Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Dec 29: Irregularities in water supply and water leakage in some wards were the main issues raised at the City Municipal Council (CMC) general body meeting held on Tuesday December 29 at Sathyamurthy meeting hall here.

Council members Prabhakar Poojary of Gundibail ward, Amritha Krishnamurthy, and Ramesh Kanchan of Bailoor ward raised water leakage problems at the meeting due to pipeline works where pits are made for pipe connection by Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) for supplying Varahi water to Udupi city. They also said that KUIDFC officials are using poor quality materials in water pipe connection work.

MLA Raghupati Bhat called the concerned officials to the meeting and said, “Henceforth KUIDFC officials should coordinate with respective ward councillors and the CMC engineer before taking up any work. Pipe connection work should be done ward by ward.”

Amritha Krishnamurthy, councillor of Kinnimulky ward said, “Udupi citizens are not getting death certificates or other documents on time due to lack of clerical staff in the CMC office. The council has only two health inspectors to look after 35 wards. Because of these problems, people are denied timely services. Senior citizens come two to three times in a week to get their work done. Due to coronavirus pandemic, health officers are not available at the council as they are on the field or on survey duty.”

Councillor Prabhakar Poojary alleged, “Though we have online facilities and e-khathas in the CMC, some people are working as agents of CMC outside holding visiting cards. As we are the representatives of people, we should help the public and not create problems.”

MLA Bhat said, “CMC is there to serve people. Officials should not create problems for any citizens.” He also instructed the president of the council Sumithra Nayak to make a resolution on officials' visiting hour from 3 pm to 5.30 pm and said that all departmental officials should be available that time. “Officials should not make people suffer,” he said.

Kodavoor ward councillor Vijaykumar Kodavoor and Srikrishna Rao Kodancha, Chitpady ward, and Girish Anchan complained about adjacent gram panchayats dumping waste in city areas. The councillors demanded to take serious action against the violators immediately and install CCTVs at those spots to trace them and collect huge amounts of fines too.

One of the councillors said, “Poor people did not get grants under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana housing scheme. Many of them are waiting for approval for house construction. About 60 applications are still pending.”

Regarding water supply, CMC engineer Mohanraj said, “We have enough water storage at Baje and Shiroor dam. We are aware of the scarcity of water in the summer season. Pumps which are used for pumping water have become old and there is a proposal for buying a new motor at a cost of Rs 20.50 lac. The tender process has been completed. It will be rectified in 15 days. At present, the water level at Baje dam is 4.9 meters and 6 meters at Shiroor dam.

He also said that during the night, people are wasting water. Once the new motor is installed, we will provide water for 12 hours, he informed.

Poor maintenance of street lights, the problem of stray dogs, disposal of wastage and sewage problem were the issues discussed at the meeting.

CMC president Sumithra called a separate meeting on December 31 to have a discussion on the water supply.

MLA Bhat assured that patchwork of bad roads will be started next week.

Lakshmi Mendon, vice president and Dr Uday Shetty, CMC commissioner, were present.