Mangaluru: Rs 165 cr proposal for development of Pilikula Nisargadhama

Mangaluru: Rs 165 cr proposal for development of Pilikula Nisargadhama

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, February 20, 2025: 10 departments have submitted a proposal for the comprehensive development of Dr Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama, which is worth Rs 165 crore, B Shivanna, chairman of the Karnataka Legislature Committee on subordinate legislation, said.

Following the committee’s visit to Pilikula Nisargadhama, a meeting of officials from various departments was held at the Netravati Hall of the Zilla Panchayat on Wednesday.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, he said to transform Pilikula Nisargadhama into a major tourist attraction in the state, various development projects have been proposed by 10 departments, including Forest, Tourism, Education, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Science and Technology, Revenue, Horticulture, Kannada and Culture, Fisheries, and Textiles.

A department-wise meeting of the Pilikula Development Authority will be held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner. Based on the report from the meeting, discussions will be held with the concerned ministers about the pros and cons of the projects, followed by a high-level meeting with the Chief Minister to allocate the required funds. He also mentioned that attention is being given to increasing the salaries of employees working at Pilikula.

Committee member M R Sitaram stated that discussions were also held on providing long-term funding for Pilikula’s development and appointing deputy director-level officers for its management. He emphasised that Pilikula represents the Dakshina Kannada district and needs to be further enhanced to attract more tourists by organising special programmes.

During the meeting, there was also a demand to either establish the Pilikula Development Authority as a board or transfer its management to the Zoo Authority. A decision will be made based on the report from the concerned department.

Responding to a query from reporters about appointing a permanent commissioner for the Pilikula Authority, he said that this would be considered after implementing the comprehensive development plans that have already been proposed.

The Science and Technology Department has submitted a proposal worth Rs 4,400 lakh for various projects, including the installation of a laser projector at the planetarium, the establishment of the Prof UR Rao Gallery, model installations in the planetarium park, and the modernisation of exhibits at the Science Centre.

The Tourism Department has submitted a proposal of Rs 4,600 lakh for projects such as the renovation of two amphitheatres, installation of a solar grid, construction of a permanent compound wall around Pilikula, upgrading the electricity transformer and streetlights, building a suspension bridge in Lake Garden, establishing a high-tech tourist guest house and dormitory, developing a children’s park, and developing a toy train.

The Forest Environment Department has proposed projects worth Rs 4,355 lakh, including the expansion of the Western Ghats Research Centre, the Herbarium and Botanical Museum project, the digitisation of herbarium specimens, enhancement of plant conservation, and the development of the Wildlife Conservation Centre.

Committee members DG Shantanagowdar, Samruddhi Manjunath, Prakash Kolivada, Raja Venugopal Nayak, Vittal Somanna Algekar, N Ravikumar, Ganapati Ulvekar, Vasant Kumar, Kiran Kumar Kodgi, and Srivatsa were present at the meeting.