Baig has promised CID probe into faulty UGD work in Surathkal: Bava

MLA Mohiuddin Bava said that Minister for Urban Development Roshan Baig has promised to hand over the case of faulty underground sewage network laid in Surathkal by drawing a loan from the Asian Development Bank to CID for probe.

MLA said on Monday that the STP and wetwells are connected in Surathkal through UGD pipelines, but, leakage at many places had polluted wells. Baig, who recently inspected the faulty system, has promised to hand over the case to the CID.

"The work on underground sewage network was started in 2002 and was inaugurated one and a half years ago. Soon after, the wells in the region were polluted and the entire system is defunct. The BJP was in power when the project was started, now they are levelling allegations against me," he said.

Admitting that the project was a sheer waste of money, Bava said tender has been invited for Rs 35 crore under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), to rectify the loopholes in the system. The work will begin shortly. An action plan for Rs 45 crore has been prepared to take up UGD works in Kayarpalke, Kudumbooru, Angaragundi and parts of Kodikal in Mangaluru North constituency.

The water tank capacity will be increased to 15 lakh litres at 14 places in 23 MCC wards in the constituency to supply water round the clock.

Surathkal market

Bava said he is committed to provide space for all traders at the Suarthkal market in the new mall-like market complex. "Seventy per cent of the original owners who had availed of stalls have given their stalls for sub-lease. Also, new Rs 120-crore market will be built on PPP mode. Super markets will be built on one side of the new market. The rest would be given to traders who are presently carrying out the business," the MLA said.

The road between Surathkal and Ganeshapura will be developed as six-lane concrete road, at an estimated cost of Rs 62 crore. Under Paschima Vahini scheme, a check dam will be constructed across river Nethravathi at Polali-Malali, he added.