Third showroom of VK Furniture and Electronics inaugurated in Thokottu
Mangaluru: One of the major name in the local furniture and electronic appliances business in and around Mangaluru, VK Furniture and Electronics, inaugurated its new showroom in the city at Unique Mall at Kalappu near Thokottu on Wednesday morning here.
Speaking after inaugurating the new showroom, Nalin Kumar Kateel, BJP, Karnataka President lauded the VK Furniture and Electronics’ growth over the years in the business and added that if there is will to do anything, everything is possible.
MLA UT Khader addressing the ceremony congratulated VK Furniture and Electronics on the inauguration of its third showroom and conceded that Vittal Kulal is the youth icon in business industry. He also wished the venture to grow further and open more of its showrooms and outlets.
Ullal Juma Masjid and Syed Madani Dargah President, Haji Abdul Rasheed, Someshwar Somnath Temple Committee President Vishwanath Gatty Vagga, St. Sebastian Church’s Priest Rev, Dr. John Baptist Saldanha, Raghurama Rai (Mumbai) Ullal Guthu, Businessmen UK Yusuf, Abdul Khader and owner of VK Furniture and Electronics Vittal Kulal and his wife Vinuta Vittal Kulal were present during the ceremony.
Chethan Shetty and Soujanya Hegde compered the event.
The new showroom offers a wide range variety in goods like Dining Tables, Sofa sets, Bedroom sets with Mattress and all kinds of home appliances including Dressing tables and mirrors, wide range of clocks, photo frames, wall decorative and various types of outdoor furniture.
It also provide a host of choices in electronic items like Android LED, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Mobile phones, laptops along with home interiors among others.
Office furniture, chairs, wardrobes are also some of the items the showroom will offer variety of choices for its customers.
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Heated debate in Karnataka Legislative Council over continued ACC mining in Kalaburagi
Bengaluru (PTI): A heated exchange took place in the Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday over alleged non-payment of mining dues and the "unauthorised" continuation of quarry operations by the Adani Group’s ACC Limited, with ruling Congress and the opposition BJP members questioning the government’s handling of royalty recovery and permissions.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Congress MLC K Shivakumar, speaking on behalf of his party MLC Arathi Krishna, alleged that substantial royalty dues remained unpaid even as operations continued.
Krishna wanted to know whether the Karnataka government was aware that the lease period granted to Adani Group’s ACC Ltd for mining in the Kannur Limestone Block at Wadi in Kalaburagi has expired.
“If it is true, what action has the government taken against the said company for allegedly carrying out unauthorised mining at the site without paying the total dues of Rs 850.21 crore towards royalty, rent or penalty payable to the state government?” she asked in the written question.
She claimed that despite the Law department having given a written opinion to the Mines department that the said company should not be permitted to undertake mining activities until it clears all pending dues payable to the government, no legal action has been initiated against ACC, and instead a letter has been written to the central government regarding renewal of the lease in favour of the company.
Krishna questioned the apparent disparity in enforcement between small quarry operators and large corporate entities.
“After the Adani Group took over quarrying, they had to pay Rs 837 crore as royalty. Till today, they have not paid the royalty. What prompted you to exempt them from this royalty?” asked Shivakumar, on behalf of Krishna.
“If there is any small quarry operator, if he does not pay royalty, you do not allow him... You just bring him and seize it.”
BJP MLC C T Ravi echoed similar concerns, questioning the legal and procedural basis for allowing participation in bidding and continuation of operations despite pending dues.
“Do your rules allow those with pending dues to participate? If such a provision exists, under which rule does it exist?” he asked, also seeking clarity on recommendations of the High-Level Committee, Law Department and concurrence of the Finance Department.
Responding to the allegations, Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, replying on behalf of the Mines and Geology Minister S S Mallikarjun, maintained that no fresh licence had been granted and that the matter involved both an existing mining lease and a separate new application still under process.
He said the company had applied through the bidding route and was given time to complete formalities, which had since been done.
The minister explained that the issue of dues was pending before the court, which has allowed operations to continue subject to certain conditions.
“The old licence is continuing under court direction. It has not been stopped. We are following court direction,” he said, adding that part payment had been made and the balance would be decided through legal proceedings.
Ravi, however, pressed further, arguing that court orders did not prevent recovery of dues.
“The court has not said do not recover dues. What does your legal opinion say? Why have you not recovered?” he asked.
Shivakumar also raised concerns over declining non-tax revenue from mining, citing the state’s own budget observations.
“If Rs 800 crore to Rs 900 crore is allowed to let go like this, where will non-tax revenue come from?” he asked and sought to know why the government had not fully tapped the sector’s revenue potential.
The Minister reiterated that the due itself was under dispute, making immediate recovery difficult.
“How can we recover when the amount itself is not decided? Until recovery is possible, no further permission will be given,” he said, adding that consultations with the Law Department and Advocate General would be held to explore further action.
He also cited tender conditions, stating, “As per the tender notification dated October 5, 2020, a company must have paid all past dues to be considered a successful bidder.”
Unconvinced, Ravi demanded that the recovery of dues should follow.
