Puttur girl Aneesha Nayak wins bronze at international science fair in the US

Mangaluru, Apr 2: A 14-year-old multi-talented girl from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district has won a bronze medal at the International Sustainable World (Energy Engineering Environment) Project Olympiad (I-SWEEP).

I-SWEEP, a largest science fair of its kind worldwide, organised by Harmony Public Schools, a K-12 Public Charter School System, was held at Houston, Texas in United States of America from April 26 to May 1.

Aneesha Nayak, who has just passed Class 9 at Sudana Residential School, Puttur, and will be studying in Class 10 during 2016-17, won the medal for her project titled Hydrophobicity of Colocasia Esculenta leaves as a wall protector' under the Environment-Management and Pollution' category. Sadhana Hebbar, a science teacher at the school, was her guide.

There were 585 projects from 62 countries in the race.

“I feel proud of my daughter. It is an honour for the country,” said Shaila Bhakta, Ms. Nayak's mother.

Ms. Nayak was one among the two girls who represented India at the competition. She will return to Mangaluru on May 4. This was her first attempt at I-SWEEP, Ms. Bhakta added.

Shobha Nagaraj, the headmistress of Sudhana school, is elated at the achievement of her student. “Ms. Nayak is a multifarious person. She is the country's first girl surfer and has won many prizes in the sport. She is a keen science student and is into social service projects taken up by the school from time to time,” she said.

Ms. Nayak is also an Asian-level surfer and a member of Mantra Surf Club in Mulki, near Mangaluru.

Comments

Awu, really great.

congo dear.

congrats Aneesha, make a history in all field, we want a girl like you for our country, really proud of you.

proud to have her in our country.

Congrats Aneesha, Shining Star of Puttur, i must say.

Shaila Bhakta lucky mother, she is wonderful talented girl, really proud to have her in our city.

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

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.

Comments