Meenakshi Shantigodu elected Dakshina Kannada ZP chief, Kasturi Panja deputy

April 28, 2016

Mangaluru, Apr 28: Meenakshi Shantigodu and Kasturi Panja of Bharatiya Janata Party have been elected the president and vice-president of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat respectively on Thursday.

Elections to the zilla panchayats across the state including Dakshina Kannada were held in February this year. While Congress member Shekar Kukkedi was in fray for the president's post, Anitha Hemanath Shetty of the party contested for the post of vice-president.

The BJP candidates defeated their Congress counter parts by bagging 21 votes each in the zilla panchayat, which has a strength of 36 members. Congress candidates bagged 15 votes each.

The post of the president was reserved for SC/ST candidates while the vice-president post was for general category. The election officer AM Kunjappa conducted the election process and announced the result. The term of the newly elected president and vice-president will end in 20 months.

Priority for water'

Speaking to reporters after her victory, the new Zilla Panchayat president said that more emphasis will be given to provide drinking water to villages in the district.

“Basic facilities will be provided and roads will be developed in rural areas. Efforts will be made to implement all government schemes in the district effectively,” she promised adding that problems of all sections of the society including members of the backward communities and Dalits will be solved through a transparent administration.

Comments

congo bjp jai.

Congratulation to newly elected Zp chief and Deputy.

Congratulations

all the best to both of you, development of your area should be prime priority for u.

The post of the president was reserved for SC/ST candidates ? we common people are not human's ?

all the best, let me c in 20 months what development u can make.

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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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