Mangaluru: City Mayor, corporators weild broom for ’Swachh Bharat’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 20, 2015: MCC - Mangalore City Corporation performed a ’Shramadan’  (voluntary labour) to clean up the surroundings of the corporation building at Lalbagh in the early hours of  July 18 Saturday morning. As part of Swachh Bharath Abhiyan, under the leadership of Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred, corporators and staff. 

Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred said Mangalore City Corporation hopes to be a model for others by maintaining cleanliness. This will be continued through civic workers. The health department is conducting similar programmes in the wards. Party barriers demolished, all  participated in the programme. The corporators, staff and the Mayor herself cleared the weeds and removed garbage using baskets.

Speaking to media, the mayor said as contractors are not ready to include footpath and drainage work with the construction of road, the corporation has decided to take up such works using premium FAR fund and finish with short tenders. The corporation can’t depend on only five ’A’ grade contractors of the city, she said.

The problem of the flow of rain water near Karavali circle of Kankanady would be solved soon. The potholes in the roads near Balmatta, Bendoorwell junction and other parts of the city would be repaired at the earliest, she said.

Tenders have no takers :  Opposition leader Sudhir Shetty said BJP corporators had conducted Swachh Bharath drive at ward-level for four weeks and plan to continue it. Meanwhile, he said though tender was called five times for footpath and drainage work from KSRTC to Circuit House worth Rs 21.75 crore which was sanctioned under Chief Ministers special fund during BJP tenure, there have no takers.  So, District-in-Charge Minister himself should take interest and get the work done through contractors. The absence of  a full-fledged commissioner for the corporation would certainly affect the development works. Utilising the premium FAR fund through short tenders is against norms and BJP has already objected. The issue is now with development cell.

In total, around 150 staff of the corporation participated in the drive. However, many corporators did not turn up for the event. MCC Commissioner (In-charge) Gokuldas Naik, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde were present among others.