Minister Pats Mangalore Civic Works & Says Completion by Feb

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 2: Even though Mangaloreans and those visiting the coastal city have been cursing the prolonged road-works going on in almost the entire city since the last several months, Karnataka’s urban development and law minister S Suresh Kumar said the civic body fared much better than all other eight city corporations in the state.
           
"The progress in the concreting and other road works in the coastal city corporation limits is much better than all city corporations in the state," he said and pointed out that the Mangalore civic authorities were likely to complete all works by January or at the latest by February.

The minister felt the pace of work in Mangalore must be appreciated by all concerned. "I have been assured that the tempo of work will pick up now that the rains have completely stopped," he said.

In fact, Kumar said the performance of the Belgaum city corporation was the poorest while other civic bodies were unable to match the progress achieved by the Mangalore civic authorities.

(File Pics: Minister Suresh Kumar seen with various officials during his recent visit to Mangalore)

The minister reviewed the performance of Belgaum city corporation in the execution of developmental works out of the financial grant of Rs 100 crore each sanctioned by the chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is also the finance minister, to the eight city corporations in the state in the budget for 2009-10.

The Belgaum civic body had not utilised the funds sanctioned by the Government and there has been a tardy progress of various works, he said lamenting that it had not utilised even 50 per cent of its own budgetary funds.

The Belgaum city corporation council has not met since last July, he said announcing the government’s decision to issue a show-cause notice to the Belgaum civic body to explain why action should not be taken against it.

"Failure to hold regular monthly meetings of the city corporation council, non-utilisation of funds sanctioned by the government and the funds released under the 12th finanance commission cannot be overlooked," he said making it clear that the government would take suitable action after receiving the reply from the Belgaum city corporation council.

A decision has also been taken to send a team of officials of the Urban Development Department to Belgaum to review development works taken by the City Corporation and its activities, he said.

An unhealthy relation between officials and the elected representatives was one of the major reasons for slow progress of various activities and mushrooming of unauthorised constructions. There has been rampant violation of building plans, and many commercial complexes had not provided parking facilities, the minister said.

The minister disclosed that the City Municipal Council of Tumkur will be upgraded to City Corporation soon. Tumkur City has met all necessary qualifications to get the corporation tag. The city’s population has crossed three lac and the city municipal council earns an annual income of over Rs 6 crore. Further, more than 50 per cent of the city’s activities are non-agricultural, he said.

The State Cabinet, which would meet on Thursday, is likely to take a decision on upgrading the status of the Tumkur City Municipal Council to the City Corporation.

Currently, there are eight city corporations in the State and they are Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, Bellary, Hubli-Dharwad, Davangere and Shimoga.

The minister indicated that the ensuing 10-day session of the state legislature scheduled to commence from December 14 was likely to be postponed or rescheduled in view of elections to 25 seats earmarked for the local authorities constituencies in the Legislative Council.

He said several legislators had sought postponement of the Karnataka State Legislature session which is scheduled to be commenced from December 14. The State Cabinet, which would meet on Thursday, will take a final decision on the issue, he said.

However, official sources indicated that the session was likely to commence its sitting on December 14 and hold deliberations for the day. There is a strong possibility of its postponement to meet after the December 18 elections to the state legislative council, the sources said.

The minister mentioned that the government planned to introduce a Bill in the coming session of the legislature to prevent slaughter of cows and draught cattle in the State. The proposed Bill will be in consonance with Article 48 of the Constitution, which has a specific reference to slaughter of milch and draught animals, he added.