Modernize agriculture activities to hike revenue, Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar tells Udupi farmers
Kundapur: District In-charge Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar stressed on the need for modernization in agriculture for increased revenue and urged the farmers in Udupi district to opt for updated technology and modern facilities.
The minister was speaking after inaugurating the Raitha Samparka Kendra (Farmers’ Contact Centre) of Koteshwara in Kundapur taluk during a programme held jointly by the Udupi Zilla Panchayat and the Agriculture Department.
Explaining that the centres are meant for the benefit of the farmers, Hebbalkar said that the officers will provide help and guidance to the farmers in various aspects, including government projects and provisions. She reminded the officers that they were meant to connect the government and the farmers.
Assuring that the state government was greatly concerned about the welfare of the farmers, the minister said that the government was focusing on ensuring continuation of agricultural activities by providing agricultural equipment and goods to farmers at subsidized rates, and also giving them necessary information related to farming. Hebbalkar again directed government officers to install information boards at prominent points under all gram panchayat limits for the benefit of farmers.
She opined that although India gained Independence, the British ensured agriculture in the country was greatly affected, when they quit the country. They introduced chemicals in agricultural products to prevent progress of India. Since India depends heavily on agriculture, however, the country has fought back and, is growing into a ‘vishwaguru’ in the field of agriculture, Hebbalkar added.
The minister spoke on her recent accident and said that she had survived with the blessings of the Almighty and the people. She emotionally expressed gratitude to both and said that God had saved her life for her to continue in service of the people.
Kundapur MLA Kiran Kumar Kodgi, District Guarantee Committee President Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, District Guarantee Committee Vice-president Dinesh Hegde, Deputy Commissioner Dr. K Vidya Kumari, Superintendent of Police Dr. K Arun, Zilla Panchayat CEO Prathik Bayal and officials of the Agriculture Department were present.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
