Dasara holidays in Dakshina Kannada dist not to be cut short:

The dasara holidays for schools in Dakshina Kannada district would not be cut short this year, State Minister for Urban Development and Housing U T Khader said Thursday.

The decision was taken after holding discussions with the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner and other officials, he told reporters here.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Vedavyas Kamath MLA had come out against the government move to shorten the Dasara vacation in the wake of heavy rains that disrupted classes for several days in the district in the recent past.

Earlier, the holidays were scheduled from October 14 to 21, which has now been revised, and would be observed from October 7 to 21.

Khader said steps were being taken to construct a new bridge at Moolerapatna instead of repairing the one that collapsed in the rains.

A sum of Rs 50 crore has been releasedto the Public Works Department for the purpose, he said.

The proposed new bridge at Gurupur would be built at a cost of Rs 35 crore by the National Highway Authority of India, he added.