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Udupi : Pramod Madhwaraj, District in-charge Minister counter attacked the Raghupathy Bhat former MLA and challenged him to release documents to prove corruption charges against him. There is ACB, Lokayukta and other agencies to charge him in case of any corruption from me, said Pramod Madhwaraj.

Addressing the media persons during the press meet at Udupi Press Club on Thursday, 29^th March,  Pramod Madhwaj said that if BJP having courage to file case against the corruption from me, let them to do so that Central government ruled by BJP. He said first of all Bhat is facing serious allegations and was denied party ticket in previous assembly election. What moral right does he have to release a charge sheet against me?

Replying to charge sheet by the Raghupathy Bhat last week, Pramod Madhwaraj said that I didn’t made people to bend my head down, rather I have made people to make their head up that through the Times of India and Prajavani print media shown that I am first among 224 MLA’s in Karnataka in regard to development of the constituency. Raghupathy Bhat former MLA has made various allegations against me and said that no developmental works done in Udupi Constituency during my five year tenure. I fulfilled almost all promises of vision 2025. Whatever the vision 2025 manifesto,  remaining promises will be fulfilled in the coming seven years.

 In 2013 when UPA was in power at Center, Oscar Fernandes was the minister and there was a hope that funds will be granted to my constituency which is not happened due to change government at the center. Hence some of the promises which I made delayed due to non cooperation from the Center government. Hence, it was not possible to construct 500 bed hospital due to non cooperation of the central government, he said.

Pramod said that on the allegation made against him by the Raghupathy Bhat on Udupi District Hospital that since the formation of Udupi district, no government not able to bring fund and no interest to upgrade as district hospital. It is he who developed the Hospital with record developmental works in the district hospital. Udupi District Ayush Hospital – Rs 132.66 lakh, Rs. 30 lakhs for Canteen facility, K.M.G. Nandini Milk Centre and Hopcoms sales market (Civic Amenities), Rs 15 lakhs for TB Ward Renovation and other projects, Rs 85 lakh for crematorium, Rs. 36.32 lakh for water and sanitary system as well as building repairs, construction of guest house for doctors, nurses and D group employees have been spent for the people of the district. He said that Rs. 1354.62 lakh spent for Hospitals in Udupi Legislative Constituency, he said.

Women and Children Hospital earlier there was 70 beds. Some time in this hospital pregnant woman used to face inconvenience due to shortage of bed. I brought this problem to the chief minister and the Health minister. That time NRI businessman Dr. B. R. Shetty looking for construction of hospital under his father and mother’s name. So, in collaboration with B R Shetty, a hospital was built in dedication to Koosamma Shambu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdulla Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Udupi. It is completely free for any treatment which is first high-tech government hospital in all over the country, he said.

Pramod counter attacking Bhat in regard to four lane work not done in Udupi constituency said that four lane work is delayed due to change of land acquisition laws. Presently the land acquisition is very costlier which would be severe shortage of economic resources. The first phase four lane road construction of Udupi – Ambagilu – Manipal route is in process at the estimated cost of Rs. 5 crore. In front of Raghupathy’s five star hotel Country Inn the four lane is constructed. Perhaps Raghupathy blind to see the development of four lane. Moreover, four laning Parkala – Manipal – Malpe road is yet to begin in the last four years of NDA rule. Still now under DPR stage.  It is due to the failure of NDA government as well as MP Shobha Karandlaje, he said.

In regard to Uppoor GTTC Centre, Mangaluru University team inspected the land at Uppoor which was found that the construction of post graduation centre not possible due to ecological problems. It is not suitable place to construct the GTTC Centre at Uppoor. The construction of Uppoor GTTC is underway at the cost of Rs. 44 crores which will be create jobs for youth, he said.

In reply to Raghupathy Bhat’s allegation on Brahmavar Town Council issue, Pramod said that in the state only in Kaup become the Town Council in the state due to Vinaykumar Sorake was the Urban Development Minister. He succeeded to make Kaup Town Council in Kaup legislative council. In future, it is sure that Brahmavar become Brahmavar Town Council, he said.

In regard to multi village drinking water schemes in Udupi, he said that the tendering process under way and work to be started soon.

In Sand Mining issue, due to illegal sand mining in the district, there has been petition in Green Tribunal Court and hence it was banned to sand mining. As per the direction and guidance from Green Tribunal, formed committee under DC and qualified sand miners permitted for the sand mining. Due to our efforts for the first time in the state sand from the district is not transported to other parts of the state. The district in charge minister not responsible for the illegal sand mining in the district that it is under DC who leading the committee for the illegal sand mining, he said.

Pramod said that I have requested the centre to allow sand mining in CRZ areas. It is Raghupathy’s government in Centre, let him write letter to the centre to solve the CRZ problems, he said.

In my election manifesto in 2013, I told that I am not allowed to increase the drinking water bills and municipal taxes and hence three years, the Municipality not increased the same. But due to the order from the government, we have no way but increase the taxes. Udupi Municipal Council spending Rs. 6 crore for clearing the solid waste. In eight wards, CMC itself clearing the solid waste due to heavy collection of waste, he said.

In regard to Agriculture University establishment at Brahmavar, Pramod said that the state government not established the Agriculture University in the state. Hon. Agriculture Minister Byre Gowda promised Pramod that if Agriculture University established, it is only at Brahmavar.

In order to bring all the governmental offices in one place, we have reserved 6 acres of land for the purpose to establish mini Vidhana Souda at old IB place. But we are gone though about this 6 acres of land and now the mini Vidhana Soudha will be established at Brahmavar. Meanwhile a stadium will be come up in Brahmavar Gandhi Maidan for which Rs 75 lakhs have been already sanctioned. Here before even Jayapraksh Hegde and BJP leaders not able to find the suitable place that the said land belongs to defence. Earlier Bhat and also Jayapraksh Hegde did not consider the land claiming it be belonging to defence department.

In four years and ten months, Pramod Madhwaraj brought to  Udupi Legislative Assembly Rs. 2026 crore for the developmental works. BJP people can check the amount brought to the constituency and he will open for that, he said.

Asking the complication regarding he joining the BJP, Pramod Madhwarj said that he never told to anybody, anywhere or any instances he will join the BJP Party. It is sure that AICC President Rahul Gandhi surely will come power in 2019, he said.

Asking the allegation of T. J. Abrahams, Pramod said that who he to give deadline to me is. I have applied for RTI in Delhi for getting more information on him. I have directed my advocate to collect information which will takes 2 to three days more to get RTI information and the court requires certain documents to file defamation case against him. The said person belongs to Bengaluru. How he can know about me in Udupi. I found that in certain case the Supreme Court fined Rs 25 lakhs on him for wasting precious supreme court time, he said.

Udupi district Congress Committee Janardhan Thonse, CMC President Meenakshi Madhave Bannanje, Block Congress President Sathish Amin Padukere, Narasimha Moorthy, Janardhan Bhandarkar and other were present during the press meet.