Indian Express

Udupi, Mar 1: The City Municipal Corporation (CMC) councillors cutting across party affiliations took the president and the commissioner to task on Tuesday February 28, for allowing digging of roads by BSNL and Airtel for laying cables.

Raising the issue, Kushal Shetty of Congress wanted to know what action the president had taken against digging up roads. Kushala also wanted to know about the steps the corporation had taken to fill the dug-up roads.

Commissioner Chikkanna said a notice had been served on the companies concerned.

The companies had replied that they would pay the amount according to the estimate by the CMC engineers.

Shetty said as 80 per cent of the trenching work had already been completed it was too late for the CMC to take action. Shetty objected to the CMC funds being used for the restoration.

Dinakar Shetty (BJP) supporting Kushal Shetty said even water lines had been cut by the digging activities creating hardships for water users.

Narasimha Nayak asked how the CMC could claim restoration fees for a work done without CMC’s prior permission. Former CMC president Chittharanjandas Hegde demanded the commissioner cut the cables laid by the companies.

Hegde said ‘‘How did BSNL, being a public sector company, not take prior permission of the CMC.

“We should show our power by cutting their cables.’’ CMC president Shantha K Naik promised the councillors to take action against the erring companies within 15 days.