Sugar factory to be leased to private sector: MLA

UDUPI: MLA Raghupati Bhat said on Saturday that the Brahmavar Sugar Factory would be leased to private parties in order to rejuvenate it. He was speaking in the "Face-to-Face" programme organised by the Udupi Consumers' Forum here. Mr. Bhat said private parties would have to first clear the dues of the farmers and pay the remaining salaries of the workers to the sugar factory. The Government was already holding talks with some private companies in this regard and it would not run the factory. He said the widening work of the narrow Bannanje-Kalsank stretch of Udupi-Manipal would begin soon. The notification for widening of the road to 80 feet had been issued by the Revenue Department. The compensation for land acquisition to land owners would be given shortly. Nearly 60 per cent of landowners had volunteered to give their land for the widening work. The widening work including land acquisition would be taken up at a cost of Rs. 24 crore. Answering a question, the MLA said the repair work of the Gundibail-Kalsank Road had been delayed owing to the mistake of officials. However jelly had been put on the road and asphalting would be taken up soon. The second stage of Swarna Drinking Water Project is in its final stages. This year there would be no drinking water shortage in Udupi city.