Mangaluru : After the Opposition BJP in the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) council took objection last week over the corporation not reserving enough funds for taking up underground drainage (UGD) project through the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme, the civic body has now decided to allocate a sufficient amount for it and re-send a proposal to the government.

The civic body had prepared a project proposal under the scheme for five financial years from 2015-16. Of Rs. 148 crore allocated for the UGD project under the scheme during five years, it had not reserved any fund for the UGD works in the current financial year, and had reserved only Rs. 50 lakh for UGD works for 2016-17. For the subsequent years it had reserved Rs. 34.50 crore for 2017-18 and Rs. 54 crore each for the next two financial years (2018-20).

The BJP on Friday said that more funds should have been allocated for the first two years to provide people with better UGD facilities, especially in the old Mangaluru area, at the earliest. It had also alleged that the Congress, which was leading the council, had reserved more funds for the works from 2017-18 onwards keeping the coming Assembly elections in mind to impress voters.

Addressing the media here on Monday, J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangaluru City South, said the MCC would revise the allocation made to UGD works. It would reserve Rs. 25 crore for the next financial year, and Rs. 50 crore each would be reserved for the third and fourth years (2017-19) and Rs. 23 crore would be reserved for 2019-20.

Mr. Lobo said that a revised proposal with only changes in allocation made to UGD works would be sent to the government for approval.

The MLA, who was also a former Commissioner of MCC, said the UGD network in old Mangaluru areas were in poor condition with many manholes collapsing. The fund under AMRUT scheme would be used to replace the old network with new ones. In addition, funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would also be drawn as loan for improving UGD facilities in old Mangaluru area. As per preliminary estimates, about Rs. 150 crore would be reserved from the ADB loan for it.

Mayor Jesinta Vijaya Alfred was also present.