JOIN USRs 15.5 crore for planetarium at Pilikula
Addressing a press meet here after inspecting the renovated PWD building on Friday, he said the work on the planetarium may start after two months.
He said PWD is undertaking works worth Rs 265 crore including work at Subramanya temple, PU Colleges and First Grade Colleges, SC/ST hostel across the district. The first phase of the work at Subramanya temple at the cost of Rs 60 crore will be completed by 2011. The blue print for the second and third phase of the work has been finalised. The work on Circuit House in Mangalore at the cost of Rs 200 lakh will be started at the earliest. He said the Chief Minister has released additional 160 crore for the developmental works in the district.
Road
Palemar said the roads in the district are in deplorable condition and the patch work will be completed within two months. Mangalore City Corporation will undertake the work on interior roads at the cost of Rs 6 crore within few days.
He said PWD is also undertaking port works worth Rs 115 crore. The III phase of work on Mangalore jetty will be undertaken at the cost of Rs 5,760 lakh. The tender process has been completed. The work on the III phase of Malpe port will be started at the earliest as tender process has been completed. The work on Koderia fisheries port will also be started. The work on break water at Gangolli port at the cost of Rs 300 lakh is under progress, he added.
PWD has also undertaken the work on 150 metre Cargo Wharf at Old Port at the cost of Rs 908.60 lakh, of which, about 90 metre diaphragm wall has been completed.
The Minister said that the work on Mani-Madikeri road at the cost of Rs 178 crore has begun. The Chief Minister has assured to sanction additional Rs 16 crore for the work on Sampya-Mura road.
Quality lab
PWD Superintending Engineer Balakrishna said that quality testing labs have been set up in 12 sub divisions coming under PWD, to test the quality of the works. Engineers test the quality of work undertaken and all the works are documented through photographs. The lab has all the equipment needed for testing the earth work, concrete and bituminous works. The lab is headed by Sub division Assistant Engineer. Earlier, there was one lab for three districts, he added.
GPS compulsory
District-in-Charge Minister Krishna Palemar said that the High Court Divisional Bench has upheld the decision of the district administration for the installation of GPS to all the sand transportation trucks. In this background, GPS will be made compulsory in all the trucks transporting sand to keep a track on the trucks transporting sand to Kerala.
He said the government is mulling over a new sand policy, the decision on the same will be taken in the Cabinet meeting. A committee has been constituted to look into the new sand policy. Once the committee submits its report, the new policy will be notified. Once the new sand policy is enforced, then sand will be auctioned by the PWD in association with the officials of Mines and Geology.
Get funds for maintenance
District-in-Charge Minister Krishna Palemar said that North block of Mini Soudha which houses PWD has been renovated. Now the South block which houses forest department, agriculture department, Information and health department needs to be renovated. He urged the the respective departments to get the funds sanctioned from their respective departments for the maintenance of the building.