Tag Archives: Teethir Dharmaja Uthappa

Kodagu road reconstruction, health sector receive boost in state budget

March 7, 2026Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, LeadersCoorg, Dharmaja Uthappa, K G Bopaiah - MLA - Virajpet, KG Bopaiah, Kodagu, Kodagu District, Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association, Kodagu First, Kodava Development Board, Kushalnagar Community Hospital, Madikeri, Nagendra Prasad, Nanjundappa Report, Ponnampet, Teethir Dharmaja Uthappa, Virajpet Hospitaladmin

The state budget has sanctioned Rs 20 crore for the reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges following incessant rainfall in regions including Virajpet, Madikeri and Ponnampet.

Madikeri :

Road connectivity and the health sector in Kodagu have received a boost in the state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. While Congress members termed it a progressive budget, BJP leaders criticised it as a “useless budget” with no special consideration for the district.

The state budget has sanctioned Rs 20 crore for the reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges following incessant rainfall in regions including Virajpet, Madikeri and Ponnampet.

Developmental projects for the Kodava Development Board, funds for the welfare of tribes who form a significant population in the district, and the health sector have also received support in the budget.

Virajpet Hospital will be upgraded from a 200 bed capacity to 400 beds, the budget assures funds for the upgradation of Kushalnagar Community Hospital. (File photo)

While Virajpet Hospital will be upgraded from a 200 bed capacity to 400 beds, the budget assures funds for the upgradation of Kushalnagar Community Hospital. Ponnampet will also get a new community hospital.

However, stakeholders in the tourism sector said the budget does not mention any special funds for tourism development.

Nagendra Prasad, president of the Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association, said that although Kodagu generates increased revenue for the state through tourism and liquor sales, no funds have been sanctioned for tourism infrastructure in the district.

“From property tax of hospitality facilities to GST, the tourism sector contributes immensely to the state revenue. But unfortunately, this revenue is not being invested back to further improve the sector,” he opined.

Meanwhile, former BJP MLA K. G. Bopaiah criticised the budget as a “useless” one and a “record budget of complete failure”. He said the budget is not people friendly and added that for the 17th time the Chief Minister has made “only promises, declarations and vague plans without any absolute focus”.

He recalled that the BJP government had sanctioned special funds to the district as per the Nanjundappa report due to heavy rainfall and said, “We used to sanction up to Rs 100 crore as a special package for the district. But for the past three years, the state has neglected Kodagu,” he alleged.

He further alleged that there is no plan or precision in the sanctioning of funds for mitigation projects to curb wildlife conflict.

Dharmaja Uthappa, district president of the Congress party, said the budget is progressive and that the Kodava Development Board, road connectivity and the health sector have received a boost.

“Even the issue of wildlife conflict is addressed and it is overall a pro development budget,” he opined.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Express News Service / March 06th, 2026

Karnataka: ‘Swacha Kodagu-Sundara Kodagu’ mega-cleanliness drive to be held on Oct. 15

October 15, 2025Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, AllAnand Prakash Meena, B R Nagendra Prasad, B S Sundar, Clean Kodagu - Beautiful Kodagu, Coorg, Gonikoppal, K Ramarajan - Kodagu SP, Kodagu, Kodagu Chamber of Commerce, Kodagu District, Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce, Kodagu District Cooperative Central Bank, Kodagu First, Kodagu Homestays Association, Kodagu Hotels and Resorts Association, Kodagu University, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat, Kundyolanda Dinesh, Kundyolanda Dinesh Kariappa, Kushalnagar, M P Sunach Kushalappa, M P Sunach Kushalappa - MLC, Mantar Gowda, Mantar Gowda - Madikeri MLA, Naseer Ahamed - General Secretary - Kodagu Hotels and Resorts Association, Naseer Ahmed, Rohith, Somwarpet, Swacha Kodagu - Sundara Kodagu, Taluk Homestay Association, Teethir Dharmaja Uthappa, Venkat Raja - DC Kodaguadmin

The ‘Swacha Kodagu-Sundara Kodagu’ (Clean Kodagu-Beautiful Kodagu) campaign has received an overwhelming response from across the district and a mega-cleanliness drive will be held on Wednesday, October 15, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. as part of the initiative.

Kundyolanda Dinesh Kariappa, president, Kodagu Hotels and Resorts Association, said that the campaign is being organised under the banner of the association, in collaboration with the district administration, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat, Kodagu Chamber of Commerce, Kodagu Homestays Association, Rotary and Lions Clubs, Department of Tourism, Red Cross, local organisations, and various educational institutions. More than 220 associations and organisations in the district have extended their support to the drive.

MLA for Madikeri Mantar Gowda will inaugurate the district-level campaign near General Thimmaiah Circle in Madikeri at 8 a.m. Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Anand Prakash Meena, and other dignitaries are scheduled to be present.

M.P. Sunach Kushalappa, MLC, will inaugurate the drive at Gonikoppal, while B.R. Nagendra Prasad, president, Kodagu District Chamber of Commerce, will launch the programme at Kushalnagar. At Virajpet, Teethir Dharmaja Uttappa, District President, Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee, will launch the drive. Rohith, president, Taluk Homestay Association; and B.S. Sundar, vice-president of the Hotels and Resorts Association, will inaugurate the campaign at Somwarpet.

As part of the initiative, 1,500 NSS students from 23 colleges affiliated with Kodagu University will participate in cleanliness activities within their respective campuses. Similarly, students from schools and colleges across the district will take part in cleaning the respective premises of their institutions.

Officials and staff of the Kodagu District Cooperative Central Bank among others have also pledged their support.

Traders have been urged to clean the surroundings of their business establishments.

Mr. Kariappa said that public participation is being sought on a voluntary basis and the waste collected on October 15 will be transported to the solid waste management plant in Mysuru with the assistance of panchayat and local body officials.

Association general secretary Naseer Ahmed said government office staff, private school teachers, bank employees, and students may also participate between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on October 15. The campaign primarily focuses on cleaning major roads and highways across the district.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India / by The Hindu Bureau / October 14th, 2025