JOIN USFormer MLA J R Lobo on Wednesday challenged that he would retire from politics if MLA D Vedavyas Kamath proves his charges of low quality work executed by ADB.
Lobo also challenged Kamath to quit politics if he fails to proves his charges against him.
Addressing reporters here, he said that he had made honest efforts to bring water supply pipeline when he was director of Kudcemp project. The ADB works did not lack quality, he claimed.
Kamath had alleged that the first phase of ADB-funded project was a failure owing to poor implementation by Lobo.
Lobo termed allegations as baseless and charged that the MLA did not possess complete information on the project.
“When the Kudcemp project was implemented in 2002, the BJP was in power in Mangaluru City Corporation. During a discussion held at the council of MCC, it was decided to earmark Rs 110 crore instead of Rs 170 crore as was decided earlier. With the funds falling short, only 750-km pipeline could be drawn for door-to-door drinking water supply,” he said.
“Had the project been implemented as per the plan, the water would have flowed continuously. There is around
50 % wastage of water through leakage and illegal water connections by villagers,” he said.
The related works, such as the construction of water purification plant, laying an
18 MGD water supply pipe were carried out with Kudcemp funds. The facility ensured supply of 160 MLD water to Mangaluru city instead of 80 MLD water, he said.
Lobo said,”The proposal to raise Thumbe dam level was sent to the government when I was the Kudcemp project director. It was sanctioned by the then chief minister
H D Kumaraswamy on February 3, 2007, not by B S Yeddyurappa as has been claimed by Kamath.”
“An amount of Rs 20 crore was released as compensation to those who scarified lands for the project by former
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,” he said. Lobo said that he himself, Mangalore North former MLA B A Mohiyuddin Bava and former district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai met and requested the then chief minister to release the funds.
Efforts have been made to provide drinking water from Thumbe dam to the nearby villages under Amrut project, he said.
The ADB Phase II works were sanctioned by the government on December 14, 2016. The tender process for the works to the tune of Rs 750 crore was in progress, Lobo said.
“What did Kamath do apart from making baseless allegations and submitting memorandum for the last one year?” Lobo questioned.