Nalin, Khader back each other in fostering development of DK

Mangaluru: Nalin Kumar Kateel and U T Khader are on opposite sides of political spectrum and have crossed swords politically many a times. However, the duo from BJP and Congress on Tuesday demonstrated they could unite and share platform when question of development of district arose.
The two leaders also made a genuine expression of the contributions of their respective governments in aiding the development of the district.

The occasion was foundation stone laying function for Kulai fishing harbour and NH projects on Tuesday. Khader who thanked Union minister Nitin Gadkari for approving the projects, said political parties and their leaders have shown they can unite for development of the district. Noting that Kulai harbour will decongest old port, Khader said he is striving for a mini jetty at Kotepura at a cost of Rs 4 crore and sought Gadkari’s support for the same.

Noting that construction of harbour at Kulai is culmination of an assurance given by then PM Indira Gandhi to fishermen displaced due to Mangalore Harbour Project, Khader said the harbour and NH projects will ensure economic growth of the region. The minister urged R K Suryavamshi, NHAI regional officer, to consider proposal to fund a bridge between Kotepura and Bunder for a dedicated fisheries project, which will decongest NH 66.

Nalin said he had embarked on a mission to make Dakshina Kannada into a model district and had reached 50% of his aims in two tenures as MP. The fishing harbour is on its way to becoming a reality due to the land made available by the state government and its decision to bear 5% of the Rs 196.51 crore project cost, he said, adding it is such cooperation between governments – state and central, that will help any region to develop.

Paying mogaveera or fishermen community tributes for his political development from days of a small-time RSS pracharak, Nalin said it was the contribution and perseverance of elected representatives from the time of Ullal Srinivas Mallya that has seen the project a step closer to reality. Acknowledging differences in the community over the project, Nalin assured them that he will get the Centre to stop it if they feel that the project will hurt their interests.

The MP was also effusive in his praise for former Union minister and Chikkaballapura MP M Veerappa Moily for envisioning distribution of piped gas to households through the Kochi-Mangaluru-Bengaluru LNG pipeline. “We need visionaries of the type of Mallya who can think ahead of their times,” the MP said, adding development will then take care of itself. MLA Bharath Shetty was present.