‘Innovation for Urban Governance’ units to be opened in all cities : Vinay Kumar Sorake

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 17, 2013: State Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake has  informed that a new division  called ‘ Innovation for Urban Governance’ will be opened in every city with a view to sensitize the corporators on their duties and responsibilities and also to enlighten them on the developmental initiatives.

Speaking    at the  ’Meet the Press’ programme held at Press Club on Sep 17, Tuesday, Sorake said the Greater Mangalore Project Proposal would be placed before the  Cabinet meeting in the coming days in order to seek its consent.  Sorake said Minister Abhayachandra has already agreed with the proposal, while Health Minister UT Khader has suggested inclusion of  Ullal and Farangipete in the proposed Greater Mangalore.

He further assured that  various programmes will be chalked out to develop Mangalore into a model city in the days to come. The Minister further made it a point that ward committees will have to be compulsorily formed  and  that meetings should be  held regularly to bring about more transparency in functioning of local administrative bodies.

Sorake who chose to describe the Urban Development Department as a sensitive department, said it needs to function with great care and responsibility. If the erstwhile government had earned disrepute it was owing to the style of functioning of this department, Sorake observed.

Pointing out that the population of the city has increased  by three times,  Sorake said  all out efforts would be made to solve the staff shortage in Mangalore Zone of the Department. He said  the Department has already appointed seven IAS officials with a view to further improve its functioning.

On the KUDCEMP project, Sorake said the Rs 1500 crore sanctioned for the purpose has exhausted and a proposal would be made to release an additional Rs 500 crores to complete the pending works. Sorake also informed about the proposal to concretize the Airport Road.

 The minister further informed that steps would be taken to upgrade  Tumkur, Shimoga and Gulbarga into  city corporations. He also stated that villages having a population of above 10,000 will be considered as towns.

The proposal to confer Karnataka Ratna Award to eminent writer, scholar and Kannada activist Kayyara Kinhanna will also be discussed in the Cabinet meet, Sorake said.

DKWJU President PB Harish Rai welcomed the gathering and Secretary Srinivas Indaje proposed vote of thanks.