Mangaluru: Social activist and convener Umar UH, who had been recently appointed as the chairperson of the Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, took charge at the Academy office situated in the Mangaluru Taluk Panchayat building on Thursday.

Academy Registrar Rajesh G handed over the charge of the body to Umar and heartily congratulated him on his appointment as the new chairperson of the Academy.

Speaking on the occasion, Umar said that his dream of many years, to see a ‘Beary Bhavan’, could now be fulfilled as the Academy had a site as well as funds of Rs 6 crore to support the construction of a hall for the Beary Academy. He added that there were plans of providing the Beary Academy a full-fledged museum and a library similar to those of the Konkani and Tulu academies. The decision would be taken after holding discussions with the Academy members, said the chairperson.

Umar laid stress on working in harmony with the literary bodies of other languages and supporting the cultural co-existence in the coastal belt, adding that the Academy hoped to focus on research rather than cultural programs.

Former chairperson of the Academy Rahim Ucchil, Mohammed Hanif, Tulu Academy Chairperson Taranath Gatti and Konkani Academy Chairperson Stany Alvares were present on the occasion.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Mangaluru.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



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.