The Hindu
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• Senior leaders of both the parties promise not to raise taxes if they come to power

Mangalore, Sep 22: Senior leaders of the Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), who released their party manifestoes for the elections to Mangalore City Corporation council here on Friday September 21, promised that they would not raise taxes if they came to power. But the manifesto documents are silent on the matter.

Although the documents contained several proposals, they were not specific. Most of the proposals were not time-bound.

Claims made

Both the parties claim that the second vented dam at Thumbay would be constructed to supply drinking water to the city. Besides, construction of a new bus stand at Pumpwell, markets at Kadri, Surathkal, Kankanady, a sports complex of international standards, a swimming pool and a cricket stadium, and laying of a ring road under public-private partnership figure in the manifestos. There are promises of bringing about improvement in the underground drainage system and on effective implementation of solid waste management scheme. Setting up of ward committees for promoting people’s participation in development projects and efforts to beautify the city and construct a “ranga mandira” have been promised.

Congress manifesto

The promises made in the 13-page manifesto of the Congress is beyond the jurisdiction of the corporation. For instance, under transportation, it says: “Additional terminal for the international airport at Bajpe”. Incidentally, Bajpe is a Customs airport with flight services to West Asian destinations. Under education, the party has said: “Up-gradation of National Institute of Technology – Karnataka (NIT-K) at Surathkal to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and establishment of Indian Institute of Management”.

Proposals

The other proposals include: restoration of lakes and other water bodies, concreting of arterial roads, supply of treated sewerage water to industries, and construction of homes for aged, physically and mentally challenged persons.

It proposed to conduct a study to assess the carrying capacity of storm water drains to prevent flooding of low lying areas; road and storm water networking system to integrate road side drains with storm water drains, and impact assessment studies on issues concerning urban environment management and heritage.

The party leaders M Veerappa Moily, B Janardhana Poojary, B Ramananatha Rai and U.T. Khader, jointly released the manifesto.

BJP’s manifesto

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s nine-page manifesto is more specific. It said that the party will set up a golf course and marine aquarium park of international standards to attract tourists. From Sultan Bathery to Bengre, a hanging bridge would be built.

Sub-ways at Hampankatta, Jyothi Circle, Maidan Road junction and in Surathkal would be built to ensure free movement of people, it said.

The party has promised to simplify the licensing procedure for construction of houses and other structures. A special team would be constituted to repair roads damaged owing to road-cutting for laying pipelines, phone cables and power lines within a time-frame.

Concreted bus bays at places where city buses stopped, measures to avoid parking of buses on roads, renovation of the flower market on Car Street and provision for underground parking of vehicles would be ensured and public toilets would be built in at least 10 places, the manifesto said.

The document mentioned that vendors who had occupied footpaths would be evicted.

Structures built on footpaths and drains would be removed; interior roads would be widened, if required; burial grounds in the city would be improved with drinking water facility, proper seating and lighting arrangements; and the auditing of the corporation would be taken up, the party said. Party leaders B Nagaraja Shetty, N Yogish Bhat, J Krishna Palemar, and M Monappa Bhandary were present.