Permanent coastal schemes, Tulu status to be taken up

Bengaluru: V Sunil Kumar, the BJP MLA for Karkala and a former minister, called on Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday for an extended conversation about the full development of his constituency and about readiness for the historic Mahamastakabhisheka of Sri Gommateshwara Swamy.

That twelve-yearly ceremony will occupy ten days beginning 18 February 2027, when pilgrims and visitors from India and other countries are expected in large numbers; a special grant for the infrastructure those crowds will need was therefore requested.

Progress on existing works inside the Karkala Assembly segment, release of money still outstanding, and administrative approval for newly proposed schemes were examined in detail. With the state cabinet fixed for Mangaluru on 18 September 2026, the MLA asked that the meeting be used to design permanent programmes that serve the comprehensive and lasting development of the coastal districts.

Lengthy discussion also covered proclamation of Tulu as the state’s second official language and the placement before the cabinet of projects covering tourism, Kambala, basic infrastructure, jobs and irrigation in the coastal belt, including Karkala, along with the funds and sanctions those projects require.

A release from Vikas Janaseva Office, Karkala, quoted Sunil Kumar as saying he trusts the state government to answer adequately the plans needed for Karkala’s overall growth.

Among the concrete demands set before the Chief Minister were extra money for roads inside the municipality and in rural pockets, higher grants for coastal Kambala meets, development of Karkala Parashurama Theme Park and related tourism, work on historic Ramasamudra lake and park, and improvement of Varanga Chaturmukha lake Basadi.

The list continued with Koodlu Falls at Nadpalu in Hebri taluk, the road from Hiriyadka through Karkala, Joduraste, Miyyaru and Bajagoli up to Guruvaayanakere, and a sculpture-and-furniture hub meant to open self-employment for local youth.

Hebri Community Health Centre was proposed for elevation to a 100-bed taluk hospital, a new building was sought for Karkala Nursing College, the Karkala Textile Park project was pressed for further development, and a lift-irrigation work near Ikkoddu in Belanje village of Hebri taluk was added. A special grant tied specifically to infrastructure for the Mahamastakabhisheka completed the set of major requests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Hans India