Disgruntled Shivakumar at last takes oath

Bangalore, Jun 14: Karnataka Congress leader D K Shivakumar, who is dissatisfied over denial of ministership, took oath on Thursday as an MLA nearly a month after Congress returned to power in the state.

Shivakumar, who has been elected for the sixth time from Kanakapura constituency, had delayed taking oath of office even as most of the legislators took oath on May 29.

Shivakumar took oath following Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President G Parameshwara's meeting with him on June 10 during which he was reportedly told that the party high command was aware of his seniority and his value as a party worker.

Shivakumar has not been inducted into the cabinet as he is being probed by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee for his alleged role in a mining scam.

He is also co-accused along with former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in an illegal denotification case being heard by Karnataka Lokayukta Court.

Speaking to reporters after taking oath, Shivakumar sarcastically thanked a section within Congress and freedom fighter H S Doreswamy who were against his induction in Siddaramaiah's cabinet.

Asked if he still hoped to get a cabinet berth, he said the matter was left to the party and the Chief Minister. "For many years, I have kept party above myself. I will always be loyal to the party," he added.

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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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