Pics: Nayana JC
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Oct 27: Demanding the immediate repair of the badly damaged main road in Kadri Shivbagh ward, a protest was staged on Tuesday evening against the Congress government in the state and the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) for allegedly failing to allocate funds for road development.
The protest was led by Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, along with MCC corporator Kaveesh Nataraj, Satish Kava, residents of Uttamanthota and BJP workers. The protesters raised slogans condemning the state government for failing to provide grants for road repairs and demanding immediate action to address the poor condition of the road.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Vedavyas Kamath said the term of the elected members of the Mangaluru City Corporation had ended nearly two years ago, and the administration was currently being run by government-appointed officials. He alleged that even when former corporators submitted representations regarding problems in their respective wards, the officials were not responding adequately.
Highlighting the condition of the Kadri Shivbagh main road, Kamath said the stretch had deteriorated significantly, with potholes making it difficult for motorists and pedestrians to commute safely. He alleged that despite repeated media coverage and public complaints, the state government had failed to release adequate funds for road repairs.
Issuing a warning to the corporation, Kamath demanded that the potholes be filled and the road repaired within two days. He warned that if the authorities failed to act within the stipulated time, BJP workers and local residents would undertake karaseva (voluntary community service) to fill the potholes themselves.
He further said the BJP would take up similar protests and padayatras in various wards of Mangaluru in the coming days to highlight civic issues and press for solutions to problems faced by residents.
Referring to the city's development, Kamath claimed that substantial grants had been utilised for development works in Mangaluru during the previous BJP government. However, he alleged that the city had received inadequate funds for development over the past three-and-a-half to four years under the incumbent Congress government.
He also criticised the state government for announcing guarantee schemes while, according to him, failing to provide sufficient funds for infrastructure development. He questioned the government's accountability for the deteriorating road conditions and the risks posed to commuters by potholes across the city.
The protesters raised slogans such as "We don't want empty guarantees, fix the roads of our town," "Develop the roads" and "Stop the delays and focus on development," demanding immediate intervention by the state government and the MCC.
The protest concluded with a call for the authorities to respond to residents' grievances and take up the repair works of the Kadri Shivbagh main road without any further delay.