Mangalore: Opposition in MCC Resists Move to Supply Water to NPC

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SB)
 
Mangalore, Aug 31: Opposition party members in Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) staged a dharna in the well of the house, at monthly meeting of the council on Monday August 31, opposing the decision taken to supply water to Udupi Thermal Power Corporation Ltd, formerly Nagarjuna Power Plant, in Padubidri.
 
In the beginning of the meeting, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde talking about the agenda passed in the last meeting said that as the city is facing severe shortage of drinking water, it is not feasible to provide water to power plant. He demanded that the decision should be withdrawn.

Harinath, opposition leader agreeing with Hegde’s viewpoint began opposing the decision of providing water to the power plant and alleged that consultant engineer to the MCC is misleading the corporation and that he had ruling party’s support. He demanded consultant’s removal from MCC.
 
However, the argument reached a crescendo when mayor Shankar Bhat said that the same consultant was appointed at the time when the Congress was the ruling party. Soon after, refusing to buy the argument Harinath began demanding consultant’s removal as well as opposing the decision to supply water to the power plant and moved towards the well of the house.

Meanwhile, Bhat continued to explain that the decision to supply water was taken by inferring that there would be enough water to supply to the plant in the future for water will be sourced four different sources including Lakya dam and sewage treatment plant. He added that though the decision cannot be reverted, the objection raised by the opposition will be made note of.

However, the opposition members continued their protest. Sitting at the well of the house, the opposition members led by Harinath playing the jaagante showed a severe opposition to the decision. Members also voiced anti-BJP slogans.
 
Following this, the mayor adjourned the question hour session for sometime and restarted the session with different agendas. Amid the protests of Congress members, chief whip Ganesh Hosabettu read out the agendas of the meeting, which was passed or deferred for future decision by the mayor without any objections.

Sole opposition for one of the agendas that dealt with naming of clock tower circle came from corporator Jayanti B Shetty, who wanted the same to be named after freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. However, due to the chaos the opposition and the demand remained unheard.