Defence Minister opens CEOL in Mangaluru, says it will lead to creation of Silicon Valley

coastaldigest.com news network

December 29, 2017

Mangaluru, Dec 29: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday inaugurated the Centre for Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Learning (CEOL) the new state-of-the-art incubation centre at Mangaluru City Corporation building at Mallikatta in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, she said that CEOL will lead to creation of new entrepreneurs in the area known for education, banking and healthcare. “”The CEOL will get venture capitalists to invest in the start-ups. It would lead to the recreation of Silicon Valley in the west coast of India,” she said.

She was glad to spend Rs. 1.05 crore of her MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) funds for the facility that will make “tangible single difference for youngsters”. Such facility was needed for the young minds of the region who are looking for opportunities, she said.

The CEOL, which will be managed by the Society headed by Deputy Commissioner, will provide perfect ecosystem for youngsters to work on their ideas.

These ideas are not just restricted to software but also in fields of healthcare, agriculture and other fields. The centre will provide support of mentors for youngsters to fine tune their ideas and have start-ups.

Talking to reporters later, Ms. Sitharaman said there was good response for CEOL that has already received applications from 49 persons while there was space for 60 people.

The centre was expanding to provide space for 40 more persons. A committee headed by professionals will go through applications and do the selection of starting startups at the Centre.

“Neither I nor the Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel has any role to play in the selection,” she said.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Mr. Kateel said the incubation centre will serve well for the district has been home to nine medical colleges, 19 engineering colleges, five Universities and 150 degree colleges. Mangaluru City South MLA J.R. Lobo thanked Ms. Sitharaman for spending substantial amount of her MPLAD funds for CEOL, which will create new entrepreneurs in the coastal region.

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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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