Shirva Gram Panchayat to be Upgraded to Town Panchayat: Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar

Shirva Gram Panchayat to be Upgraded to Town Panchayat: Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, November 2, 2025: Minister for Women and Child Development and Udupi District In-charge Lakshmi Hebbalkar announced on Saturday that steps would be taken to upgrade the Shirva Gram Panchayat into a town panchayat.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for various development works and distributing government facilities at Shirva and Udyavara in the Kapu Assembly constituency, Ms. Hebbalkar said Shirva had all the necessary features to become a town panchayat. If elections to the taluk and zilla panchayats were not held by December, immediate action would be initiated to upgrade the gram panchayat, she added.

The Minister assured that the Kapu constituency would witness comprehensive development in the coming days with the release of sufficient funds. She noted that former Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake had earlier facilitated the release of ₹10 crore from the Chief Minister for developmental works, while efforts were underway to secure an additional ₹26 crore.

Appreciating Mr. Sorake’s dedication to the constituency, Ms. Hebbalkar emphasized that development should transcend politics. She said both Mr. Sorake and the current MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty were committed to the progress of Kapu, and all three would work together to ensure its overall development.

Highlighting the Siddaramaiah government’s welfare measures, Ms. Hebbalkar said the 24th installment of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme had already been disbursed to beneficiaries.

MLA Gurme Suresh Shetty, former Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa, Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal, Shirva Panchayat President Savitha Rajesh, and Kurkalu Panchayat President Prashanth A. Poojary were present on the occasion.