Mon Oct 06 15:13:25 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the text provided:

**Summary:**

M.A. Gafoor has officially taken charge as the chairman of the newly formed Karavali Development Board in Mangaluru. This board, established to drive development in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada, is the result of a pre-election promise made by the Congress party. The board aims to promote overall development by focusing on water resource management, soil and water conservation, horticulture, agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and inland water transport. The Karavali Development Board Act of 2023 was approved in April 2024. It mandates regular meetings and outlines the board’s objectives and operational structure.

**News Article:**

**Karavali Development Board Gets New Chairman, Aims for Coastal Growth**

**MANGALURU, October 6, 2025** – M.A. Gafoor assumed the role of chairman for the Karavali Development Board in a ceremony held in Mangaluru on Monday. The newly established board is tasked with spearheading development initiatives across the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada.

Speaking at the event, Gafoor emphasized the state government’s commitment to the region, highlighting that the board’s creation fulfills a key promise made prior to the last Assembly elections. The Congress party had pledged to reconstitute the former Coastal Development Authority into a statutory board with a substantial annual budget.

The Karavali Development Board Act of 2023, approved in April 2024, outlines the board’s core objectives. These include promoting sustainable management of water resources, implementing effective soil and water conservation strategies, fostering the growth of horticulture and agriculture, supporting animal husbandry, and developing fisheries and inland water transport infrastructure.

Unlike some other regions in Karnataka, the coastal belt previously lacked a dedicated board focused on comprehensive development. The new board is expected to address this gap and drive economic and social progress throughout the region. The board will meet at least once every three months to discuss progress and develop strategies.

A previous iteration of a coastal development authority was formed in 2008 but lacked the statutory power and funding of this new board.

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