Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Apr 3: MLA J R Lobo on Saturday April 2 stressed that finding temporary solutions to water problems in the city was the need of the hour and amidst protests from BJP corporators who walked out, urged the council not to politicize the issue.

Chairing the Mangaluru South drinking water task force meeting at MCC here, Lobo said, "Finding temporary solution is the need of the hour and for this purpose, the government has formed a special task force. Drinking water problem is a major problem and none of us should play politics in this. I will not politicize it. Providing water to the entire constituency is my responsibility and I will do my best to fulfill it."

The meeting was convened as per the guidelines of the state government to identify drinking water problems in the constituency and to find temporary or permanent solution to the problem. For the said purpose, the government has allotted Rs 50 lac to the city corporation and Rs 30 lac to Mangaluru South and North constituencies.

In the beginning, the MLA urged the corporators to list the water problems in their wards one corporator at a time, so that the affected areas could be identified and solutions found. The opposition BJP corporators who came late to the meeting raised objection and demanded that discussion should start with Thumbay from where the water is supplied. The MLA told them that once information on water problems in each ward was gathered, even Thumbay would be discussed. Raising objections to this opposition corporators walked out of the meeting.

The meeting proceeded with the rest of the corporators explaining about the areas affected in their wards. These included Gorigudda, Suttar Pete, Shakthinagar, Kempaiah colony, Prashanthi road, Nejiguri, Arikerebail, Mulihithlu, Shanthiguri, Matadakani, Umikaan, Bajjodi, Holy Hill, Adu Maroli, Rosario, Nellikai road, Neethinagar, Shantinagar, Cascia and Railway colony.

Corporator Ashok D K suggested that the corporation should buy 5,000 litre water tanks. "As the corporation has about 12 drivers, tempos can be bought in which water can be supplied to the affected areas. This would solve the problem temporarily," he said. Corporator Naveen D'Souza placed the demand for an additional wallman and to find water sources in the city so that borewells or open wells could be dug which would provide permanent solution to some extent.

J R Lobo directed the officials to make a list of the problems mentioned by the corporators and also collected data from corporators who did not attend the meeting, so that an action plan could be prepared and work could be undertaken according to priority.

He also took account of the water supply system in Thumbay and directed the officials to maintain the pumps, and if needed, repair them within three days.

The MLA took the officials to task for not filling criminal cases against the land owner who had allegedly dumped debris on two main water pipelines at Kannur which had affected water supply to the city for about a week last August. "Despite direction by the deputy commissioner, mayor and myself, why have you not filled criminal case against the land owner? You say you have served him notice, now file criminal case immediately," he told them.

Mayor Harinath, MCC commissioner H N Gopalkrishna and others were present.