Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Dec 1: State minister for urban development and law, Suresh Kumar, promised to release additional grants to Moodbidri to help it to emerge as a full-fledged taluk headquarters at the earliest. He hailed the town, known as Jain Kashi, for its giant strides in development. He was speaking during his visit to the town on Tuesday November 30 evening, after reviewing the progress of the municipality.

Responding to the memorandum submitted on behalf of the municipality, spelling out the town’s long-felt requirements for underground drainage, new market building, solid waste disposal unit and others, the minister said that the needful would be done.

The minister took to task the engineers of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board for their failure to complete the works relating to three overhead tanks since the last two years in the town. He ordered them to complete the tank works before January 14, telling them that he would visit the town on January 15 to inaugurate the tanks.

When a person raised the issue of non-functional street lights, illegal issue of licences to buildings, and faulty water supply and complained that municipal officials do not care for innocent and soft-natured people, the minister questioned him who he was. When he said that he was a councillor, the minister asked him as to what he had done in the capacity of councillor, to address these problems. Embarrassed councillor groped for answers and kept quiet.

When MLA, K Abhaychandra, drew the minister’s attention towards the non-implementation of by pass road for the town, he said he would ask the concerned to speed up the process of this project that includes changing of the course of the road. He also disbursed cheques towards toilets, construction of ‘Ashraya’ houses, electricity connections and medical assistance.

Municipal vice president, Ramani, standing committee chairman, Shivaraj Rai, P K Thomas, Bahubali Prasad, Abdul Basheer, municipal chief officer, A V Ganesh, and Dakshina Kannada district BJP vice president, K P Jagadish Adhikari were present. A number of people handed over memorandums to the minister on this occasion.