Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Aug 1: Environment engineer Raghavendra informed City Municipality Council (CMC) on Monday, July 31 that the only dumping yard of the city is overflowing.
Speaking at the general body meeting held at Satyamurthy Hall here, he said, “The 22-acre dumping yard situated Pragathinagar in Alevoor is completely filled. The place is being used from eight years. CMC requires Rs 7 crore to undertake the second phase work.”
“The dumping yard has filled up due to the unscientific collection and disposal of solid waste. The quantity of garbage is increasing day by day and the existing setup is inadequate. This has also resulted in ineffective separation and disposal of waste,” he informed.
Responding on the issue, CMC commissioner D Manjunathaiah, said, “We have decided to call a compulsory meeting for all platform owners, builders and house owners to make them understand about three-phase disposal system. Otherwise, it will affect the 1,25,000 population of the city. A total of 510 platforms in the city, 10,500 houses and 8000 houses come under CMC. As many as 50,000-60,000 people live in flats.”
Manhandling issue
Vasanthi Shetty, Ambalpady ward member, tried to raise the issue of manhandling, which took place in June.
President Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje said, “It was a pre-planned drama. Members of the opposition cannot tolerate the development under the ruling Congress party. BJP members are simply consuming time by dragging one problem or staging a walk-out.”
Ramesh Kanchan, a councillor supporting the president alleged and said, “It was done purposefully by the opposition leaders. They were jealous of the administration. Their intention is to stop the meeting half way through. We are here to do public service, not to play politics.”
The commissioner clarifying the manhandling issue said, “A team of the Directorate of Municipality Administration will arrive in Udupi on August 12 and will stay for three days. The CMC will discuss on particular incident during their stay. Legal action will be initiated against whoever was involved in the incident.”
Bus stand on Santekatte highway
Answering Janardan Bandarkar's question regarding the installation of bus stand on Santekatte highway on both sides, Manjunathaiah said, “The acquisition of land is pending. A DPR has been sent to the central government. JCI also agreed to take up the work of building the new bus stand. A high-tech market will come up near Veerabadhra temple, which has been marked earlier.”
“Navayuga Constructions demolished the earlier bus stops, but did not reconstruct them,” informed the commissioner.
Drainage problem at Malpe, dredge work at Baje dam
Prashanth Amin informed that he was raising the problem of drainage and dumping wastage in Malpe area since four years, but has not got any solution till now. He also demanded for a jetsetter to suck drainage water.
Amin also said that the villagers approached Saligrama town panchayat after being fed up with the drainage problem. He further demanded the installation of CCTV in the dumping zone.
Answering a query from a member regarding the dredging work at Baje dam, the commissioner said, “The problem has been created by the mining and geographic department. Four blocks have been identified. Dredging work will begin, when the water flow will come down.”
The government released a special grant of Rs 10 crore under SSC package for the development of basic infrastructures in Udupi. The president thanked district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj for his concern and also informed that the amount was released as a result of the recommendation made by him.
Vice-president Sandhya Thilakraj was also present.