Mangalore, Jan 26, 2012: District-in-charge Minister Krishna J. Palemar in his 63rd Republic Day address after hoisting the national flag on the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations at Nehru Maidan on the morning of Jan 26, Thursday, he said that the district has recorded a number of developmental programmes launched in DK during the past three-and-a-half years.

Further, he said that around 528 km stretch national highway and 775km stretch main roads including 138  infrastructural works worth Rs 9,545 lakhs will be completed under the NABARD scheme. Around 85 infrastructural works have been completed. Further in 2011-12, 69 new infrastructural works worth Rs 7250 lakhs at the stretch of Rs 232 km will be developed.

He said that 30 bridge works worth Rs 2,028 have been undertaken. The Mangalore court building worth Rs 18 crore, Circuit house work worth Rs 3 crore, Puttur Mini Vidhan Soudha second phase worth Rs 550 lakh is in progress. The Sullia Mini Vidhan Soudha work will complete by March 2012, he said. Mangalore, Moodbidri and Bantwal court development work worth Rs 32 crore is in progress, he added.

The government has sanctioned the action scheme of Rs 5,638 for 2011-12 drinking water scheme and Rs 1331lakhs has been spent.

Palemar also read a report on various schemes and development programmes initiated in DK during 2011 – 2012. Several achievers, who had brought laurels to DK district, were honored on the occasion.

Deputy Speaker N. Yogish Bhat Seemanth Kumar Singh, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, City Police Commissioner, SP Abhishek Goyal, K T Shailaja Bhat, president of DK Zilla Panchayat; MLC and Vice President of NRI Committee Captain Ganesh Karnik, DC Dr Channappa Gowda, Coastal Development Authority Chairman B. Nagaraj Shetty,  ZP CEO Dr K N Vijayaprakash and others were also present.

Prior to his speech, Palemar received a guard of honor in an open jeep. An attractive cultural entertainment programmes were presented by students of St Gerosa and St Ann’s schools and the police department.

A total of 14 teams comprising KSRP, PSI, traffic police, civil police, home guards, Fire Service, NCC Army Senior, NCC Naval, NCC Air Wing Senior, NCC Army Junior, NCC Naval Junior, Guides, Road Safety Patrol, Bharath Seva Dal girls and Boys participated in the march past to the accompaniment of the Police Band.

The Mangalore Motor Association under the leadership of Sudhir BK organized the Vintage Car Rally and exhibition of old models two wheelers at the venue.