Dearth of funds languishing Bejai market work: Lobo

July 2, 2013

Mangalore, Jul 2: Mangalore City South MLA J R Lobo paid a visit to the proposed fish market in Bejai which is in construction stage, and inspected the works.

Briefing mediapersons after inspecting the proposed plans, he said that the blueprint of the market building had been prepared and work had already begun on the project. The basement would be made into a parking area, while the other floors will have facilities for selling vegetables, fruits, poultry and meat, he said.

Speaking about the allotment of funds for the project, he said that the total budget was over Rs 4 crores. Out of the first SFC grant of Rs 100 crore, a sum of Rs 60 lakhs was spent for the foundation and flooring of the building. Although a sum of Rs 1.40 crore has been allotted to the project in the second SFC grant, the funds have not yet reached, and hence it has become necessary to find an alternative to support the project till the funds arrive,” he said, adding that the construction work of the first floor and other works were pending due to lack of funds.

An emergency meeting will be called by the MCC to discuss in this regard and take a swift decision, so that the project does not face any hindrances. The building should be built as a stand-alone financial model, he said.

Mr Lobo suggested that the stalls in the building could also be rented to people on tender-cum-auction basis, so that the money collected could be used for the construction of the building. A commercial bank loan could also be availed for the construction as an alternative. A financial closure should be brought as soon as possible, he said.

Detailing the construction plans of the building, MCC Executive Engineer Jayaprakash and chief consultant Dharmaraj said that the ground floor had two separate levels.

There will be 14 general shops, three fruit stalls, three flower stalls and an open yard for vendors, along with two extra stalls in the level I of the ground floor, whereas the level II will contain 12 platforms for fish, six general shops, two shops each for chicken, mutton, beef, pork and dry fish, along with three extra stalls.

The first floor would comprise of a supermarket area with additional five shops. The second and third floor will each have 8 office spaces for commercial use, he said.

Mr Lobo said that action had also been initiated for a vegetable market in Hampankatta.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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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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