The Hindu 30.01.2010
Rs. 25-cr. plan to develop moat and drain in Bijapur
Staff Correspondent
| City municipal council officials taken to task |
Appasaheb Pattanshetty, MLA, speaking at the city municipal council meeting in Bijapur on Friday.
Bijapur: Officials of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB) submitted a concept plan to develop the moat around the fort and the drain to the Bijapur City Municipal Council (CMC) here on Friday.
The plan was prepared after holding discussions with the special officers who visited the district to study the flood situation a few months ago. They had instructed the officials to prepare a plan for smooth passage to floodwaters and improve the drain to avoid such incidents in future.
Submitting a report to CMC Commissioner S.P. Mudhol at the general body meeting of the civic body, the KUWS&DB officials stated that under the Rs. 25-crore concept plan, the authorities would rejuvenate 4.9 km stretch of the moat on the western side of the city, construct a three-foot footpath, desilt the moat and construct a drain from Ibrahim Roza. Irked by improper preparations of CMC officials and not bringing files to the meeting, the councillors sought action against them. The councillors alleged that the officials did not bring the files though they were asked to bring them in the previous meetings. With the consent of the councillors, Mr. Mudhol issued memos to the officials.
As there were no proper records related to the properties owned and leased by the CMC, the meeting decided to urge the authorities concerned to depute a surveyor to conduct a detailed survey of properties and create records. The councillors demanded that steps be taken to stop illegal transport of soil from 27 acres of land owned by the CMC. The CMC Commissioner had not initiated action though the matter was brought to his notice four months ago, they said.
Appasaheb Pattanshetty, MLA, who presided over the meeting, instructed the CMC Commissioner and the councillors to file a complaint with the Mines and Geology Department in this regard and submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.
The meeting decided not to decrease the rent on shops owned by the CMC as a decision in this regard should be taken after studying government norms. The councillors rejected a proposal to shift the CMC building to a new premises at Jalnagar.
