Hue and cry over tree felling unnecessary: Mayor

He warns stern action against environs damaging MCC property

Addressing a news conference on Thursday, he said that the allegations made by the so called protectors of environment that MCC is cutting off trees on Kankanady Junction-Morgan Gate stretch is far from truth. The media too has been hyping up the issue unnecessarily.

“The road is being widened by 7 metres on both sides. Hence, as of now there is no need to cut off the trees at all as none of the trees are on the path of widening,” he said and added that some people are damaging the corporation property on the pretext of opposing felling of trees. In future, he said that such people will be identified and action will be taken against them. He said that the forest department has been asked to plant 5 saplings if they cut one tree and a sum of Rs 8 lakh has been given to Forest Department for planting and maintaining the saplings for three years.

Disconnect water lines
With regard to water bills, he said that Corporation is yet to collect Rs 14 crore. He said that the water lines will be disconnected without any second thought if people fail to pay the water bills and criminal case will be filed against those people who are rejoining the disconnected illegal connections.
He said that illegal water connections is the main cause for the water crisis in the city. He informed that every year Corporation is losing on water worth Rs 16 to 17 crore due to illegal connection.
Quoting a survey, he said that there are about 2 lakh houses in Corporation limits but only 69,000 metres have been installed.
He said that Dalit families in the corporation limits will be given syntex tanks under 18 per cent scheme.
Each of the tank with installation will cost about Rs 20,000 to Rs 22,000, which will  be borne by the Corporation.

Concretisation
Bhat said that Ballalbaugh-Mannagudda road concrete work has been started and will be completed soon. This project will cost Rs 1.65 crore. C V Nayak hall to Circuit house road widening works will be taken up soon.
Bejai market works has started too, he said.

MRPL to lay 6-lane road    
Mayor said that MRPL has come forth to lay 4.75 km of road from Surathkal junction to MRPL gate way at a cost of Rs 30 crore. This 6 lane road will be 100 ft wide with proper drains, dividers, toilets, bus stand etc. The work will be taken up by MCC.
Offering gratitude to MRPL, Bhat said that the company has been responding to the demands of the Corporation and had given 12 fogging machines to control malaria, it has been paying about Rs 24,000 per month as salary for 6 employees in the Malaria cell. A mobile van for central library and dinner hall for Mangala Jyothi special school in Vamanjur at a cost of Rs 20 lakh are some of the other services offered by the company, Bhat said.