Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Oct 17: “When election nears, road works are done in haste. Once the elections are over, there is no one to look into their condition. If repair work is not done to close the potholes on Chembugudde-Pandit House road within a week, we will gherao Ullal city municipality office,” said Sunil Kumar Bajal, district president of auto-rickshaw union CITU.
A protest was held by Thokottu Junction park CITU auto rickshaw drivers’ association condemning the delay tactics of Ullal city municipality in concretization of Chembugudde Darandabagilu and Pandit House connecting road.
Sunil Bajal said, “The auto drivers of Thokkottu junction mostly get passengers for Chembugudde and Pandit House. However, the road has been filled with potholes for many years and the work is not done. Auto rickshaw drivers have to keep their earnings for repairing the vehicle because of potholes. As our appeal is not heard by the Ullal city municipality, we have to get down to the road now to protest.
“The auto rickshaw drivers are protesting keeping aside their daily work. It is really unfortunate that the local city municipality councillor or any other official has not taken any interest in this matter. If the potholes are not repaired at the earliest, we will hold a protest in front of the municipality office.”
DYFI district president B K Imtiyaz said, “There is provision of funds under the urban development scheme. Tender process is yet to be done. However, there is no rule that for closing potholes, tender has to be called for. Officials say that the road is damaged due to rain. However, they have not sent a report to the government on this matter. That is why the grant is not released. There is only one municipal commissioner for Surathkal and Ullal. If temporary people are recruited for Ullal city municipality limits which have more than lac of people, who will listen to the woes of the public? Before the next monsoon, concretization of roads needs to be done.”
Mohammed Ansar, Krishnappa Salian, Jayant Naik, Rafiq Harekala, Ibrahim Madaka, Dayanand, Mutalib, Padmanabha, Arun, Mustafa and Faruk were present.
The protesters raised slogans against the local MLA and MP and said that they will not call back the protest till city municipality officials visit the spot. Later Ullal city municipality assistant executive engineer R P Nayak visited the protest meet and assured that appeal will be given to the commissioner. Protesters said that the potholes have to be closed as soon as the Dasara festivities are over.