Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 16: Chief minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the new DC office 'Praja Soudha' at Padil on Friday, May 17. He also laid the foundation stone for converting the old DC office in the city into a heritage building.
The new DC Office, built at a cost of Rs 75 crore, includes an additional Rs 20 crore sanctioned under the Smart City project to enhance infrastructure and provide modern amenities. The indoor stadium at Urwa has been constructed at a cost of Rs 35 crore.
Speaking at the event, CM Siddaramaiah stated, “After Krishna Byre Gowda took charge as the revenue minister, many reforms have been implemented in the department, including the initiative to make the district ‘Podi Mukta’ by distributing RTCs to beneficiaries.”
He added, “The foundation stone for this project was laid in 2015. The credit for initiating it goes to former forest minister Ramanath Rai, who persistently pursued the project, resulting in an initial sanction of Rs 45 crore, which later increased to Rs 55 crore.”
Referring to the Smart City contribution, Siddaramaiah said, “As Vedavyas Kamath mentioned, Rs 20 crore was sanctioned from the Smart City fund. I ask, why wasn’t this project completed during the BJP tenure when Smart City funds were available? Why was the DC Office work halted for four years? Politics should be restricted to elections, not development.”
He also responded to the proposal of making Tulu the second language, “We will discuss this as recommended by MLAs and former MLAs. However, Kannada will remain the first priority, as the Tulu-speaking community is also a part of Karnataka.”
Explaining the name ‘Praja Soudha’, he said, “Praja means citizens—they are the true owners and the source of our power. The Congress government has provided free 5 kg rice to people, and an additional 5 kg has also been announced. We have implemented the five guarantees, spending Rs 50,000 crore.”
CM Siddaramaiah countered criticism about lack of funds for development, stating, “This year, capital expenditure has increased from Rs 51,000 crore to Rs 83,000 crore. The claim that guarantee schemes have hampered development is false.”
He also announced the construction of government medical college hospitals in three districts, including Puttur. These hospitals will initially have 250 beds and later expand to 500 beds.
Taking a dig at the central government, Siddaramaiah said, “Out of Rs 4.5 lac crore collected in taxes, Karnataka has received only Rs 65,000 crore—just 14 to 15%. I urge Vedavyas Kamath to inform the central government about this injustice.”
He also stressed the importance of unity and communal harmony, noting that Dakshina Kannada is the leading district in education.
District in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “The chief minister himself laid the foundation stone for this project in 2016, estimated at Rs 40 crore. Credit also goes to Ramanath Rai for securing the 5-acre land. This DC office is now an iconic structure in the state. A total of 32 departments will operate from here, and 7,000 RTCs were distributed today, a significant milestone for the revenue department.”
He added, “Our government is committed to delivering justice and will take strict action against those who disturb peace and harmony.”
Speaker U T Khader remarked, “When the foundation stone for this office was laid, I was the health minister, and now, as Speaker, I am witnessing its inauguration. This office will now be the gateway to Mangaluru and will provide efficient public service, ensuring that citizens leave the premises with a smile.”
Revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda said, “This new DC office is the crown jewel of Mangaluru, blending Tulunadu traditions with a modern touch. In 2023, this site was like an urban jungle with water stagnation. Now, in just two years, it stands proudly. Work was earlier halted due to lack of funds for the second phase. 'Praja Soudha' is named to emphasize that it is dedicated to the people.”
He also announced, “We will restore the 200-year-old old DC office into a heritage building with an initial sanction of Rs 2 crore, and a museum will be built there.”
MLA Vedavyas Kamath said, “These two projects were also made possible through Smart City funds, an initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Without this funding, the projects would have remained incomplete. As the chief minister announced Rs 50 crore for each MLA, I hope this allocation reaches BJP MLAs as well, including Ashok Rai and U T Khader.”
The state-of-the-art DC Office complex spans 2.53 lac sq ft over three floors and is one of the largest in the country. It will house 23 departments under one roof, including food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, Bhoomi cell, mines and geology, the administration section, disaster management and CCTV, the revenue section, the National Information Centre, the Child Protection Unit, KSWAN, town and country planning department, district ground water office, endowment section, department of economics and statistics , the Karnataka State Forest Industries Corporation Limited, assistant commissioner’s office endowment (HR\CE), department of forest and environment and many more.
CM Siddaramaiah also distributed RTCs to over 7,000 beneficiaries under the revenue department's 'Podi Mukta Gramas Nanna Bhoomi' campaign.
Present at the occasion were housing and Wakf minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, urban development minister Suresh B S, MLA Ashok Rai, MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, former minister Ramanath Rai, and several other dignitaries.
The CM also inaugurated a modern indoor stadium at Urwa, built at a cost of Rs 35 crore. The stadium is equipped with contemporary facilities to host various sports and indoor events. It is aimed at promoting sports culture and providing quality training infrastructure for local talent.
CM Siddaramaiah later visted the 22nd quinquennial and 432nd annual Uroos of Sayyid Mohammed Shareeful Madani Dargah, popularly known as the Ullal Dargah.