The Hindu

Udupi. Oct 1: Drinking water problem dominated the general body meeting of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) here on Tuesday.

Vasanti Shetty said that water was flowing in many areas owing to leaks in old pipelines in Ambalpady ward. These old pipes could not bear the pressure of water being supplied under the Swarna second stage drinking water scheme as they were laid for the first stage of the scheme. The first stage was being gradually withdrawn in the city. The door-to-door garbage collection scheme was not being implemented properly in the ward, she said.

Councillor Nityananda Volakadu said that the water supply in Bailoor ward was irregular. The residents in the area had not received water for the past three days. Blaming the irregular power supply for the problem, the authorities said that many illegal structures had come up in some parts of the city.

CMC commissioner R.N. Shanbhag said that the officers of the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUDCEMP) had promised to replace the old pipes with new ones in the areas where Swarna second stage was being implemented. Notice had been served to those constructing buildings without licence in the city, he said and added that action would be taken against the self-help group for not collecting the garbage regularly in Ambalpady ward area.

Leader of the Opposition Jayananda said that the roads in the city were in poor shape and the people were facing the menace of stray dogs. Mr. Shanbhag said that tenders had been floated for road repair.

The CMC could cull mad dogs, he said. Councillor Kiran Kumar said Kavi Muddanna Road and a few other roads in the city had been widened, but vehicles were being parked on the widened roads, obstructing traffic. The CMC officials were not taking action against stationary carts on roads, he said.