Dakshina Kannada District Deputy Commissioner and Mangalore City Corporation Administrator A B Ibrahim has said that the district administration would reconsider the trade licence fee issue in the city corporation limits which was hiked by the former DC with effect from April 1, 2013. 

Speaking at an interaction programme organised by Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Saturday, he said that a meeting was convened and a decision has been taken by the former DC in this regard. But there is no elected representatives in the MCC. So, a meeting will be convened with the MCC Commissioner and if there is any provision under the KMC Act, the status quo will be maintained, he said. 

On the roads, footpaths and storm water drains, he said that there is scope of upgradation. The proposal of extending city corporation limits from Talpadi to Mulki is also before the administration, but few public representatives have opined that first the corporation should develop the current 125 square kilo metres of corporation area than extending it. However, a proposal will be sent soon to the State government, he said. He also said that a proposal has been sent to both the Central and State governments on high speed railway link between Konaje and Manipal. 

Water problem 

The DC said that there is no problem of water sources for the Mangalore, until projects like Yettinahole would get implemented. There was proposal to increase the height of Tumbe dam to 7 metres, but the administration can work only upto 4 metres as land acquisition is yet to be done. Now land acquisition has become tougher than earlier after the amendment to the Act. Till April 1 land acquisition is not possible, he said. 

Meanwhile, he said that new tender has been called for waste management and a Mumbai based company has won the bid. The company has bigger vehicles and better equipment to collect and manage waste. It has already started working, but the problem is that the city doesn’t has wide roads to drive such vehicles, he said. 

On housing for poor, Ibrahim clearly stated that for sites upto 10 cents, the permission of Mangalore City Corporation is enough and one need not take permission from Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The decision was taken to stop the poor from roaming from pillar to post for a small piece of land to build house, he said.

For Mangalore SEZ Limited, the DC said that the problems of the project will be solved soon. He also said that obstacles of railway over bridges at Padil and Jeppu will be removed soon. 

Yettinahole project 

The Deputy Commissioner was surprised by the poor response of people pertaining to Yettinahole or Netravati diversion project. “The decision has been taken at the State-level and I can just communicate people’s opinion to the State government. But, why there is no strong resistance to this serious problem. Why there are no serious efforts to collect public opinion and why there are no mass protests about the project?” he asked.

‘Introspect on City devt’
Ibrahim said that nothing is moving in right direction in MCC. Many problems which were there 15 years ago like Hampankatta bus stand problem, Kadri Park development and poor standard of Nehru Maidan among other problems are still hanging in balance.
 People from Mysore tell that footpaths of Mysore are better than Mangalore’s main roads. When cities like Mysore and Belgaum can develop, why can’t Mangalore…Why Mangalore is not attracting entrepreneurs…why there are not even a single layout with proper facility in the city?” he sought to know. 

“There should be an introspection and time bound plans to develop the city. A meeting of city builders, educationists and public representatives should be convened. We work within a time frame. Now, many people oppose private bus stand near pumpwell. They should find some other suitable place within a time period and should communicate with officials. 

Foundation stone was laid for Rangamandira four-times. It should not happen this time, he added. 

KCCI office bearers and former presidents felicitated Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim. A memorandum was also submitted on various problems pertaining to the district including Yettinahole project.