Controversy Erupts: Leasing Land at Malpe to MLA-Led Federation Raises Eyebrows and Public Outrage
Udupi Block Congress President Ramesh Kanchan recently led a delegation to Udupi Deputy Commissioner T. K. Swaroopa, requesting the cancellation of a controversial land allotment. The Karnataka Maritime Board’s decision to allocate 9.5 acres of port land at Malpe to the South Kanara and Udupi District Co-operative Fish Marketing Federation Limited has ignited political tensions in the region.
This land deal has been strongly criticized by former Udupi MLA K. Raghupathi Bhat and members of the Congress and Communist parties. Bhat, now at odds with Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna, has publicly questioned the justification for the allotment, especially after he was overlooked for a Legislative Council ticket, an opportunity he felt was promised to him.
On November 14, Bhat raised concerns about whether there was any collusion between Suvarna and the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government regarding this land. He emphasized the location’s significance, noting its proximity to the Malpe Sea Walk and Udupi-Cochin Shipyard Limited. Bhat argued that the land should be preserved for tourism development and to protect local fishing interests, as five bhajana mandiras, or prayer groups, crucial to local fishermen, are situated on it.
In response to rising dissent, Kanchan and his team submitted a memorandum on November 17 to district in-charge Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar through the Deputy Commissioner. The Congress delegation asserted that leasing the land to the federation would detrimentally impact tourism potential and the livelihoods of local fishermen.
Defending the land allotment, Suvarna insisted that the land was not personally allocated to him but to the cooperative federation, which is set to pay a deposit of ₹2 crore and a monthly rent of ₹8,67,405, calculated at ₹231 per square meter. He indicated that the Karnataka Maritime Board approved the allocation for a 15-year term during an April meeting chaired by Siddaramaiah. While he acknowledged that no specific plans for the land had been finalized, he stated it would primarily serve fishing-related purposes, including storage of materials.
Suvarna also directed criticism at Bhat, branding him as misleading and accusing him of previously attempting to secure port land for Tebma Shipyard, which was unfavorable to local fishermen.
Moreover, on November 15, Suvarna addressed Fisheries and Ports Minister Mankal Vaidya in a letter, urging the government to exclude land parcels sought by the local bhajana mandiras from the leased area. He called for action to ensure that the land requests of these prayer groups were adequately met.
As tensions escalate over the land allotment, the political landscape in Udupi remains charged. The ongoing debate reflects broader issues regarding local governance, community interests, and the potential impact on tourism and fishing sectors in the region.
This situation continues to evolve, drawing attention from both local communities and political observers, making it a pivotal topic in Udupi’s political discourse.
Published – November 18, 2025, 01:22 PM IST
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/leasing-95-acres-of-port-land-at-malpe-to-mla-led-fish-marketing-federation-sparks-political-controversy-in-karnataka/article70293626.ece
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Publish Date: 2025-11-18 13:22:00
