Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Nov 10: District Youth Congress president Mithun Rai condemned and held the local MLA responsible for the reason behind irresponsible Smart City works that has made public to face problems.

Addressing media here on Tuesday November 10, Mithun Rai said, "Due to the Smart City work undertaken at Hampankatta, Bunder and Car Street simultaneously, it has affected public, passengers and traders. Local MLA and Smart City officials have taken this decision in urgency where it clearly shows lack of experience.

"Entire Hampankatta has been closed down and entry has been restricted. It has hampered the businesses of shops located in this area especially during this festival season. Due to the pandemic, the economic condition and businesses were already under loss, but during the time of recovery, the decision taken to close down Hampankatta has hit businesses hard in the area.

"The work had to be conducted phase wise and make it more convenient for the public to travel. Under whose pressure did the MLA order the officials to take up this work in such urgency?"

"We strongly condemn this move and the MLA should clarify on the confusion and inform people about the time frame it would take to complete the work. The MLA is the reason behind the irresponsible Smart City work which is causing problems to the public. The deputy commissioner needs to intervene and place details in front of the public,” he said.

Former MLA J R Lobo said, "This is the complete failure of Mangaluru City Corporation’s administration. The Smart City project should be useful to the public, but in this case, it has troubled them. Whenever any development work is undertaken, on humanity basis, one should see the advantages and disadvantages for the public. When there is no humanity in the administration, it will turn into a complete failure. What was the need to undertake this work in urgency? If there is urgency of completing work in three places simultaneously, then work in three shifts day and night.

"This is the time of festivals. This move of closing Hampankatta has affected the shops in this area," he said.

Leader Abdul Rauf, Congress leaders A C Vinayaraj, Naveen D’Souza, Shashidhar Hegde and others were present.