Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Oct 27: Addressing a press conference held at Padubidri on Monday October 26, former state minister, Vasant V Salian, accused the BJP MPs representing the twin-districts, of not doing anything towards pressurizing the National Highway Authority of India or the central government, to release funds as per the estimate submitted to the ministry for repairing national highway 17 passing through their constituencies.
"Both the MPs, Sadanand Gowda and Nalin Kumar Kateel, have been bragging about a sum of Rs 50 lac released from the central natural calamity fund and Rs 35 lac remaining unutilized with the Authority pertaining to the last year. By using these funds, the work of repairing minor pot holes on the highway has been begun. But, this fund will not be sufficient to asphalt the Padubidri and Kallianpur stretches of the highway, which have suffered extensive damages, Salian claimed.
He said that the local office of NHAI had sent an estimate amounting to Rs 12.95 crore, for conducting the repairs of a 24 kms stretch of the national highway in this district. "But the ministry rejected this proposal, saying that the highway here is due for widening work. The estimate was sent again with a recommendation letter from union law and justice minister, M Veerappa Moily. On Thursday October 29, I will go to Delhi in an effort to get the approval for the estimate, with help from Rajyasabha member, Oscar Fernandes and Veerappa Moily. During his tenure, Vinay Kumar Soarke could get a sum of Rs 21 crore sanctioned for highway works here. The present MPs have not done anything," he chided.
Salian also accused Kaup MLA, Lalaji R Mendon, of being inactive on the issue of conducting dredging work at Hejmady mini port.
M P Moidinabba representing Minorities Union and president of the regional Congress Committee, Y Sukumar, were present at the press conference.