Cabinet representation continues to elude DK, Udupi

July 12, 2012

Mangalore, July 12: The Jagadish Shettar cabinet has brought disappointment to coastal districts of Udupi and Daskhina Kannada with only one MLA from the region being given the ministerial berth.

Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC, is the lone representative from the undivided Dakshina Kannada district to have made it to the Shettar cabinet.

The BJP fraternity in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts has expressed its disappointment with Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty even shedding tears publicly. The decision has not gone down well with Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat either, it is being said.

Speaking to Coastaldigest.com, Padmanabha Kottary, President of the district unit of the BJP, said that the district expected more in terms of representation in the cabinet. “I had information that Krishna Palemar's name was in the cabinet list. But I now hear that Governor H R Bharadwaj did not want him and C C Patil and Laxman Savadi to be included in the cabinet, though I am not sure about the authenticity of this information. They have given one berth to Udupi district but we should have got ministers from our district too”, Mr. Kottary said.

Dakshina Kannada district has been eluded of a minister, in spite of there being no district in charge minister for quite some time now.

Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, said that he personally accepts the decision of the party.

MLAs Raghupati Bhat, Krishna Palemar, and Haladi Srinivas Shetty were not available for comment.

U T Khader, MLA, and Congress leader, told Coastaldigest.com that injustice had been done to coastal districts. “We welcome their decision to give a ministerial berth to Kota Srinivas Poojary. But leaving out MLAs like Haladi Srinivas Shetty and MLAs from Dakshina Kannada district is unfair. Out of 13 MLAs from our region, only one has been included in the ministry while two MLAs from smaller districts have been given ministerial berths. They dethroned a Chief Minister who hailed from our district and now hardly any power has been given to the coastal districts in terms of ministry. The government in the state, although technically belongs to BJP, it appears as though some coalition government has been formed with caste permutations coming in to decide the CM and Deputy CMs. People will respond to these developments in an apt manner”, Mr. Khader said.

Meanwhile, it is being reported that supporters of Haladi Srinivas Shetty are protesting against the decision of the party. Word is also doing rounds that the likes of Raghupati Bhat are considering resignation.

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Clean and Green on Wheels: Mangaluru’s Push for Electric Public Transport

News Network

November 13,2024

In the heart of Mangaluru, where rising air pollution is spurring public health worries, voices are calling for a greener, cleaner shift in the city’s public transport. Leading this call is APD Foundation, a Mangaluru-based environmental NGO, which has urged Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre to mandate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in public transport.

Abdullah A Rehman, CEO of APD Foundation, emphasized in a formal letter to the minister that Mangaluru’s public transportation system—efficient and organized with both government and private players—could transition smoothly to EVs in stages. He suggested that government-backed financial incentives, partnerships with EV manufacturers, and collaborations with environmental groups could streamline the switch.

Rehman stressed the potential of EVs to cut down emissions, enhance air quality, and reduce noise levels, noting the quieter operation of electric buses. He confirmed that a copy of his letter was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner as well.

However, Dilraj Alva from the Dakshina Kannada City Bus Association noted potential challenges, explaining that the shift might take up to two years due to infrastructure and budget hurdles. Most EV buses, he explained, are procured through aggregators, not directly by individual operators. The addition of charging stations and other essential infrastructure further complicates the transition.

Alva also raised the economic concern: while diesel buses are priced between ₹30-40 lakh, electric buses can cost up to ₹1 crore. Reflecting on recent meetings with companies, including one in Manipal, he questioned the assumption that EVs are an absolute solution to pollution. “EVs aren’t entirely eco-friendly, especially when considering battery disposal,” he cautioned.

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