Mangalore: Water Crisis - A G Kodgi Takes MCC Officials to Task

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, May 8: Officials of the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) held a meeting with A G Kodgi, chairman of the third state finance commission task force here on Tuesday May 8.

Mayor Gulzar Banu, deputy mayor Amitakala, DC Dr Chennappa Gowda, president of MCC, Dr Harish Kumar and members of the commission Mahendra S Kanthi and Thimme Gowda were present.

The discussion was mainly on the major problems in the city, namely water crisis, tax exemption, trade licence issue and many more.

Kodgi took the officials to task and said that they were supplying water without appropriate monitoring on the quantity being used. While some houses had meters, others did not, and in villages excess water was being used on farms while the rest of the village went thirsty, he said.

He also said that MCC was providing more water to the rich and little to the poor, and that such practice ought to be stopped with immediate effect. Meter needs to be installed everywhere without fail to regulate the supply of water, he said.

Regarding tax, he said that properties belonging to temples, mosques and churches are exempted from taxes but marriage halls and commercial establishments will have to pay tax. Private community halls and educational instutuions which provide facilities free of cost are exempted from tax whereas all the rest are entitled to pay tax regurarly and in full, he said.

Corporator Rajendra Kumar urged Kodgi to issue trade licences to applicants within 7 days of applying, and in reply, Kodgi asked the officials not to allow the traders to start their business unless the trade licence is fully issued to them. "If they do so, it is illegal and officials would be chiefly responsible for it," he pointed out.

Former mayor Shankar Bhat requested Kodgi to take the matter of the proposed new bus stand in Pumpwell seriously as the work had been suspended for the last 2 to 3 months. Other matters discussed were regarding markets, playgrounds, underground draninage system and so on.

Half way through the meeting, corporator Harinath left in a huff alleging that the commission was misguiding them. But Kodgi paid him no attention.

Corporators, panchayat representatives and MCC officials were present.