Residents pour out woes at SP's phone-in

Police Superintendent Lakshman Nimbargi received 23 complaints during the phone-in-programme on Friday.

He told reporters that in the past two weeks, as many as 20 arrests were made in 20 cases filed under Matka offence, 45 arrests under eight gambling cases, 164 cases under COTPA, 7 booked for drunken driving, 1,014 cases for violation of riding without helmets, and 1,654 cases under Motor Vehicle Acts have been registered in the district.

Nimbargi received a complaint from the police quarters in Manipal on drainage effluents being discharged into the quarters of policemen from the neighbouring house. The complainant alleged that despite several complaints to the CMC and also the deputy commissioner, no action is taken. The inhabitants of the area are suffering from dengue. Viral diseases, skin allergies, breathing problems, cough, fever and malaria have become a common phenomenon in the area.

Another complaint was on vehicles speeding at service roads in Hejmadi in order to avoid the toll at the toll gates. The service roads are lined by houses and are also used by children. The complainant requested for immediate action.

On a complaint about autorickshaws running without meters, the SP assured that a decision would be taken on pre-paid counters and stringent action would be initiated. He said a meeting would be called shortly. He also assured a complainant that if he is not receiving water for six months, he would write a letter to the PDO of Beluru gram panchayat. Although police have no responsibilities on water supply, he would contact the official concerned, he said.

Other complaints received were on the occasional use of improper reflectors on barricades at the national highway, heavy goods-laden vehicles prying on the Brahmavar-Jannadi bridge, absence of number plates on vehicles, parking and traffic problems in Karkala, vehicles plying on the wrong side, drunkards creating nuisance at Kolalagiri, corrupt officials at Nadakacheri in Vandse and traffic problems at Trasi junction among others.