Mangaluru: As thousands of people from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and other parts of the coastal region are stranded in Mumbai and are struggling to return home, the leaders of the Bunt and Billava communities have urged DK district in-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary to speed up the procedures to receive them.
It can be noted that Mumbai has over 15 lakh Kannadigas, a majority of whom are from the coastal region alone. It is said that Karnataka is not keen on welcoming people from Maharashtra, especially those from Mumbai, as it is a Covid-19 hotspot.
According to sources, nearly 2,500 applications seeking approval to return to the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. As most of them belong to the Bunt and Billawa communities, the community leaders are urging the district administration to expedite their return.
Sources also informed that labourers from North Indian states have already left from Mumbai, but Kannadigas are still stranded.
Meanwhile, the Dakshina Kannada district administration has made all necessary arrangements to quarantine people who are returning from other districts and states. There are 18 BCM hostels have been converted into quarantine centres in Bantwal, 21 in the Belthangady taluk, 14 in Mangaluru, nine in Puttur and 11 in the Sullia taluk. Wedding halls, indoor stadiums and other public places have also been converted into quarantine centres.
