Bantwal: DC Ponnuraj Orders Speedy Completion of Road Work
By Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD/CN)
Bantwal, Jun 17: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner (DC) V Ponnuraj, toured B C Road to assess the bad state of roads and NH 48 on Wednesday June 16.
He issued orders to stall the power supply in the locality and observe total closure of traffic to remove the soil along the highway and city center which has been causing inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists. The situation has been worsened by the monsoon.
After media persons and office-bearers of a social welfare organization staged a protest at B C Road on Monday June 14 by sowing grain on the muddy streets in order to draw the attention of district administration to the pathetic condition of the roads, DC Ponnuraj visited the area after attending a programme at Kalladka.
Ponnuraj convened a meeting with the media people at the taluk panchayat office at B C Road on Wednesday afternoon to seek their suggestions over the issue. Meanwhile, he held discussions with officers and directed them to respond to the grievances of the public at the earliest.
He urged the officers of Ircon International, the contractor for laying the fly-over at B C Road and highway work and also NH authorities to complete the fly-over by the end of October.
Media professionals’ suggestions:
The media professionals suggested that the soil-soaked city center of B C Road be cleared to lay a service road along the four-lane highway, to shift the private bus stand temporarily within the circle, to construct storm water drains, to complete four-lane work at the earliest, to ban heavy vehicular traffic on B C Road, and take precautionary measures against possible landslides while undertaking underground drainage work.
On the request of media persons, Ponnuraj walked along the muddy roads and highway and witnessed the impact of ongoing four-lane works on the existing infrastructure. He issued orders for restoration of the poorly-laid alternative road for vehicular traffic.
He also advised the owner of a building which was posing hindrance in carrying out highway work, to co-operate with highway authorities. The shopkeepers along the highway also expressed their grievances to the DC on the occasion.
He issued orders that the power supply be stopped on Saturday June 19 by public utility provider MESCOM to enable shifting of the mud and to facilitate four-lane work besides shifting the electric poles to the earmarked points.
Traffic will be banned along B C Road on Sunday June 20. The DC said that notices are being served to the owners of seven buildings situated along the highway, which will be demolished for four-lane work.
Absence of people’s representatives:
None of the people’s representatives from the taluk were present during the DC’s visit except for town council vice-president Mohammed Iqbal. The elected representatives were expected to be present on the occasion since it was a prime issue concerning the general public and infrastructure.
Bantwal Tahsildar, town council chief officer Shivalinga Kondaguli, National Highway Authority officer Basavaraj, Ircon International officer Suresh, MESCOM officers and other department officers were present on the occasion.