Ration shops in Udupi, DK to provide boiled rice

By Ganesh Mavanji

Mangaluru: The Central government has agreed to distribute boiled rice in both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts through ration shops. Minister for Social Welfare and Backward Classes Kota Srinivas Poojary said.

Addressing reporters at Udupi on Saturday, Kota said,” When I was the incharge minister of Dakshina Kannada district, I had sought distribution of boiled rice. After Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai too made this recommendation, around 1 lakh quintals of boiled rice will be distributed in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts from next month.”

“There was a huge demand from citizens of DK district and Udupi to distribute good quality boiled rice. We have purchased rice varieties like ‘M4’ and ‘Jaya’ for the purpose,” he added.

Mekedatu Padayatra is politically motivated

Responding to a query on the Mekedatu Padayatra, the minister felt it was politically motivated. “If leaders of the Congress are really concerned about the drinking water needs of people, why were they silent when Siddaramaiah was in power? There is a dispute in the court pertaining to Mekedatu. If this dispute is settled, the government will implement the project. A protest cannot achieve any positive results nor can a Congress Padayatra be a people’s programme,” he opined.