Council polls: Straight fight between Congress and BJP in Uttara Kannada

December 24, 2015

Karwar, Dec 24: It is a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP in the Legislative Council election from the local bodies constituencies in Uttara Kannada district. Though there are five candidates in the fray, the fight is mainly between the Congress and the BJP.

Though dissident candidate Ravindra Naik is giving a tough fight to Congress candidate S.L. Gotnekar, the Congress is hoping a victory for its nominee.

There are 3,175 votes, with more than 2,000 of them from 230 gram panchayats in the district.

However, Mr. Ravindra Naik is also confident of his victory. He says that his direct rival in the election is Mr. Gotnekar, who, according to Mr. Naik, has never been in touch with the people.

“I have been with the common people for more than two decades. I have worked with organisations such as the anti-liquor andolan, Backward Classes forum and forest dwellers’ rights. I have no godfathers and I have won the hearts of the common people with my work. Now, I am visiting all the 230 gram panchayats seeking votes and I am sure of a victory if there is no mischief by my opponents,” Mr.Naik says.

Ganapati Ulvekar from Karwar is the BJP candidate; he says that the Congress supporters’ votes will be divided between Mr. Gotnekar and Mr. Naik and hence, he would benefit from it. BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and Eshwarappa are canvassing for their candidate.

D. Ravikumar is contesting on Janata Dal (Secular) ticket and the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has been canvassing for him, while criticising the failure of the Congress administration in the State.

District in-charge Minister R.V. Deshpande says that people are with the Congress for its pro-people programmes and that they would vote for Mr. Gotnekar.

While the four candidates are busy campaigning, an independent candidate in the fray, Sangurmath, is yet make his presence known.

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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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