Source : The Hindu Date : 08.07.2009
Shimoga CMC approves Kannada Ganga scheme
Special Correspondent
| Government to meet 60 per cent of the cost of project |
NEW SCHEME: President of the city municipal council N.J. Rajasekhar (centre) at a special meeting of the council in Shimoga on Tuesday.
SHIMOGA: The special meeting of the City Municipal Council here on Tuesday unanimously approved the new Kannada Ganga Water Supply Scheme for Shimoga after a protracted discussion. The scheme envisages 24-hour water supply.
During the discussion, Congress councillors Yogish and Kashi Vishwanath expressed their doubts over the usefulness of the scheme for a city located on the banks of the Tunga river but which did not have adequate water supply even during the monsoon.
Congress councillor Mariappa pointed out that the Rs. 28-crore project to augment water supply launched four years ago was yet to be completed, and there was no guarantee that the new Rs. 195-crore scheme would be completed in the stipulated time.
Prasanna Kumar, another member, said that scheme should benefit all sections of society and not just the rich and the influential.
Bharatiya Janata Party councillor S.N. Channabasappa said it was a matter of satisfaction that Shimoga was among 11 urban centres chosen for the implementation of the Kannada Ganga scheme and thanked the State Government. He suggested that the resolution be adopted unanimously as its modalities had already been discussed thoroughly at the meeting held in Bangalore recently. He said that it was the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the scheme was implemented without inconveniencing citizens.
CMC president N.J. Rajasekhar, who presided over the meeting, allayed apprehensions about the usefulness of the scheme.
He said that the scheme would be completed in three years. The State Government would meet 60 per cent of the cost, financial institutions would contribute 25 per cent and the council would provide the remainder. The council then gave its unanimous approval to the scheme.
The council also approved the following projects: an arch at the main entrance of the Nehru Stadium, widening of the abutting the Nehru Stadium and road repair.