The Hindu 30.11.2010
Corporation council says no to Mulky
Staff Correspondent
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Council goes against the suggestion of an MLA and district in-charge |
— PHOTO: R. ESWARRAJ
ON THEIR TOES:Congress councillors objecting to an issue at the
Mangalore City Corporation Council meeting on Monday
MANGALORE: The Council of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) at its
meeting on Monday, with Mayor Rajani Dugganna in the Chair, rejected a
proposal of bringing Mulky Town Panchayat under its purview. The
council, in a resolution, cited dearth of staff and funds as the reason.
K. Abhayachandra Jain, Moodbidri MLA, and J. Krishna Palemar,
minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada district, had mooted the proposal
to provide better infrastructure to the people of Mulky.
They had written to the Urban Development Minister to consider the
proposal. The Secretary to the Department of Urban Development had
sought the opinion of the corporation on the proposal. But the MCC,
ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has taken a view contrary to
Mr. Palemar.
An agenda note on the subject said that earlier the Government
through a notification on October 16, 1995, had merged Mulky town
panchayat areas with the corporation. But through another notification
on March 10, 1997 it carved the town panchayat areas out of the
corporation.
In his request, Mr. Jain had stated that the proposal to merge areas
with the corporation was pending since 1998 because of opposition from
the people.
The council postponed a decision on widening some roads in the city
and sent a proposal on it to Mangalore Urban Development Authority for
including it in the Master Plan for Mangalore Local Planning Area. The
Master Plan is set to be revised for the second time. A draft of the
proposal for widening some roads to nine metres, 12 metres, and 18
metres is ready with the corporation.
The council deferred a decision as councillors sought a debate on the issue.
K.N. Vijayaprakash, Commissioner of the corporation, said that a
high-power committee of the Government was reviewing a proposal to
revise the Master Plan which came into effect from October 1, 2009. The
committee headed by the former Chief Secretary A. Ravindra held a
meeting to this effect. The corporation has brought to the notice of the
committee eight subjects which needed to be revised.
Roads
The Commissioner said that the corporation has invited bids to fill potholes on major roads at an estimated cost of Rs. 70 lakh.
It was now preparing an estimation to fill potholes on 22 interior
roads. He said that the corporation has planned to allocate Rs. 55 lakh
to each ward for asphalting.
The Opposition and independent councillors said that provisions in
the Master Plan had affected common people as many were not able to
build houses.
Mariyamma Thomas, an independent councillor, said the corporation
should prevail upon the Government to make provisions of the Master Plan
applicable only after December 1, 2010.
