Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Feb 23: The state assembly, on Thursday February 22, gave its nod for the creation of Pilikula Development Authority aimed at achieving integrated development of Pilikula Nisargadhama near here. The bill was moved by minister for state programme implementation, statistics, science and technology minister, M R Seetharam.
The bill, 'Plikula Development Authority Bill - 2018' was passed with voice vote, with the demand for giving prominence to local people's representatives.
The minister, when moving the bill, explained that the authority will work towards conserving bio diversity, tradition and culture of Western Ghats and coastal Karnataka, giving impetus to creation of interest among students to study science, and spread awareness among the citizens about science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based development. He said that the move will also encourage tourism in Pilikula area. The authority will have its headquarters in Pilikula.
The authority will have deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district as its chairperson, while MLAs representing city south, city north and Moodbidri constituencies, captain of Pilikula Golf Course, and president of Moodushedde gram panchayat as members. 17 ex officio members including officials, three non-government members will also be part of the authority while commissioner of the authority will be its ex officio member secretary. A state level advisory committee having 28 members and having science and technology minister of the state government as its president, will support the authority. Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister and tourism minister will be co-presidents of the authority with some local people's representatives too as members.
The proposed authority will conduct training courses, workshops, conferences, symposiums, addresses by guest dignitaries, offer consultative services, provide astronomy-based eduction in various departments, create interest in different subjects and hold other such other programmes.
Every year, the authority will spend six crore rupees for tis programmes, out of which Rs 3.5 crore would be made out of fee collected from people visiting the Nisargadhama, with the balance Rs 2.5 crore proposed to be contributed by the government. Rules and regulations applicable to other authorities will be applicable for this one too.