Minister gives minority welfare complex a go-ahead

MANGALURU: Minister for minority welfare Qamar-ul-Islam has directed deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim to start the work on district minority welfare offices complex at Pandeshwar without further delay. The project for which district minister B Ramanath Rai laid the foundation stone on December 13 had run into rough weather with locals and students of a nearby school protesting against it stating that this was the only ground in the region. Qamar-ul-Islam who visited post-metric hostel in Chilimbi and interacted with students. He said that there is no point dragging the issue of constructing the offices complex. The high court has disposed of an appeal filed against the move to construct the complex in 17 cents of land at Pandeshwar and referred it to the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) for disposal. In the wake of KAT not giving any direction, the administration should proceed, he said. The office complex will consist of the office of directorate of minority welfare, district office of department of minority welfare, Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Ltd office, district Wakf office as well as a full-fledged information centre. The department has already set aside Rs 1 crore, the minister said, adding the task of constructing the office complex will be vested with the Nirmithi Kendra. Akram Pasha, director, directorate of minorities, said that the idea of having a minority welfare offices complex is to ensure that all offices that deal with minorities are present under a single roof. -The Hindu