Sushma R Bhat/DHNS

Parking, commercial complex proposed to come up in Old Bus stand

Mangalore, Aug 4: Town planning seems to be a non-issue in the city where rules are usually thrown to the winds.

Things virtually move at a snail’s pace at Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and enjoying little punitive powers, it has become a ‘toothless tiger,’ allege many.

However, MUDA Chairman and former City Improvement Trust Board (CITB) chairman Madhav Bhandary said, “MUDA aims to chalk out a plan for Mangalore City for the year 2021, which includes swimming pools, gardens, playgrounds, residential areas, proper water supply and public utility facilities. The population at 2021 is estimated to be 20 lakh.”

MUDA has its jurisdiction over a large area of 306 sq kms while the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has just 134.4 sq kms under its purview. MUDA’s jurisdiction includes areas from Mulky in the north to Talapady in the south inclusive of many areas like Ullal, Thokottu, Bajpe, Pachanady and Gurpur. MUDA also has 14 gram panchayats, 2 municipalities, one corporation and 69 villages under its purview, informed MUDA in-charge Town Planning Officer Shankar.

Powers

Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act 1961 has conferred much powers on the Planning Authority.

MUDA had passed a resolution on February 24, 2006 stating that technical approval must be sought from it before constructing buildings. However, Shankar says, “Not a single party has come seeking technical approval and this is a violation of the government circular. While MUDA is the planning authority, MCC is the implementing authority. But rules are often violated.” 

Masterplans

MCC Commissioner Krishnappa Poojary who is also a member of MUDA says, in order to solve the problem of traffic congestion in City, narrow roads must be widened upto 12 meters.

However, people have been opposing concretisation of road from Mannagudda even though compensation was offered. Hence, MCC will have to convince the people who are extremely attached to their land and this will require time.

Land developers too misuse land and the topography of Dakshina Kannada district is such that it is difficult to create level areas for efficient land use, Krishnappa Poojary pointed out.  

Car parking

Among major plans chalked out by MUDA, the parking-cum-commercial complex proposed to come up in the Old Bus Stand area is noteworthy. Bhandari said, the project proposes a multi-storeyed car parking area wherein about 600 cars can be parked! At present, just 100 cars can be parked in the area.

If the project takes off, it will be much of a relief in the congested City. Along with this, a commercial complex will come up. The proposal was sent to the government in November 2005 and it has also received the nod, he informed.

In this regard, an amount of Rs 2.25 crore was sanctioned by the State in 2005. However, many buildings will have to be demolished in the Old Bus Stand area for the purpose and the four-laning project must also start off at the same time. Notifications must be issued to private property holders within two months and the acquisition of land must take place after distributing compensation for the affected, Bhandari explained.

Plastic menace

He also expressed concern regarding growing plastic menace in the City. “I have suggested the Deputy Commissioner to ban thin plastic. The plastic which is thicker than 40 microns can be used as they can be recycled, whereas the thin plastic is poisonous and they obstruct flow of drainage water.

Moreover, they are poisonous if they are burnt. The DC has assured that he will talk to plastic manufacturers and I will remind him about this repeatedly,”  he assured. Citizens in the city are more than willing to see the plans materialise. But the million dollar question is will it materialise?