Tension grips Chikkamagaluru ahead of Datta Jayanti

coastaldigest.com web desk

December 13, 2018

Chikkamagaluru, Dec 13: A tense atmosphere has prevailed in Chikkamagaluru city and other parts of the district amidst massive preparations for the three-day Datta Jayanti, scheduled from December 20.

Meanwhile, administration has tightened security around the disputed site at Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudan Swamy Dargah to prevent untoward incidents. Last year, during the event some devotees had attempted to damage tombstones adjacent the disputed area.

This time the height of the fence around the area has been increased and a decision taken to post additional police force.

“The chain-link fence is almost 8.5ft. We are prepared to avoid such incidents. Last year also, nothing was damaged in the disputed site,” Harish Pandey, Superintendent of Police, said.

Deputy Commissioner M.K. Sreerangaiah has issued orders banning the entry of tourists to the Bababudangiri during the event.

Devotees have been asked to travel to the cave shrine only in minivans or buses. The entry of vehicles with long chassis has been prohibited to avoid traffic congestion on the narrow roads.

Prior to Datta Jayanti, the VHP had planned a rath yatra in the district from Wednesday. However, the district administration refused to grant permission citing a shortage of police staff as many have been deputed to Belagavi for the State Legislature session.

Mr. Pandey said the organisers had agreed to take out the yatra after December 17. “They have plans to take out a bike rally on December 19. They have been doing it every year,” he said.

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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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