Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh on Wednesday assured people of the District that the administration had taken measures to ensure supply of essential goods including rice, vegetable and fruits across the District during the lockdown and asserted that there was no need for the people to panic buy goods.

She was speaking at the Deputy Commissioner’s office after chairing a meeting of top officials regarding the supply of essential goods during the 21-day lockdown.

Sindhu Rupesh also directed the police officials to not to obstruct or interfere in the transportation of food items and added that the District Administration was prepared to provide adequate supply of all the goods in the District.

She further informed the police personnel that vegetables are supplied to the District from Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Shivmogga Districts while rice is supplied from Udupi District and added that movement of these vehicles not be stopped or interfered.

Rupesh then confirmed that essential shops will be open between morning 6 am to 12 noon for the convenience of people adding that there was no need for panic buying for the people. She also urged people to not rush at stores and to maintain discipline to ensure social distancing.

Additional DC Roopa, MCC Commissioner Shanadi Ajith Kumar, DCP Arunangsh Giri and other top officials were present during the meeting at the DC office.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.

The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.

He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.

Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.

The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.

Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.

Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.

Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.

He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.

These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.

On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.

Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.

In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.

Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.

For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.

Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.