A Viveka Rai, Syndicate Bank former chairperson Dr N K Tingalaya, Kannur/Calicut University former VC Dr Abdul Rehman, School of Social Work retired professor Prof Rita Noronha and journalist Manohar Prasad has been constituted to select an achiever for the award. The committee will include Mayor, Opposition Leader and Chief Whip.

The Srinivas Mallya Kreeda Prashasti, the Srinivas Mallya Shikshana Prashasti and the Srinivas Mallya Kala Prashasti will be conferred and the awards will carry cash prizes of Rs 50,000 each. The panel will meet next week, to finalise the criteria for the award.

Sanil said that Mallya was a visionary who had helped transform the undivided Dakshina Kannada district into a developed district. It was his vision that saw the construction of the New Mangalore Port, the airport, the NH 66 (formerly 17) and also the Karnataka Regional Engineering College (upgraded into NIT-K).

She called it her dream to remember the contributions of Mallya by conferring an award in his name. “I am confident the future mayors will continue the award. The agenda of the award will be placed before the Council for approval. I am confident that all the 60 councillors will support me. I want this award to be apolitical,” she stated.

She said that November 21 is the birth anniversary of U S Mallya and the same day be observed as Mangaluru City Corporation Day as well, wherein cultural programmes will be organised by the corporators and MCC employees.

Town Hall repair

To a query on complaints on the facilities at the Town Hall, the mayor said that about 90% of the work on lights, acoustic system and fans have been rectified. “A tender has been invited for the purchase of a generator. The Town Hall already has one generator and another would be procured in case of emergency,” she assured.