SDPI demands Rs 3000 crore in Karnataka's budget for promoting tourism along state's coastline

'Regional development should be prioritised to ensure balanced growth across all districts. Unfortunately, successive governments have hesitated to introduce new schemes for Dakshina Kannada', SDPI district president Anwar Sadath said.

Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district unit of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has urged the state government to announce a government medical college, a High Court bench, an IT Park, a minimum support price for arecanut and the establishment of arecanut research centre in the district in the upcoming budget.

Speaking to mediapersons, SDPI district president Anwar Sadath S said that while presenting the budget, adequate funds must be allocated to all departments including new welfare schemes, employment generation, education, healthcare, and social welfare.

Additionally, regional development should be prioritised to ensure balanced growth across all districts. Unfortunately, successive governments have hesitated to introduce new schemes for Dakshina Kannada. Most educational institutions, hospitals, and companies in the district are privately owned. Despite being one of the highest tax-paying districts in the state, the government’s reluctance to provide adequate public facilities and schemes here is unacceptable, he said.

A government medical college and a super-specialty hospital must be established in DK along with a branch of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mangaluru. A government law college should be set up to enhance legal education opportunities. A housing layout should be set up for the maulvis and ustads serving in mosques and madrasas, he said.

Stressing the need for exploring tourism potential, Sadath said that Idya, Bengre, Tannirbhavi, Panambur, Someshwar, and Ullal beaches should be developed with facilities like walking tracks, amusement parks, and recreational zones. The tourism department should build affordable guesthouses to attract visitors. A budget of at least Rs 3,000 crore must be allocated in the upcoming state budget to develop coastal tourism.

Further, he urged the government to announce Puttur as a district in the budget. He also urged that the long pending demands of a Beary Development Corporation and a Beary Bhavana should be addressed.

To promote paddy cultivation, a special financial package offering Rs two lakh per acre in the form of financial assistance should be announced. The budget should also announce a High Court bench. As arecanut farming in the region has been severely affected by yellow leaf disease and other issues, the government must announce a minimum support price for arecanut and establish a dedicated research centre in the coastal region to help farmers tackle these challenges, he said.