Udupi: Baavali Kudru residents demand bridge to the mainland

February 16, 2011

Udupi, Feb 16: As many as 30 Christian families, living in Baavali Kudru, an island, spread across 100 acres since six generations have demanded for a permanent bridge connecting the Kudru to the mainland Neelavar, near Brahmavar.

During rainy seasons River Sita inundates many parts of the island. In the year 1969 floods made the residents to shift from their houses, to the safer places. In the absence of a bridge, residents have resorted to small boats as a means of transport.

Many families of `Baavali Kudru' (Bats' Island) near Brahmavar in Udupi taluk have already abandoned the island and students from many other families have been staying in their relatives house outside the island, fearing to cross the river during rainy season. These families have been struggling since 30 years to get a bridge connecting the island sanctioned by the government.

Though the Zilla Panchayath has prepared an estimate of Rs 33 lakhs for constructing a bridge, the process has not taken the momentum, for the short of funds. Prashanth Neelavara, a resident of Baavali Kudru said that Rajyasabha member Oscar Fernandies has allotted Rs 15 lakhs from his MP's Local Area Development Fund and Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat has agreed to give Rs 5 lakhs from his MLA fund. Still they need another Rs 13 lakhs to start the work.

According to Silvia, "Now I have learnt pulling the boat. Can you imagine we peddling the boat during rainy season?''. She said that she had not admitted her six year old boy to the school, as he is scared of crossing the river in a boat.

Apolin, another resident of Baavali Kudru, recalls two of her sons luckily surviving a boat tragedy, while crossing the River Seeta. Apolin's son doing his diploma resides in his relatives house in Brahmavar, to avoid the hassles. According her newly married daughters in law hesitate to live in the Island and ultimately vacate the island to live in rented houses in the mainland.

One Joseph D'souza takes the residents from one riverbank to another. According to him many of the residents of the island take the boat themselves. Will their dream to have a bridge come true soon?

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From Representation to Rivalry: The Sorry State of Muslim Leadership in Karnataka Congress

coastaldigest.com news network

January 19,2026

Bengaluru: As the dust settles on the recent legislative session, the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are buzzing with more than just policy talk. A high-stakes game of political musical chairs has begun, exposing a deepening rift within the Congress party’s Muslim leadership as a major Cabinet reshuffle looms.

With the party hierarchy signaling a "50% refresh" to gear up for the 2028 Assembly elections, the race to fill three projected Muslim ministerial berths has transformed from a strategic discussion into an all-out turf war.

The "Star Son" Spark

The internal friction turned public this week following provocative remarks by Zaid Khan, actor and son of Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zaid’s claim—that his father "helped" secure a ticket for Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad in 2023—has acted as a lightning rod for resentment.

Rizwan’s camp was quick to fire back, dismissing the comment as a desperate attempt by Zameer to manufacture seniority. "Rizwan’s political pedigree was forged in the NSUI and Youth Congress long before Zameer even stepped into the party," a supporter noted, highlighting Rizwan’s tenure as an AICC secretary and his two-term presidency of the State Youth Congress.

A Tale of Two Loyalists

While both Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rizwan Arshad are staunch allies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and represent Bengaluru strongholds, their political DNA could not be more different:

• Zameer Ahmed Khan: A four-time MLA who crossed over from JD(S) in 2018. Known for his "overzealous" and often polarizing outreach during communal flashpoints—from the DJ Halli riots to the recent Wakf land notice controversy—his style has frequently left the Congress high command in a state of "discomfort."

• Rizwan Arshad: A homegrown organizational man. Seen as a "quiet performer," Arshad represents the sophisticated, moderate face of the party, preferred by those who find Zameer’s brand of politics too volatile.

The Outsiders Looking In

The bickering isn't limited to a duo. The "Beary" community, represented by leaders like N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed, is demanding its pound of flesh. Saleem Ahmed, the Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, has dropped the veil of diplomacy, openly declaring his ministerial aspirations.

"I was the only working president not included in the Cabinet last time," Saleem noted pointedly, signaling that the "loyalty quota" is no longer enough to keep the peace.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares to finalize the list, he faces a delicate balancing act: rewarding the aggressive grassroots mobilization of Zameer’s camp without alienating the organizational stalwarts and minority sub-sects who feel increasingly sidelined by the "Chamarajpet-Shivajinagar" binary.

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