Mangaluru : MLA J R Lobo misguided the state government regarding the renaming of St Aloysius college Road as Mulky Sundaram Shetty Road. Mayor Kavitha Sanil get the stay on naming the stretch, said opposition Leader of the Mangaluru City Corporation Ganesh Hosabettu on Wednesday, July 19.

Addressing mediapersons he said, MCC had taken a decision to name the above mentioned stretch of road after a leading banker the region has seen only after following due processes. A resolution to this effect was adopted unanimously in MCC council meeting on February 24, 2015 and 30-day public objection called for on December 22, 2015. A report from police commissioner’s office on January 10, 2017 too had cleared the move. MLA J R Lobo brought a stay order from the government. It is condemnable and against public interest.

“J R Lobo is playing politics in silly matters. the office of deputy commissioner in its letter to commissioner, MCC on May 4, 2016 had sought to know the previous name of the above mentioned stretch of road and if MCC had given a name to this road previously. The commissioner in his reply dated May 25, 2016 had replied that the road commonly is referred to as Light House Hill Road and that the civic body had not named this road after anyone. The matters should rest with this letter, he contended.

“J R Lobo has spent only Rs 100 crore in his constituency for development. As a developing area, this amount is very less. He not yet taken any steps to construct a good bus terminal at State Bank. So, he should concentrate more in development and not in communal and one way politics,” he concluded.

It is imperative for the Mayor to act in getting the stay vacated, Ganesh said adding only such a step could help restore the honour of the council. Noting that normally such issues are referred to the town planning committee for its report before disposing the agenda, he said in this case the agenda moved by former Mayor Harinath at the behest of Vijaya Bank Employees’ Union was passed unanimously. Any objection should have come at least at this stage, he noted.

Premanand Shetty, former leader of the opposition said MLA Lobo is an invitee to the council meetings and agenda of council meetings is sent to him. “Lobo has acted as sole representative of a community that he hails from in getting this stay order from the government,” Sudheer said adding that an MLA represents all sections of society post elections. The MLA should show similar haste in getting approvals for other projects of the city corporation, he demanded

Corporator Rajendra, Sudhir Shetty were present.