Rai skips foundation stone ceremony for MCC projects.

Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada B. Ramanath Rai did not turn up for the foundation stone laying ceremony for development projects in the jurisdiction of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) here on Tuesday. He, however, attended the inaugural sessions of two Indira canteens in the city earlier. About two hours behind schedule, J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South, and Mayor Kavita Sanil laid the foundation stone for projects estimated at ₹112.06 crore, which mainly comprised building footpaths and stormwater drains.

The Mayor on Monday had called a press conference especially to announce the proposed projects costing ₹2,266.65 crore, including mainly 65 projects costing ₹2,000 crore under the Smart City Mission and other projects under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme, Nagarottana scheme and Asian Development Bank-assisted sewage pipeline projects. But all these projects were kept out of the proposals for which the foundation stone was laid during the day.

The Mayor said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will lay the foundation stone for projects which were left out on Tuesday, at a later date.

Mr. Lobo said communal harmony played a pivotal role in the development of a region.

THE HINDU