'M'lore will get 24x7 water without privatisation'

Casting away the apprehension of people towards the proposed 24X7 water supply system for Mangalore City Corporation, State Minister for Urban Development S Suresh Kumar on Saturday, clarified that the government would ensure the 24X7 water scheme without privatising the water resource.

Speaking at the review meeting of the Mangalore City Corporation, he assured the people that there was nothing to worry about the water tariff system as the State government is very clear about not selling the water for money. “We will not allow to sell water in the name of tariff. The system will be implemented without any privatisation as the MCC would be entrusted with the responsibility to fund and monitor the water supply,” he said.

When the issue of solid waste management was raised at the meeting, the Minister said that solution will be drawn to the SWM problem at a meeting with the MCC Commissioner and Urban Development Secretary in Bangalore on August 28. “Bangalore has set a bad precedent in managing the waste. Hence, we should be very cautious in implementing the SWM project in Mangalore by not repeating the mistakes that have happened earlier.
We will clear the file of SWM for MCC by September,” he assured.

On bringing MCC under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, he said he has already discussed the matter  with Central Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy. “We will continue our effort for the same,” stated Suresh Kumar. He also informed that direction was given to the Infrastructure Development Department to allot fund for constructing railway over bridges in the city limits.

District minister reviews work

District-in-Charge Minister C T Ravi who was in the city on Saturday, too convened a review meeting of the MCC. He expressed his concern over the pace at which the city is developing.

“Looking at the way in which Mangalore is developing, it appears that the administration has no capacity to handle the development speed. MCC, MUDA and the district administration should jointly work to maintain the pace of development,” he insisted.

He flayed the MCC officials for not carrying out the developmental work effectively and for not furnishing the appropriate details. Observing the delay in the process of renewing the trade licences, he fixed September end as the deadline to recover all the pending tax amount. “File cases against those who have not renewed the licences even after issuing notices,” he ordered the Revenue Inspector.

Ravi was astonished to know that the MCC had taken up an additional work of Rs 21 crore than the fixed target in the year 2011-12. “Carrying out the work more than 25 per cent of the fixed target will create problems. No developmental work is possible without settling contractors’ bills within three months of completion of the work,” he said. Raising concern over the presence of malaria and dengue diseases, he asked the MCC Commissioner to involve college students in implementing programmes to curb the diseases.

Review meet at MUDA

Later, presiding over the review meeting at Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), Ravi emphasised on the need to develop oxygen zones as the city witnesses quick growth.

“MUDA should ensure that parks are developed in every residential layout. The development of 30 storeyed apartments is not a good sign for a city,” he said.
Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Channappa Gowda, MCC Commissioner Dr K Harish Kumar were present.