Campco founder president Varanasi Subraya Bhat dies at 87

December 27, 2013

Bantwal, Dec 27: Varanasi Subraya Bhat, founder president of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd. (CAMPCO) passed away at his residence in Adyanadka in Bantwal taluk due to age-related deceases on Friday morning at around 4 p.m.

He was 87. Bhat is survived by two sons and two daughters.

The Campco factory which was set up in 1973 at Puttur was the brainchild of Mr Bhat, who was a cooperative leader.

The Campco's chocolate factory at Puttur is South India's only such factory and the country's second chocolate factory in the cooperative sector. The other chocolate factory belonging to Amul (Anand Milk Union Ltd.) was in Gujarat.

Campco was set up when cocoa growers in this coastal belt were in panic after the principle buyer of cocoa, which was a private company, suddenly stopped buying cocoa during the peak cocoa season citing slump in international cocoa price.

It forced the Campco to enter the cocoa market. With the financial assistance from the Union and State governments, the Campco set up the chocolate factory for creating market for cocoa. The then President of India Giani Zail Singh inaugurated the factory on September 1, 1986.

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Puttur's Healthcare Dream Cleared: State Finance Gives Nod for 300-Bed Hospital

News Network

December 2,2025

Puttur: The long-cherished dream of a government medical college in Puttur has moved a decisive step closer to reality, with the Karnataka State Finance Department granting its official approval for the construction of a new 300-bed hospital.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai announced the crucial development to reporters on Monday, confirming that the official communication from the finance department was issued on November 27. This 300-bed facility is intended to be the cornerstone for the establishment of the government medical college, a project announced in the state budget.

Fast-Track Implementation

The MLA outlined an aggressive timeline for the project:

• A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the hospital is expected to be ready within 45 days.

• The tender process for the construction will be completed within two months.

Following the completion of the tender process, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the project.

"Setting up a medical college in Puttur is a historical decision by the Congress government in Karnataka," Rai stated. The project has an estimated budget allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the medical college.

Focus on Medical Education Department

The MLA highlighted a key strategic move: requesting the government to implement the hospital construction through the Medical Education Department instead of the Health and Family Welfare Department. This is intended to streamline the entire process of establishing the full medical college, ensuring the facilities—including labs, operation theatres, and other necessary infrastructure—adhere to the strict guidelines set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). The proposed site for the project is in Bannur.

Rai also took the opportunity to address political criticism, stating that the government has fulfilled its promise despite "apprehensions" and "mocking and criticising" from opposition parties who had failed to take similar initiatives when they were in power. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has kept his word," he added.

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