Mayor leaves behind incomplete projects

Mayor leaves behind incomplete projects

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 8, 2015 :  Mahabala Marla will lay down office as Mayor on March 12 after initiating projects such as computerisation of the corporation office. But, they are yet to be completed during his 10-month tenure.

Mayor  Marla was elected Mayor on March 13, 2014 he could not exercise powers in April and May, 2014 due to the model code of conduct for the Parliamentary elections. One among the senior councillors, he had been elected to the council from the Congress in 1997, 2002 and 2013.

 Marla proposed to computerise all sections of Mangaluru City Corporation at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.44 crore. Works relating to issuance of building licences, trade licences, water supply billing, remittance of property tax and so on were to be computerised. Talking to reporters on May 13, 2014, he said that his target was to complete the computerisation in his 10-month tenure in order to provide time-bound service to people.

This Mayor told  media  that KEONICS (Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd.) had been entrusted with this task. Its officials visited the corporation and conducted a preliminary study to know the requirements of the corporation. The KEONICS would invite the bids to complete this project “within the five-year term of the present council.”

Talking on other project of widening Kankanady, Ambedkar, Mallikatta, Bunts Hostel, PVS and Navbharat circles in the first phase to ease traffic congestion, he said that bids have been invited to widen Mallikatta Circle. Steps would be taken to widen the other circles by his successors. The Mayor promised to take steps to install digital water meters for water supply pipelines to industries, apartments and commercial complexes to prevent tampering of meters and augment more revenue. Though it is yet to materialised.

He said that his initiative of having a dedicated software to assist in malaria management has received a boost Mangalore Medical Relief Society, sponsors for the project, informed that much progress has been made in developing the software.

As Mayor,  Marla did not resume conducting water adalats which he had promised. The Mayor brushed aside the topic of constituting ward committees in the city by forming a House committee, which is yet  record its report.