MLC Ivan D’Souza has appealed to the Karnataka government to organise a cabinet meeting in Mangaluru, highlighting the urgency of coastal development. He noted that sessions have already taken place in Chamarajanagar, Nandi Hills, and Kalaburagi, with Vijayapura next in line.
Speaking at a press conference in the Mangaluru City Corporation office on Saturday, D’Souza said convening the cabinet in Mangaluru would spotlight the significant challenges in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada. He stressed that ministers could gain firsthand understanding of local needs, particularly in fisheries and tourism.
While tourism plans for the coast have been discussed, he lamented the lack of concrete projects. He urged blending tourism with the fishing sector to drive sustainable progress. D’Souza also proposed renaming Dakshina Kannada to Mangaluru district, citing its global recognition and precedent in other districts.
On infrastructure, he demanded a special fund for Mangalore University’s growth and estimated ₹30,000 crore for expanding Mangaluru International Airport, given runway constraints.
He revealed high-level talks on streamlining sand and red stone mining regulations and advocated reducing red stone costs. Supporting MLA Harish Poonja’s idea to reclaim stormwater drain land for roads, he suggested grama panchayats oversee the process.
Additionally, D’Souza welcomed the government’s move to legalise unpermitted autos, saying it would ease congestion and benefit over 1,000 vehicles in the city.