Indira Canteen inaugurated in Chikkamagaluru

District In-charge Minister K J George inaugurated Indira canteen near KSRTC bus stand in the city on Thursday.

The leaders, along with general public tasted ‘Chow Chow Bath’ and other delicacies at the canteen.

On the occasion, MLC S L Bhojegowda directed the contractors of the canteen to give keen attention to hygiene in the canteen.

Breakfast at the Indira canteen is priced at Rs 5 and the people can avail meals at Rs 10. Meals sufficient for 500 people will be prepared in a day. Breakfast, afternoon meals and dinner are available at 7 am 12.30 pm and 7.30 pm respectively.

Nagaraju, a coffee plantation worker said the food available at Indira canteen is quite affordable.

MLA C T Ravi, speaking to reporters, said that the minister has directed to utilise SFC grants of CMC towards Indira Canteen, which is not right. “The government has to release separate grants for Indira canteen and must make separate arrangements for the supervision of the canteen. I have already submitted a memorandum to the minister concerned in this
regard.”

He pointed out that in Bengaluru, huge bills are submitted by Indira canteen, for the food provided on the day of the bandh. This provides room for suspicion and there is a need to implement a supervising system for the management of Indira Canteens, he said.

“Protocol has been violated during the inauguration of Indira canteen, by not inviting the presidents and vice presidents of the Zilla and Taluk Panchayats. The officials must tender an apology for their fault”, Ravi said.

Ravi stated that Rs 25 crore out of Rs 30 crore under Nagarothana project is reserved for roadworks, which will be taken after the pipeline works, related to Amrit project, in the city. A demand will be placed before the chief minister if there is an additional need for funds, he said.

He urged the government to release funds for the engineering college in the district, sanctioned in 2012-13.

Ravi questioned the relevance of sanctioning another engineering college in Holenarasipura taluk in Hassan district and releasing Rs 58 crore while there is already one government and three private engineering colleges. More than 2,000 seats in these colleges are lying vacant while Chikkamagaluru district has been neglected for political reasons, he
added.