Mangalore: 'City, service bus stands at Pumpwell soon' - Mayor

Measures will be taken to asphalt roads in Bunder area after the monsoon, said Mayor Rajani Dugganna.

Speaking on integral development of Mangalore City Corporation organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Friday, she said the engineers have been asked to make an estimate for the asphaltation of the road. The road to Bunder was asphalted 10 years ago. Along with the asphaltation of the road, the work on concrete drains will also be undertaken.

A fulfledged City and service bus stand will come up at Pumpwell soon. Tenders will be invited soon, she added.

Markets


Dugganna said that tenders have been invited to develop market at Alake and Mangaladevi. The work will commence soon.

To a query on the deplorable condition of the interior roads, she said that a sum of Rs 50 lakh would be given to each ward for the development of interior roads from the Rs 100 crore grant by the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

To a query on toilet facilities at Bunder region, Deputy Mayor Rajendra Kumar said “if the merchants of the region show us the land, we will construct the toilets in the form of Sulabh Shauchalaya.”

Central Market Merchants Association President Hameed Kandak said that the road leading to Mangalore junction railway station is in deplorable condition, which the MCC should pay attention as a large number of train passengers depend on the road. In fact, the road is unmotorable, he added. He also urged the MCC to construct a overbridge or underpass at Jeppinamogaru.

Member H R Rao said that beautification of Mangalore is being undertaken. However, many residents, hoteliers still throw the wastes on the footpaths, marring the beauty of the City. He said that stray dogs are increasing in the City Corporation limits.

In fact, stray dogs have become headache for the morning walkers. The MCC should take measures to check stray dogs. To which, Mayor said that stray dogs have become headache even to the Mangalore City Corporation.
Inspite of it, dogs are being sterilised in the City Corporation limits.

Traffic management


Consultant Engineer Praveen Shetty said that traffic jams have become common sight in Mangalore City Corporation. In fact, several circles on the road are not in the Centre of the road but are shifted to one side. As a result, on the other side, the road becomes narrow compared to the rest of the road.
KCCI President G G Mohandas Prabhu was present.

‘Barricades obstacle’


KCCI office-bearer Ahamed Bhava said that the barricades have been put up in front of the Lady Goschen Hospital to prevent the movement of heavy vehicles to the Central market. However, the move of the district administration is affecting the merchants. He urged the Mayor to reconsider the decision.

Supporting his view, Association’s Abdul Kalam said that it is not right on the part of district administration to say that traffic is caused by the vehicles entering the Central Market area.

Reacting to it, Deputy Mayor Rajendra Kumar said that the decision to install a barricade was taken in the presence of all the merchants of Central Market.

Jobs, educational aid for kin of Mangalore Air Crash victims

ABU DHABI — A private hospital group in Abu Dhabi has provided substantial support to the relatives of the victims of the Air India plane crash in Mangalore in May this year.

In a public gathering at the Kozhikode town hall in Kerala on Wednesday, family members of the victims received educational assistance and job offers from the Lifeline Hospital Group.

“We’ve given 24 job offers for the first phase and eight children received educational assistance of Rs100,000 (Dh8,000) each,” Dr Shajir Gaffar, corporate relations manager at the Lifeline Hospital Group, told Khaleej Times from India.

Earlier, the group had pledged to offer 50 jobs to relatives of the victims and one million Indian rupees (Dh78,000) in assistance.

The aid was given following a survey undertaken by a Malayalam daily, commissioned by the hospital to determine the socio-economic background of the families.

Based on the findings about the needs and the educational qualification of the relatives, the group offered employment to the selected relatives, which included jobs in accounts and billing, customer care, reception and as messengers.

“We have contacted many. We have gone to each and every house of the victims in Kerala… We really worked hard on this, we just finished the first phase (and) we are keen to keep our promise on the offer,” said Dr Gaffar.

He added that the first of the group’s new employees will be arriving to the emirate this week.

Lifeline Hospital Group currently operates two facilities in Abu Dhabi. By the end of 2010 or early 2011, the group will open up two more hospitals in the capital including a major downtown facility. It will also expand its operations to Oman with the opening of two hospitals.

The Mangalore plane crash, which killed 158 passengers, is India’s worst in a decade. Only eight passengers survived the air disaster.

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Muddu Krishnas shine at Janmashtami Celebrations

Manglaore, Sep 1: The city is in a festive mood with Krishna Janmashtami celebrations in full swing, with events like pot-breaking competitions and fancy dress marking the occasion.

Kalkura Pratishtana, a cultural organisation, too celebrated the event with Sri Krishna Vesha Sparde, a national-level children's fest held at Sri Manjunata Temple, Kadri here on Wednesday September 1.


Addressing the gathering, Kalkura Pratishtana president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said that such competitions bring out the hidden Krishna in each child, encouraging the parents to see the reflection of god in their children. Moreover, parents are also motivated to inculcate in their children the attributes of Krishna which will help them to face different aspects of life with courage, he said. Kalkura also elaborated on the 14 different categories which comprised the competition.

The categories are Kanda Krishna for the tinytots below one year, Muddu Krishna for toddlers above one year and below two years, Tunta Krishna for toddlers of two to three years, Balakrishna for the kindergarten and LKG kids, Kishora Krishna for the UKG and kids of std I, Sri Krishna for std II, III and IV, Geetha Krishna and Yaksha Krishna for students up to std VII.

These apart, in the category Radha Krishna all students up to std VII participated while women also participated in the category Yashoda Krishna. Shankhanada is slated to be held in two categories, one for students up to std VII and the other open to all.

The new category introduced in the current year is that of Devaki Krishna, wherein the mother of a child participating as Krishna performed the role of Devaki.

The Krishna veshadharis had their own uniqueness and were the centre of attention. One Krishna with a chariot which was designed with a fuel engine to move caught everyone's eye. Other Krishnas sitting on trucks also attracted the audience.

A large number of children participated in the competitions. The varieties of the Krishna vesha ranged from Govardhana Giridhari, Kalinga Nartana Krishna, Tunta Krishna to Geethopadesha Krishna.
In order to create interest in Indian culture among children, the pratishtana also organised Sri Krishna quiz competition for students up to std VII.

Ten prominent artists from the city painted the pictures of Shree Krishna in a canvas which added colour to the celebrations in the temple.

'Guru Dakshina', a Yakshagana episode by Bala Yaksha Koota will be the highlight of the event and will be held to mark the end of the cultural competition.

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
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