Mangaluru: MLA Moideen Bava held a press meet at his office at the MCC premises here, on April 15.
Addressing the mediapersons, Bava said, “As directed by the central department, all beedi and cigarette packets need to display pictorial warnings on 85% of the packet. Beedi producers are against this ruling as the remaining space is not sufficient to display their brand name and hence have decided to shut down production. Beedi workers in my constituency are affected the most as many of them rely on the income of beedi production.”
He said, “The government should take up beedi production in the country so that they can display 100% pictorial warnings on the packets or call a meeting of all companies involved in beedi production and seek a solution.”
Bava further said, “The Chief Minister will visit Dakshina Kannada district on April 21 and he has agreed to attend the programme at Suratkal where we will lay the foundation to four projects which were included in my election manifesto. A 800-meter road stretch from Surathkal to Railway bridge will be rebuilt as a concrete road at a cost of Rs 2.8 crore. 4-5 kilometers of road from there will be rebuilt as a concrete road at a cost of Rs 50 crore which we are hopeful to receive from companies like MRPL and BASF under the Corporate Social Responsibility Fund (CSRF). The bus stand will be rebuilt and scrap shops will be shifted to a new location.”
“We will rebuild the Suratkal market at a cost of Rs 130 crore in three phases. We have already received a special fund of Rs 3 crore from the state government of which Rs 1.8 crore will be used to build a temporary shelter for 80-85 merchants at the Kendra Maidan,” Bava said.
“Another project is to build a Zonal Office (ZO) at Suratkal as people now have to come to Mangaluru for any official business. All the work of the Mangaluru City Corporation will be done at this ZO which will save time and reduce the traffic burden of the city,” Bava said.
“A swimming pool will be built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore and 1 acre land has been identified in the Katipalla – Krishnapura area for this purpose. 23 wards in my constituency Will have 60% Underground Drainage (UGD) coverage at a cost of Rs 130 crore and awareness is created among the locals to connect their drainage to the UGD. Widening of the service road at Surathkal has already begun. It will be constructed with a scientific approach so that the route will be economic for travelers,” Bava said.
