Udupi: The 68th district-level Kannada Rajyotsava Day was celebrated with grandeur on Wednesday at the Ajjarakadu Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium in Udupi, under the aegis of the District Level Kannada Rajyotsava Committee, Udupi District.

District in-charge minister Laxmi R Hebbalkar hoisted the flag and delivered the Kannada Rajyotsava message.

In her speech, Hebbalkar announced the launch of a major project to irrigate about 2,500 hectares of agricultural land by constructing 56 vented dams under the Pashchima Vahini scheme in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 450 crore.

Hebbalkar also noted that a waste collection system is now operational in 155 gram panchayats, and 87 panchayats have dry waste management facilities.

On the infrastructure development front, the district has taken up 355 road works and 16 bridge projects at a cost of Rs 627.37 crore and Rs 69.89 crore, respectively. In addition, 468 footbridges will be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

Hebbalkar also highlighted that 2,516 fishermen in the district have received Rs 32.95 crore in loans under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, and Rs 70 lakh in loans have been disbursed under the micro-food processing unit scheme. Subsidized diesel is being provided to nearly 800 fishing vessels, mechanized deep-sea boats, and motorized boats, with traditional motorized boats receiving 300 kiloliters of subsidized diesel per month.

In the Kannada Rajyotsava Day parade, the Karnataka State Forest Department won the first prize, followed by the Agriculture Department. Among the college student teams, Girls' Pre-University College, Udupi, won the first prize, followed by Ulakadu Government Union High School and Udupi Government High School (Board High School) in second and third places, respectively.

Fourteen contingents from various departments, schools, and colleges participated in the parade. In the NCC category, the NCC Novel Department from Purnaprajna College won the first prize, followed by the NCC Novel Department from MGA AA College and the NCC Army Department from Purnaprajna College in second and third places, respectively. In the primary and high school category, Government Senior Primary School Santhekatte Kalathur won the first prize, followed by Government High School Avarse and Saint Cecilia's High School Udupi in second and third places, respectively. In the cultural program, Government High School Inarakadu won the first prize, followed by Narayan Guru English Medium School in second place.

Twenty-nine individuals who have excelled in various fields and five organizations were honored with the district-level Karnataka Rajyotsava Award.

Prior to the program, a procession of Bhubaneswari Devi was held from Board High School to Ajjarakadu Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium, led by the Women and Child Development, Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, and Senior Citizens Department, and District In-charge Minister Lakshmi R Hebbalkar.

MLA Yashpal Suvarna, Deputy Commissioner K Vidyakumari, Superintendent of Police K Arun, Zilla Panchayat CEO H Prasanna and many others were present.