Mayor welcomes probe into poor quality of UGD work

The poor quality of the underground sewage network laid in Surathkal and parts of Mangaluru was discussed in length by the Opposition members of the Council of Mangaluru City Corporation, on Saturday.

The project has been undertaken by drawing a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

MLA J R Lobo, who was then deputy project director of Kudcemp when the project was initiated, claimed that poor quality of works was not initiated during his tenure. "My tenure ended in December 2009. The works under the project in Surathkal was initiated in 2011. Those who were in power should take the responsibility for poor implementation of the works," said the legislator, adding, "I had ensured that there was no corruption during my tenure."

This, however, led to exchange of words between the ruling and the Opposition members of the Council.

'Panel should review'

Further, Lobo said, "It is not right to point a finger at one person for political reason. If there was any poor quality of works being implemented under the first phase of the project, let there be an expert committee to review the works. I welcome any kind of probe into the project."

Mayor Kavitha Sanil said that the Council of the City Corporation welcomes any kind of probe into the works taken up under the first phase of the ADB project.

Treated water

Earlier, Opposition leader Ganesh Hosabettu said the treated water from STP at Madhavanagara in Surathkal is left open. "In fact, the MCC had entered into an agreement with the MRPL to use the treated water. As the pipeline to MRPL is not ready, however, the treated water is let out in the open, causing inconvenience to the residents of Madhavanagara. Further, there is seepage in wet wells and manholes in Surathkal," he listed out.

Supporting him, Opposition member Sudheer Shetty said the wet wells in Padil, Faisal Nagara and Jalligudde are not functioning, as claimed by the MLA.

"The survey by the MCC officials had found some loose ends in the sewer project implemented by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) for the MCC. It found missing links of main sewer lines at several places and had estimated Rs 19.19 crore to complete the 'mislinking' works. However, Rs 56 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme has been earmarked to set right the missing links," said Shetty.

To bury the failure of the first phase of the ADB-funded project, the ruling members are pressing for a second phase of the project, he alleged.

No asset details

Further, Opposition member Premananda Shetty said that the MCC does not have complete details on the assets handed over to the civic body, by the KUIDFC after the first phase of the ADB-funded project was complete.

MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer promised to furnish the details in the next meeting of the Council.

Councillor A C Vinayraj sought to know why the order for Rs 75-crore worth work under the second phase of the ADB-funded project was not handed over to the contractor. The Opposition members claimed they were kept in the dark on the proposed project, as the order was not passed in the Council. They sought to know why the mayor was in a hurry to hand over the work to the contractor.

The members of the Council of Mangaluru City Corporation also condemned the statement of Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde on constitution.