Saalumarada Thimmakka wants to return Rs 10L cheque to govt

DHNS

January 11, 2018

Bengaluru Jan 11: Award-winning environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka has sought an appointment with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to return a cheque of Rs 10 lakh that was presented to her, to meet her medical expenses.

She has also sought that the government withdraw her monthly old age pension benefit.

The 106-year-old is upset with the government for its nonchalance concerning her health and well-being.

In a strongly worded three-page letter (dated December 29) to Siddaramaiah, Thimmakka said that the government had failed to act on the many assurances given to her over the last few years.

When it was brought to the government's notice that she was burdened with piling medical bills owing to frequent hospitalisation, Siddaramaiah had presented her with a cheque for Rs 10 lakh on October 27, 2017. At that time, he had assured that the government would fulfil all the promises made to her on previous occasions.

"Just because I am a Dalit woman, I have been reduced to this state. I have realised that nobody should be recognised or rewarded on the basis of caste," her letter says.

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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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