MCC may implement revised SAS by Oct end

The State cabinet is expected to approve the same within 15 days

“The final proposal will come before the State cabinet soon. The Cabinet is expected to approve the same within the next 15 days. Once the proposal obtains the Cabinet nod, there will be no delay in implementing it,” said Mayor M Shanker Bhat during the MCC’s general meeting held here on Tuesday.
Answering a question by Corporator Jayanthi representing CPM, the Mayor said the revised SAS would be implemented by the end of the October. The revised system would certainly reduce the tax amount, he added.

Water to Nagarjuna
The issue of releasing water to the coal stocking yard of Nagarjuna thermal power plant at Panamboor dominated the council meet for the second consecutive time, which witnessed dharna by the Opposition members, though dramatically. When the issue was raised in the meeting, the Mayor clarified that the Corporation has agreed to supply only 0.5 MGD water to the Nagarjuna but not 5 MGD as alleged by the Opposition. “After disconnecting illegal water connections, the Corporation has been getting an additional 5-6 MGD water. Thus there is a supply of at least 24-25 MGD water to the city now, due to which we have an excess of 4 MGD water,” he informed.

“Besides, the Corporation would earn a revenue of Rs 3 lakh or Rs 4 lakh every month from Nagajuna. Supplying water to industrial establishments is our duty,” Bhat said.
The discussion of the issue ended here and some other matters were looked into. However, when the meeting appeared to have reached its conclusion, Opposition leader Harinath raised the Nagarjuna issue again and rushed to the well of the House with accompanies. They raised slogans against the administration. The agenda was read and approved within a minute amidst the buzz.

Instruction to officials
Responding to the complaints by the councillors that most of the officials are not available for the public in the working days, Commissioner Vijaya Prakash said he has strictly asked the officials to be in their office from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm on all days and throughout the day on all Saturdays.
Former mayor Ganesh Hosabettu complained that the officials do not visit the Surathkal office on Wednesdays as per the agreement. The Commissioner also said the Corporation is yet to decide whether it should continue the Bikarnakatte office or not.

Support for Dasara
Opposition member S Appi demanded the Corporation to provide Rs 50 lakh for Dasara celebrations of Kudroli temple. Supporting the demand, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde said the entire Dasara celebrations in Mysore and Madikeri are supported by the government. Mayor Bhat said the Corporation has already been supporting the celebrations and will continue to do the same.
Corporator (Independent) Mariamma Thomas said she would start hunger strike before the MCC building if the problems in her ward (Padavu Central) were not solved within the next 20 days. The councillors irrespective of parties urged that the Corporation should take steps to give door numbers to all houses in its limits including the unauthorised ones.

CCTVs for MCC building
The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) has approved the proposal of installing CCTV cameras in the MCC building for security reasons.

Giving its nod to the proposal in the general meeting chaired by Mayor M Shanker Bhat on Tuesday, the council said the project can be taken up through inviting tenders.
The council also decided to refer the proposal of constructing an international standard swimming pool in the city to the Town Planning Standing Committee. The Swimming Pool Committee has decided to inspect the KPT ground, warehouse premises and the Urwa Market hostel premises for the new swimming pool.

The council deferred the process of filling a vacant position in the Accounts Standing Committee to the coming general meeting. The post is vacant since councillor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred remained absent to three consecutive meetings of the Corporation and thus lost her position.

According to Section 11(5) of Karnataka Municipal Corporations’ Act 1976, a standing committee member loses his/her position if he/she remains absent for three consecutive meetings.