Fill up potholes before Dasara: Khader

District In-charge Minister U T Khader on Wednesday directed the city corporation and national highway officials to carry out patchwork and fill up all potholes, particularly near Nanthoor Junction before the start of Mangaluru Dasara.

"The well-maintained street lights and motorable roads will create a good impression about the city among lakhs of tourists visiting Mangaluru during the Dasara," Khader stressed while presiding over the coalition government’s first Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) review meeting organised at Netravathi Hall in Dakshina Kannada Zilla panchayat premises.

The minister was informed that out of the total 422 revenue villages, 409 villages had land identified for Hindu crematoriums. "Nine villages do not have land for Hindu crematorium. But due to their proximity to the city corporation, these villages do not need land for crematoriums,’’ he added.

Khader also said that awareness should be created on two per cent concession facility available in fair shops. After the biometric system was introduced, the fair price shops were given two per cent concession with an understanding that elderly people or people with leprosy cannot register their thumb in the biometric system, he added.

Khader said he is considering a proposal on making vendors selling cigarettes and other tobacco-related products to obtain a licence from the corporation or any local urban body.

The licencing system is being considered with the objective that those who sell chocolates should also not sell cigarettes, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S, Mangaluru Commissioner of Police T R Suresh and others were present in the meeting.