'Lobo launched housing project to become MLA'

Former MLA J R Lobo, with a desire to become MLA again, has launched a housing project in Shaktinagar without checking the status of land, Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath charged on Friday.

Kamath told mediapersons at BJP Office here, that Lobo had placed his interest above all as no money was set aside for building a retaining wall and providing basic facilities. Even District In-charge Minister U T Khader, who seems to have understood the problem in Shaktingar, has promised to rectify the mistakes.

“In order to solve the land issue, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner has written to deputy commissioner on inserting MCC in place of government in Column 9,’’ Kamath said and hoped that the deputy commissioner would respond to the request.

Kamath said as a businessman-turned-politician he was making sincere attempts to rectify Lobo’s mistakes and ensure justice to 930 poor people who were promised houses in the project. Despite his vast experience in administration, he got Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) to hand over land to MUDA for constructing building in Urva Market.

“Lobo had asked what was my contribution to Mangaluru in 10 months? Being in the government department for 40 years and as a MLA for past five years, what is Lobo’s contributions to city?” he asked. Kamath said he was just a beginner nursing a desire to bring unique projects to Mangaluru.

At present, Congress is ruling the state and also the MCC. So it is difficult to get the projects from the state government, he added.

Kamath also sought to know Lobo’s contribution in tackling sand crisis, water scarcity, garbage issues among others. “Lobo should be ashamed of himself,” he said.

Corporator Premanath Shetty was also present.