Puttur: Records reveal that Puttur was a taluk head quarters during British regime in the undivided South Kanara. In the year 1927 Puttur became taluk head quarters after Uppinangadi was divested of that tag which substantiates the fact that Puttur is 90 years old. Considering its development and growth potential there is an undercurrent developing in the public sphere to make Puttur a new rural district by carving out rural areas from existing Dakshina Kannada.
Located at a distance of 56 kms from Mangaluru, Puttur has seen immense development over the years in the field of literature, culture, agriculture, politics, sports and education by retaining the rich tradition of the coastal Karnataka. Considering its growth in the last 10 years people in Puttur and surrounding areas are dreaming of district-status to realise their full potential. It is in this connection they want the state administration to upgrade the status of Puttur from taluk head quarters to district head quarters.
Geographically Puttur is situated bordering Kerala on one side and several rural taluks on all other sides with both National and state highways passing through the taluk. Few more developmental works will enhance the current status of Puttur feel residents who are looking forward for some government projects to boost their claim. Recently upgraded bus stand, Divisional transport office, up gradation of town muncipal council to city municipal council and the mini Vidhana Soudha has helped Puttur stake its claim to become a district. Government has allotted land for proposed women’s college and a judicial complex at Anemajalau which is few kilometres away from the town, when established will add new feathers to its credentials.
The present taluk headquarters has seen exponential growth in the field of education with the establishment of several new educational institutions. More than 30000 students are benefitting from this development. The taluk has many private hospitals to its credit but is way far behind in terms of Industrial growth. Well known CAMPCO and the cashew research centre at Mottethadka are the only the only establishments which the taluk boasts at present.
People are demanding shifting the office of Superintendent of police to Puttur as the district head quarters Mangaluru is having Police commissioner’s office. The cries are becoming louder to set up the new SP’s office in either Puttur or in other prominent places of the district like Belthangadi, Sullia or Bantwal though many consider Puttur an ideal location as it is in the center of all other prominent towns .
Govt medical college here
The government is setting up new medical colleges in each district and people of Puttur are demanding one in their taluk as district headquarters Mangaluru has several medical colleges .Residents feel if the medical college springs up in the town it will not only help the rural folk surrounding Puttur but also people staying in border areas of the district including those from Kodagu. The government has set aside a plot measuring 40 acres for the proposed Medical college in Sediyapu and locals feel, increasing the number of beds in taluk hospital to 300 will help the project gain momentum.
Statistical data suggests that Puttur fulfils desired criteria to be declared a new district if one compares Puttur with recently formed Ramanagar and Chikkaballapur districts.Ramnagar has 10.5 lakh population and an area of 3575,58 sq.mtrs where as Chikkaballapur has a population of 10 lakhs and area measuring 4100 sq. mtrs. According to census data of 2011 Puttur has a population of 10.15 lakhs and an area of 3979 sq mtrs which makes Puttur eligible for ‘district league’ .
Now the million dollar question among the people of Puttur and neighbouring areas is “will Puttur become a district head quarters soon? Or will the congested roads throttle its attempt to garner district status”.
