Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 31: A general body meeting of City Municipality Council at Satyamurthy auditorium on Wednesday August 31 got stalled halfway through on grounds of privatization of the old Vishweshwaraiah building.

The meet began with a question and answer session.

M R Pai, senior opposition party leader, objecting to the issue of Building Operate Transfer (BOT) for the old Vishweshwaraiah building said, “The proposal for the project should not be passed,” and he walked out of the meeting without waiting for a response from president Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje.

Yashpal Suvarna, opposition party leader immediately asked for a clarification on the subject, but Meenakshi said that all the information will be provided at the end of the meeting.

Yashpal Suvarna was not convinced and so he too walked out of the meeting along with other BJP councillors. The meeting was adjourned for twenty minutes.

There was a heated discussion at the president’s cabin and Bannanje tried her best to get them to stay but they refused. 

Clarifying about the project, CMC commissioner Manjunathaiah said, “The PPP model of Vishweshwaraiah building and the decision taken had been finalized on October 30, 2010 during Kiran Kumar's term.”

“The tender for Mandovi Builders was approved. In May, a formal meeting was held for the builders. On May 30, the project was approved by the committee chaired by DC Dr Vishal.”

“The commissioner opined that this would be a good asset for CMC in future. The tender process was transparent. The total cost of the project is Rs 12 crore and the total area of land is 58 cents excluding the temple,” he added. 

Ramesh Kanchan raised the issue of potholes on roads in Manipal, Beedinagudde, service bus stand and other places. He also demanded that the president pay special attention to solving the road condition.

More than five councillors were absent at the meeting.

The CMC meeting got thwarted and adjourned for the next month.

Vasanti Shetty, Ambalpady ward councillor was awarded by Karnataka Tulu Academy for her work ‘Guttudillida Jalad’ and she was felicitated during the meeting.