Udupi: Highway Woes - DVS threatens to undertake Road Repairs with Public Involvement
Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Sep 4: Noting that the stretch of the highway 17 passing through the district is not even fit for walking, local MP D V Sadanand Gowda demanded the union government to release a sum of Rs 4.31 crore immediately, for repairing the highway and to close its fearful potholes, to make it motorable. He also warned that the repair of the road will be taken up with the support and involvement of the general public, without resorting to any other agitation or protests, if the needful is not done within 15 days. "For closing the pot holes, we will collect crushed stones and other materials with the support of legislators and the general public," he announced.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday September 2, DVS promised to lead a delegation of state legislators to the centre to apprise the central government of the problems faced by the people residing in Karnataka coast, because of the persistent problems of sea erosion, pathetic state of the highway and the naxal menace, immediately after the assembly session. He accused the union government of not responding to the problems of Karnataka citizens.
Gowda said that various proposals for highway re-asphalting between Mulky and Padubidri (Rs.6.34 crore), and from Sastan and Santekatte (Rs 4.80 crore), to close pot holes between Trasi and Udyavar (Rs 1.10 crore) and Udyavar and Suratkal (Rs 3.21 crore) submitted earlier, were pending with the union government for approval. The state government has released Rs 50 lac under the natural calamity fund, and it will be asked to release another Rs 50 lac for the purpose. The state government released Rs 16 crore for highway repair in 2008-09, out of which the district got two crore rupees, Gowda claimed.
He criticized the union government for not releasing any funds for the highway maintenance, repairs or filling the pot holes in the year 2009-10. He condemned the stand of the National Highway Authority of India, that no maintenance or repairs could be undertaken for the Suratkal-Byndoor stretch of the highway 17 as it is slated for widening, terming the same as totally impractical. "The tendering process might be concluded and widening work may start in the year 2010-11. Should the citizens continue to suffer till then?" he questioned. He said that the secretary in the union transport department, Brahma Dutt, had said that funds can not be released for the highway repairs. He questioned the concerned as to what the government wants the people of the coast do till the widening work is undertaken and completed. Gowda said that he had placed before the concerned all the problems the district has been suffering from.
On the political front, DVS said that the vacant posts in corporations and boards would be filled up after the five-day session of the assembly, which is set to begin on September 9, comes to a close. "Just because Somanna was defeated, it can not be said that the BJP got a drubbing. In fact, we have succeeded in wresting two legislators as bonus in the by-election. The issue of sorting out the issue relating to minister Sudhakar has been entrusted to the Chief Minister. Somanna will continue to be a part of the BJP," he clarified.
MLA Kota Srinivas Poojary and party leaders Shyamala Kunder, Gujjady Prabhakar Nayak and Tingale Vikramarjun Hegde were present in the press conference.