Speaking at the Independence Day celebrations held at Nehru Maidan here on Sunday, Palemar said that a total of Rs 12.30 crore has been earmarked for the implementation of drinking water schemes in rural areas in the district. A total of Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned for the development of roads in rural areas, he added.
Title deeds have been distributed to 5,255 families and houses were provided to 7,276 beneficiaries by spending Rs 25.66 crore. The government has plans to distribute 2,650 sites and 1,325 houses to beneficiaries in Mangalore City Corporation limits under the Vajpayee Urban Housing Scheme, he said. A sum of Rs 31 crore has been reserved to provide infrastructure and develop 33 villages under the Suvarna Gramodaya Scheme, he informed. The long pending dream of Mangaloreans to have a 24x7 water supply system will be realised as soon as the new vented dam being constructed at Thumbe at an estimated cost of Rs 57 crore was completed, he added. The amendments made in the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) has been approved by the government. Citizens, who have 3 cents of land also can build houses as per the revised CDP.
Sea erosion
The Minister said that a permanent solution for the problem of sea erosion in Ullal will be found through ADB at an estimated cost of Rs 911 crore. The first phase of the work worth Rs 223 crore will be taken up using German technology in Ullal this year itself. The sea erosion prevention project will be completed in phases throughout the State Coast from 2010 to 2018, he added.
Green Police
The Centre has been urged to amend the Coastal Regulation Zone rules to prevent ocean and environment pollution.
The State government has a proposal of introducing a Green Police system to prevent environment pollution.
Rules have been relaxed that people can join hands to preserve the environment, Palemar said.
A special estate will be developed to promote sandalwood plantation and to prevent illegal transportation.
A project to preserve and develop medicinal plants has already been started in 200 hectares of land in Devara Gadde near Subramanya, he added.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Coastal Karnataka Development Authority Chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj, City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, SP Dr A S Rao and others were present.
Later in the day, cultural programmes by students of various schools and associations enthralled the audience.