Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar used the Thursday evening inauguration of the women’s Dasara at the Shri Mahalakshmi temple in Kapu taluk, Ucchila, to announce a new tourism drive that will turn coastal Karnataka into a world‑class tourism hub.
The government plans to draft separate tourism policies for the coastal belt and the Malenadu region. Karnataka’s 320 km coastline, stretching across South Kannada, Udupi and North Kannada districts, will receive focused development under the new scheme.
Shivakumar said the initiative will boost local tourism, generate employment for youth and curb out‑migration to other states or abroad. He added that preserving the area’s cultural legacy will be a core component of the plan.
“Coastal Karnataka is a sacred land; just as waves give value to the sea, the coast adds priceless worth to the state,” the chief minister declared, praising the region’s significance.
To promote temple tourism, the state is preparing a dedicated project, and a consultation on the tourism policy will be convened soon in Mangalore. The chief minister also recalled his earlier visit to the temple as deputy chief minister, noting that he now seeks the deity’s blessings in his role as chief minister.
Addressing concerns raised by senior community leader and entrepreneur Dr. J. Shankar regarding fishermen’s issues, Shivakumar explained that he could not make an announcement during the election code period. He promised to discuss the matter with officials in Bangalore after the code lifts, emphasizing the government’s record of keeping promises.
Present at the ceremony were Health Minister U. T. Kadar, Udupi District Minister Rizwan Arshad, Legislative Assembly Deputy Chairperson Mankala Vaidya, MP Sriniwas Pujari, Kapu MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty, Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna, Legislative Council member Manjunath Bhandari, Iwan Disoj, former ministers Vinay Kumar Sorake and Gopal Pujari, M.A. Gafur, Manjunath Pujari Mudradi, Kisan Hegde Kolkebail, Dinesh Hegde Molahalli, Anand C. Kunder, Prasad Raj Kanchan, Mohan Bengre and several other dignitaries.
Entrepreneur Dr. J. Shankar welcomed the guests and highlighted the challenges faced by coastal fishermen. Scholar Damodar Sharma hosted the program. Prior to the speech, Shivakumar performed puja at the Mahalakshmi shrine, offering prayers to Sharda Mata and the Ashtalakshmi idol. A flower offering was made to the bronze statue of the Kshetriya guru Kirti Shesha Madhav Mangal, and a display of artefacts crafted from various grains was exhibited in the temple premises.
Image: Wikipedia — D. K. Shivakumar
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi