Concept of water privatisation flayed

June 25, 2011

Mangalore, June 24: Criticising the move of the Mangalore City Corporation to introduce 24X7 water supply scheme in the City Corporation limits, social activist and documentary film maker Natesh Ullal said the privatisation of water supply would lead to several problems as the entire idea has several loopholes in it.

He was speaking at a discussion on the Privatisation of Drinking Water Supply organised by DYFI to commemorate the death anniversary of social activist Srinivas Bajal. Analysing the issue from various perspectives, Natesh said the implementation of 24X7 water supply scheme by the private companies would create a disaster in the future.

“The company which is given the responsibility of supplying the water might one day urge the government to bring out a policy to stop the general public from using water from wells and borewells. These companies which are basically profit driven try their level best to dominate the life of people. With profit motive in mind, there are all possibilities of these companies forcing the people not to use the water sources like wells,” he noted.

Insisting the administrative bodies to avoid the implementation of the proposed scheme, he said the private companies are given the liberty to hike the water bill once in three years which would cost high to the general public. It is only the small portion of population who will be able to pay the heavy water bill issued by the companies, but the poor will be put into trouble, he informed.

The possibilities of the private companies entrusted with the responsibility of 24X7 water supply exporting the water to abroad can't be ignored. The companies might show loss amount incurred to the shareholders and may jump into export business, he said.

He also questioned the delegation from MCC who paid visit to Hubli recently, in order to study the pros cons of 24X7 water supply scheme, if they had visited all the wards in Hubli. “Visiting 4-5 wards where the scheme has been effectively implemented is not sufficient, but one must also study the negative impact of the scheme on the wards where the scheme is not implemented,” said Natesh.

DYFI former President Krishnappa Konchadi criticised the move and said that the capitalistic mentality was working behind the scheme.

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Saffron wave sweeps Udupi during PM Modi’s roadshow

coastaldigest.com news network

November 28,2025

Udupi district transformed into a sea of saffron and celebration on Friday, November 28, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow swept through the coastal temple town. Thousands of residents lined the streets, turning the event into a vibrant public spectacle filled with cheers, flags, and festive energy.

The procession route—from the helipad to the historic Sri Krishna Math—was decked with buntings, saffron flags, and multilayered security barricades. One of the district’s largest-ever security deployments was put in place for the high-profile visit, with over 3,000 police personnel on duty. The arrangement included ten SPs, 27 DSPs, 49 inspectors, 127 sub-inspectors, 232 assistant sub-inspectors, 1,608 constables, and 39 women staff.

Six platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, six Quick Response Teams, bomb detection units, and dog squads were stationed across Udupi. Enhanced surveillance covered Adi Udupi, Bannanje bus stand, and the Sri Krishna Math parking zone, with combing operations carried out along the roadshow corridor.

At the 800-year-old Sri Krishna Math, preparations reached a ceremonial peak. Paryaya Puttige Math seer Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji said the Prime Minister would take part in the Laksha Kantha Geetha Parayana, a mass chanting of the Bhagavad Gita by one lakh devotees, and inaugurate the new Suvarna Teertha Mantapa.

“He will first offer floral tributes to saint-poet Kanakadasa and then unveil the golden covering over the Kanakana Kindi,” the seer said.

The Prime Minister will also receive a Poorna Kumbha welcome and have darshan of Lord Sri Krishna, Mukhyaprana Devaru, and the Suvarna Paduke. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister Bairathi Suresh, Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade, and seers from the Ashta Maths are expected to join the ceremony.

Ahead of his arrival, the Prime Minister posted on X that he felt “honoured” to attend the spiritually significant gathering. “This is a special occasion that brings together people from different sections of society for a recital of the Gita. This Matha has a very special significance in our cultural life,” he wrote, noting the institution’s long-standing legacy rooted in the teachings of Sri Madhvacharya.

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