Abbakka Utsav 2016 to get underway from tomorrow

May 6, 2016

Mangaluru, May 6: Veerarani Abbakka Utsav 2016 will be held from May 7 at the Unity Hall, Thokkottu, said U T Khader, minister for health and family welfare here on Thursday. Addressing mediapersons, Khader said that the two-day ustav will begin with a cultural procession. Khader will inaugurate the procession and K Abhayachandra, minister of youth empowerment, sports and fisheries will hoist the flag.

The main programme will be inaugurated by Umashree, Kannada and culture, women and child welfare minister. Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP will preside. On the occasion prizes will be distributed to the winners of Rani Abbakka Trophy and Rani Abbakka Kala Vaibhav competitions held on May 1.

On May 8, at 10am session will be held on the theme 'Mahile-baduku mattu samasyegalu and it will be presided by Bharati Hegde, news editor of Vijayavani daily. It will be followed by essay presentation by Merlin Martis titled 'Samajika Sandarbadali Mahile'. Around 2.30am, a multi-lingual poetry meet will be held and it is presided by Catherine Rodrigues.

Senior writer B M Rohini will be conferred with 'Veerarani Abbakka Award' and international athlete Lalitha Jayaram and sandalwood actor Harini will be awarded with 'Rani Abbakka Puraskar' during the valedictory ceremony. Chief minister Siddaramaiah is expected to present the awards, he said.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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