The Hindu

Udupi, Jan 10: Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj took charge as the Administrator of Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) here on Tuesday.

He took charge from the outgoing President of the CMC Shantha Naik, consequent upon the expiry of the council's term.

Ponnuraj said that the implementation of the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUDCEMP) works was best in Udupi among the 10 towns where it was being implemented.

Problems were bound to crop up when such projects were being implemented, he said.

About 70 per cent of water sources in Udupi city were not up to the mark. Some water sources were contaminated because of lack of scientific implementation of the underground drainage works, he said.

It would be better if people of the city took water supply connections from the municipality after the completion of Swarna Second Stage Drinking Water Project, he said. It had become necessary to revise water tax in the city to provide better service, Mr. Ponnuraj said. He said that the CMC had very few roads under its control in Udupi. Most of them were under private parties, and this had created a number of problems in the city.

Such persons should hand over the roads to the CMC, he added.

The outgoing Vice-President of the CMC Kiran Kumar and CMC Commissioner Gokuldas Naik were present.