Mangalore: Umanath A  Kotian, former president of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy   has said that the blue print for a new building of the Tulu Academy  to come up on a 50 cents land at Urvastores is ready.

Kotian who spoke to reporters  for the first time after quitting his post as Academy Chairman, said he hoped that the project of having a new building for the Academy would soon be a reality.

He said he was happy over his performance as Academy President and thanked all the 13 members of the Academy for their co-operation.

He said various programmes were organised during his tenure to promote Tulu language and culture. He said  an appeal has been made to Union Minister Veerappa Moily and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel during the Kannada convention in Delhi to include Tulu in the eighth schedule of the constitution and hoped the demand would be fulfilled.

Damodar Bangera, Member of the Academy, was also present at the press meet.