Swacch Bharath Abhiyan should become a mass movement: Oil minister

MANGALURU: Ramakrishna Mission’s "Swacch Mangaluru for Swacch Bharath" cleanliness drive on the 10th consecutive Sunday at Circuit House at Kadri was inaugurated by Dharmendra Pradhan, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, on Sunday.
Swami Jitakamanandaji of Mangaluru Ramakrishna Math, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, J R Lobo, MLA, Mangalore City South, Capt.Ganesh Karnik, MLC, Krishna Palemar, Sri Yogish Bhat, former MLAs, Kumarm, MD, MRPL and others were present.
The Students of Government First Grade College, Car Street, Employees of MRPL, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Members of VV Cricket Association, Members of ISIRI Arts and other devotees and well-wishers of the Ashrama took an active part in the drive.
Pradhan in his brief address lauded the efforts of citizens in their contribution towards the clean nation. He also opined that Swacch Bharath Abhiyan should become a mass movement to ensure a clean and green nation. He appreciated the initiative of Ramakrishna Mission in this regard and asked people to join hands.
A bus shelter opposite Mangaluru East Police Station was cleaned on this occasion. Seized and damaged vehicles near police station were vacated and the space was cleaned to facilitate parking and park for the public. Circuit House premises was also cleaned up and thousands of used and damaged bottles were recovered and disposed. Volunteers tidied up the four corners of Kadri Hills circle and the students of Ramakrishna Mission Balakashrama distributed the handbills of awareness literature.
This is a part of the 40 weeks Cleanliness Drive being organized by the Ramakrishna Mission and initiated on February 1.
Lady goschen visit: Union Minister Pradhan also visited Lady Goschen Hospital and assured that necessary funds for the completion of the project would be released soon. He said fluctuation in profits has caused delay in releasing funds by MRPL to the project.
The new building, which is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 21.7 crore, will have 275 beds with all modern facilities. The 12,000 square feet building will have five floors, ground floor and basement. It will be capable of taking care 25 deliveries on a single day. It is being constructed under corporate social responsibility initiative by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), an Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) company. The minister lauded the cleanliness aspect at the hospital.