Mangaluru, Sep 22, 2020: The announcement by Mayor Diwaker Pandeshwar of a grant of Rs 25 lakhs to each of the ward in the city limits to help the local corporators get emergency works undertaken, led to a heated debate in the MCC Council meeting on September 22, Tuesday.
The Mayor said the funds are being released to undertake road development, underground drainage and other essential works.
Reacting to this, opposition Congress Corporator Vinay Raj pointed out that the government has not yet approved the budget proposals for 2020-21 and that bills amounting to Rs 70 crore towards various works are still pending under General Fund. When this is the case, contractors would be hesitant to take up words under General Fund, he said.
Intervening at this juncture, BJP corporator Premanand Shetty said the opposition should not politicise the issue at a time when the Mayor has decided to provide grants despite the present difficult times.
Congress Corporator Naveen D’Souza raised the issue of water bills and said the hefty bills has become a burdern for the people. Shashidhar Hegde too raised his vocie and said the domestic water rate should be Rs 80 upto 24,000 litres usage as earlier. Later heeding to the suggestion of Lancelot Pinto, the Mayor assured to hold Water Adalats every month to redress public grievances relating to water bills.