Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jan 7: “The work of Jalasiri project within the council limits is progressing at a snail's pace and filled with irregularities. The official who should have explained about the ambitious uninterrupted water supply project has remained absent from the meeting. Discussions about the project in his absence are not possible. A meeting should be called once again according to the time of the official. The work should be suspended until then,” said veteran leader Mohandas Shenoy expressing anguish. He addressed a special meeting held at Dr V S Acharya auditorium here on drinking water and drainage works.

“The officer sent junior officers to the meeting though he was informed about it several weeks ago. If officials do not respect the talk of elected representatives, how will they respond to the grievances of the ordinary people? As there is a scarcity of time during ordinary meetings, a special meeting was called by the president and the chief executive to discuss issues at length. The 24 hours of drinking water supply is a dream of several years. Stop the work until the officials attend the meeting,” urged member Mohandas Shenoy to the president. Member Girsh G K, Shekar Poojary and Devaki Sannayya unitedly said that incomplete information in the meeting is not enough. “Discussions on the Jalasiri project in the absence of senior officials are incomplete.”

The discussions on the Jalasiri project were left out after president Veena Bhasker Mendon announced that another meeting will be held after the arrival of the officials. Member Chandrashekar Kharvi advised to allow works till the next meeting.

There were heated discussions between the ruling party members and the opposition over the Kundapur flyover project. Member Chandrashekar Kharvi said that MLA and MP are directly responsible for slow progress of the works which angered the ruling party members. “The national highway works were set in motion during the term of Congress. It is not right to allege now after remaining silent during those days. The flyover works were not in the initial plans. It has been added later. The work is progressing due to the efforts of our MLA and MP,” said the ruling party members.

Two more years required for the UGD project:

“The council drainage project which was estimated to be worth Rs 48.14 crore in the beginning has become worth Rs 55.6 crore now. Works worth Rs 24 crore are completed. Wetwell and STP works are pending. The works will be completed in another two years if the council provides land,” said UGD engineer Rakshith. “The council has already cleared land for three wet wells. The problems of land for another two wet wells will be solved soon. The necessary land will be cleared in another week,” said municipal chief executive Gopalakrishna Shetty. On the whole, two huge projects of the council are eclipsed.

Kundapur municipal council president, Veena Bhasker Mendon presided over the meeting. Vice president, Sandeep Kharvi and chief executive Gopalakrishna Shetty were present.