Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Aug 1: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao expressed his displeasure over the tardy progress of several developmental works of Smart City project.
Dinesh Gundu Rao, who is also the Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister made his displeasure known to the officials of Mangaluru Smart City Project Limited over the progress made around the city.
“Mangaluru is the only city lagging in some development works in the entire state. Only a few works have been completed but other works are still in progress. All development works should be addressed within a time frame,” he said.
He was speaking during the review meeting on Smart City Projects in MCC here on Tuesday, August 2023.
He added that if officials are facing problems with the execution of any works they should bring such matters to the notice of the government.
Additional chief secretary L K Atheeq who also heads the finance department in the government directed the officials to finish all development works on priority and maintain quality standards in the work. “The people should get benefits from completed work,” he said.
Dr K Anand, CEO of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat said, "Financial grants totaling Rs 806 crore have been released under smart city project out of which the Centre has provided Rs 392 crore and the state government has released Rs 414.00 crore."
He added that there are 55 works under Smart City's Mission. As many as 32 works were completed entailing an expenditure of Rs 350.65 crores.
When the minister questioned why the work had got delayed and that still some works are under progress, MLA Vedhvyas Kamath said that the district is facing heavy rainfall and cited other reasons for the delay in development works. The minister said that he was satisfied with the answer.
When the minister questioned when was the last date to complete the road works, the MSCL official said, " June 2023 was the last date to complete the work but now it has been extended to December 2023."
MSCL officials briefed that out of five underground drainages (UGD) works, one work is pending, besides other projects of Smart City Mission.
When Mangaluru Smart City Limited official said that ten works are pending under Water Front Development Projects, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that as many as 10 Water Front Development works did not witness any progress in the past five years. “If there is no development since the last several years what is the use? The officials should complete this,” he said.
MSCL officials informed in some places that they were facing CRZ issues. The minister said in such situations officials should solve it at the state and union government levels.
Mayor Jayananda Anchan, Deputy Mayor Poornima, and MCC Commissioner C L Anand were present.