Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/RD)

Mangalore, Jan 11: "Reservation criterion for the post of mayor of the city has not yet been decided by Governor Rameshwar Thakoor. Congress leaders are forcing the Governor, not to decide the reservation for the said post. BJP corporators will be staging massive protest in front of MCC headquarter, located on M G Road, Lalbagh, if there is still more delay in deciding the reservation for the mayor’s post at the earliest," said Monappa Bhandary, district president of BJP.

Speaking at a press conference at BJP office on Friday January 11, he said that the IAS officers are managing entire administration in Karnataka and these officers are controlled by Congress leaders. Moreover, the governor’s house seems to have been converted into Congress office, he alleged.

Even though, half of the summer season is over, the potholes on the roads have not been closed yet. The drinking water problem has also started in the city. The people's representatives have no voice to speak, because of bureaucrats ruling. Hence the citizens are suffering a lot now, he added.

Speaking on this occasion, corporator, Shankar Bhat said that District Commissioner (DC) M Maheshwar Rao has decided to hand over the water supply management to a Chennai-based enterprise which seems to have proven experience in handling water supply.  But the DC should not take any decision without consulting the people's representatives of wards, in this regard, he urged.

Meanwhile, the district administration has hiked the tariff on water supply. The residents of about 6 villages are using the water which is being supplied from Thumbe vented dam to Mangalore city, without paying anything. Water is also used for irrigation at the cost of MCC. This has been draining the revenues of MCC.  The DC should remove all these illegal water connections, he demanded.

Former MLA, Yogish Bhat, Shrikar Prabhu, corporator Ganesh Hosabettu and others were present at the press meet.