Citizens voice civic problems galore at Janaspandana

Citizens voice civic problems galore at Janaspandana

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, August 26, 2018: Janaspandana-Citizens for Change, a programme organised by city dailies Deccan Herald and Prajavani received an overwhelming response from the residents of Mangaluru City South Assembly constituency on august 25, Saturday.

The participants expressed their despair at the officials for failing to provide basic facilities.  Pathetic condition of roads, lack of drainage systems and disruption in water supply were the major issues raised by the participants in the programme.

Resident of Mallikatte said, “ There is no proper road to reach the apartments. Even after 40 years, road has not been developed in the area. We have been paying tax to the city corporation regularly. But we are denied of the facilities.”  In reply, Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer said, “Depending on the availability of grants, the work will be taken up on a priority basis.”

MLA D Vedavyas Kamath said, “The city corporation should give priority to road, drinking water and drainage facilities. There is a need to fix a time frame for the work.”  Nazeer said, “If the estimate for the road is huge, then it has to be approved in the MCC Council.”  The MLA then directed him to place the agenda in the next council meeting. 

MCF Highway Garden Association of 22nd Ward person said, “We pay more than Rs 1 lakh tax to the MCC. In spite of it, the area lacks proper drinking water supply, UGD, streetlights and the roads are ridden with potholes. The grass beside the roads is dangerous.”

AEE Naresh Shenoy said, “Water is supplied to the 22nd ward for five to six hours daily. The issue raised by the residents will be verified on Monday. Measures will be taken to supply water at least three hours of water per day.”

MLA Kamath told the officials, “There is a need to fix a time for the supply of water. Some wards have better water supply system. Give priority to the adequate supply of water.”

Sundarram of Kadri 34th Ward said there are no UGD facilities near his house in spite of a court order.

The officer said that to lay the UGD, the pipeline has to pass through a private land and the private owner has objected to it.

The MLA said that the UGD work can be taken up by acquiring the land.

The MCC commissioner said he will visit the spot for inspection.

Janardhan of Bejai alleged that the MCC does not listen to the poor. “Just look at the condition of the road in Bejai. We too do not get proper water supply,” he said.

The MLA promised them that he will visit the area with AEE Naresh Shenoy next week.

An activist participant, said, “Bus shelters have disappeared in the name of the widening of roads. The fish market and vegetable markets in the city are in a deplorable condition.”

The MCC commissioner said that the work on the Kadri Market will be taken up
shortly.

The MLA said that work on Urwa Market is in the final stage. Tenders have been invited for Kadri Market work and the proposal will be submitted for constructing Kankanady market.

The Central Market will be developed under the Smart City Project. A detailed project report is being prepared, he said.

Kripa, a student of School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, said, “Rash driving by private buses has made people travel by bus with a fear in mind, and more so those walking on the roads, with no foot paths. The footboards in the city buses are too high and it is an inconvenience to the sick also senior citizens. It is necessary to write in Kannada  inside buses that  spitting from the bus is a crime. in Mangaluru are not written in Kannada.”  The MLA directed the traffic police to look into the issue.

A participant form Mannagudde said, “Noise pollution from a milk booth near the warehouse in Mannagudde. The sound of unloading is disturbing.”  The MLA directed the health officials to take measures to prevent the noise.

Another  said, “Urwa-Sulthan Bathery Road is undeveloped, lot of construction debris is dumped at Sulthan Bathery.”

MCC Joint Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak said, “Land has been identified for dumping debris at Kunjathabail. Measures will be taken to check the dumping of debris at Sulthan Bathery. The road will be widened.”

A lady said that a huge tree near Kalpatharu apartment in Mannagudde is posing a threat to the buildings. The MLA directed the officials to trim the branches of the tree.

The MLA said, “The officials are in responsible positions. It is the duty of the officials and elected representatives to understand the emotions of the people,” he said and appealed to the officials not to hurt the people who approach them.

“When the residents fail to get solutions for their problems, they approach the elected representatives and officials. People have a lot of expectations from us. It is our duty to work up to their expectations,” he said.

“Basic facilities should be provided by the local body. Even after 70 years of independence, the residents still face the problem of shortage of water, UGD, streetlights and bus shelter. We have failed in providing the basic facilities to the people.”

“The grievances aired at Jjanaspandana should be addressed. The officials should not issue a passing remark. I will verify the problem personally. If there is no progress in the work, then the public can contact me direct," MLA said.

Local corporators do not interact with people much. Follow-up measures on the issues put forth during the programme are important. Along with elected representatives and officials, the participation of members from youth associations and anganwadis should be ensured. The interactive meets should be conducted regularly, she added.

The programme helped the people, the elected representatives and the officials to list out the priorities of the city. “For instance, there are no sufficient public toilets in the city. Instead of constructing musical fountains, there is a need to construct public toilets,” he said.

Face-to-face communication with elected representatives and people makes the officials more accountable, he said. He thankedDeccan Herald and Prajavani for ensuring the presence of elected representatives in the programme.

Opposition leader in MCC Council Premanand Shetty lauded the concept of Janaspandana and said that the platform provided an opportunity for elected representatives like him to come across various civic issues.

“The work, which has to be done by the elected representatives and officials, is being taken up by  newspapers,” the MLA appreciated the initiative.

Speaking at the Janaspandana programme, he said Janaspandana acts as a platform for the people to air their grievances before the officials in the presence of the MLA. Such programmes should be organised by other newspapers at least once in a month to find a solution to the burning issues in the city, he felt.

“I have been given an opportunity to listen to the grievances of the people. It has given me motivation,” he said.

The Deccan Herald and Prajavani should follow up the issues raised in Janaspandana, he advised.

MLA’s office opening
Kamath said that he was elected as the MLA just three months ago.

“Due to rain, flood and other issues, I could not open my office. The MLA’s office will be opened in September. I will hold officials’ meetings in my office every Tuesday. I will discuss the problems raised by the people.”

The programme is a part of Deccan Herald and Prajavani’s initiative to connect with the citizens of Mangaluru city to solve their civic problems, ranging from poor condition of the road, streetlights, lack of UGD facilities, transport services, traffic problems, parking woes, footpath problems, law and order and other issues.

MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer, Joint Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak, AEE Naresh Shenoy, Jayaraj and Balakrishna Gowda of Town Planning Section, Environment Engineer Shabarinath, Mescom EE Manjappa, police officers Amanulla, Ramakrishna K K and others participated and responded to the woes of the people.

Corporators Jayanthi Achar, Surendra, Radhakrishna, Roopa D Bangera, Poornima, Rajendra, Premanand Shetty were present on the occasion.