Mangalore: Pipelines, Roads, Buses - C T Ravi Addresses Various Issues at KDP Meet
 
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Aug 14: The Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) review meeting was held at the ZP meeting hall here on Tuesday August 14.

District in-charge minister C T Ravi presided over the meeting, which was being held in the district after a span of almost 10 months.
 
Addressing the meeting, MLA U T Khader said that the proposed laying of gas pipeline between Kochi and Mangalore by GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited) is not in accordance with the land acquisition rules.

"GAIL has not been consulting the local people who are affected by the project. The aerial survey for the implementation of the project has already been done, however, the technical feasibility of changing the alignment has to be considered," he said.

In reply, district in-charge minister said that the locals should be consulted by the officers of the project.
 
On the issue of stoppage of Volvo buses which were plying from the city to the airport, DC Dr N S Channapa Gowda said that the service was stopped because it lacked viability. Airport director M R Vasudeva insisted on the need for such a service. C T Ravi responded and advised reinstating the bus service on private-government collaboration.
 
C T Ravi also said that encroachment on the lakes in the district including that in the MCC limits should be dealt with within a month's time. "The concerned should see that water in the lakes is not polluted. Encroachment on lakes in MCC limits will be tackled without bowing to any influential power," he said.
 
"The road work between Moodbidri and Bellaccharu is complete and open to traffic," informed chief executive engineer of National Highway Authority. As the national highway stretch between Thokkottu and Talapady that was asphalted at the cost of Rs 1.5 crore last year deteriorated in just 6 months, the district in-charge minister said that the potholes should be filled within the next 6 months.
 
When a question was asked regarding Mani-Madikeri road work, divisional engineer of KRDCL plan who was supposed to answer was found to be absent. C T Ravi then asked concerned officers to issue a notice to the engineer for being absent in spite of receiving prior information about the meeting.

Bantwal MLA Ramanath Rai complained that some stone quarry firms in his constituency (Sajipa Mooda and Bantwal Mooda) were engaged in ‘open blasting’ of stone quarries causing severe problems to the locals. "Stone quarry owners get permission from mines and geology departments and start their work without heeding to local people's concerns," he added.

C T Ravi in reply said that while ‘open blasting’ should not be done, ‘controlled blasting’ will minimize the problems involved in the process. He warned that in case stone quarry owners continue with their attitude, he would stop their quarries from functioning and file cases against them.
 
Moodibidri MLA Abhayachandra Jain referred to an incident that occurred ten days ago wherein four persons were critically injured due to snapping of live wires near Kenjar, and said they were poor and were now being treated in a private hospital in the city. He urged the KPTCL superintendent engineer to assist in this matter. The district in-charge minister insisted that necessary action be taken by the concerned for their treatment.
 
On the issue of interlinking of west-flowing rivers (Paschima Vahini Project) C T Ravi said that CM Jagadish Shettar will be visiting the district soon and the matter will be brought to his notice.
 
A demand was raised for government buses in rural areas of the district. As the vehicles belonging to MRPL and MSEZ companies, each weighing about 40 tons were plying on the roads, the stretch at Jokatte and other regions were damaged, said MLA Abhayachandra Jain. C T Ravi replied that as the damage was due to the vehicles of these companies, they will be asked to repair the roads and bear the maintenance cost in future. Jain also demanded a Mini Vidhana Saudha in Moodbidri.
 
The work on court building in Mangalore will be finished by 2013, said an officer. On the issue of Malekudiya, C T Ravi said that a comprehensive package including house, site, employment, education and medical facilities should be offered to Malekudiyas who are ready to come out of the forest. He said that there may be fears of another repercussion like the ‘naxal movement’ in future if the problems of Malekudiays are not met now.
 
Police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, ZP president K T Shailaja Bhat, ZP vice-president Dhanalaxmi Janardhan, mayor Gulzar Banu, legislative assembly deputy speaker Yogish Bhat, ZP CEO Dr K N Vijay Prakash, district in-charge secretary Bharath Lal Meena among others were present.

Interestingly, when MLA U T Khader at the beginning of the meeting asked C T Ravi to comment on the recent home stay incident and the subsequent report by the Women's Commission chief Manjula, C T Ravi refused to answer stating that it was a KDP review meeting. Though he did promise to reply to queries after the meeting, it was not to be.