JOIN USPot-holed roads, stench greet minister in city
The minister who set on an inspection of the quality of roads ahead of dasara on a scooter on Wednesday morning became upset with the officials for pothole filled roads and poor hygiene in the heart of city – the areas surrounding the palace and dasara exhibition grounds.
Ramdas began his tour on a scooter from the CADA premises and took stock of the condition of roads in and around palace.
As a band of BJP activists and MCC officials, including commissioner K S Raykar followed the minister also on two-wheelers, the latter passed through the roads surrounding palace, exhibition grounds, Ittigegud and Mysore-Nanjangud road. His tour ended on this road after inspecting the drain that passes off the highway. He directed officials to take steps for reducing the stench in the area.
Hygiene
If the pothole filled roads beckoned the minister in several areas, Ramdas vented his anger on health officials for lack of hygiene in residential areas in Ittigegud. He found cattles tethered outside the houses in the locality paving way for unhygienic conditions and asked officials to clear it.
Speaking to reporters, Ramdas said he set on a early morning city tour following public complaints on poor roads. “I wanted to know for myself the status of roads in heart of city. It will be not be possible to assess if I am driving in a car. Hence, I had to opt for two-wheeler tour,” he said. Several roads are dug for the JnNURM works and is left without proper repair. A meeting of MCC and MUDA officials is convened on September 2.
Both the civic bodies would be directed to take up the civic works connected to dasara on priority and complete it in 15 days, he said adding that the work on filling pot holes in residential layouts would be taken up after dasara. The MCC contractors are on strike demanding clearing of pending bills.
The city corporation owes a whopping Rs 45 crore to the contractors. K S Raykar, MCC Commissioner though exuded confidence in completing the work with the support of contractors, his words dithered as he referred to MCC finances in red.
“The corporation has been able to mobilise only Rs 60 crore in last 4-5 months. The water tax collection is mere Rs six crore compared to Rs 36 crore target. While, citizens owe Rs 30 crore property tax to MCC,” Raykar revealed. “We will have to find a way for contractors strike. The issue will be discussed with district in-charge minister. We will make all efforts to complete the dasara works by roping in contractors,” he added.
Slammed
As minister S A Ramdas tried to hog the media limelight through his early morning scooter ride in city, Samajwadi Party leader B Karunakar who confronted the minister took a jibe at the former.
“Stop the ride. End your publicity gimmick and media bash and work seriously for the development. The Rajamarga is not completed even after one year. It has put public into inconvenience as they will have to take a longer route. The petrol prices have crossed Rs 70 and it is costing heavy on people’s purse. Also, ask officials to remove hoardings of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders. These flexboards are a big nuisance in city,” Karunakar slammed.
The Minister retorted intelligently saying: “You are speaking all this because media is here.” And, continued his ride.