Mangalore: The Mangalore City Corporation had its monthly progress review meeting on Friday, and the opposition (congress) Party members did well to raise the question of bad interior roads in city, uncared for, even after monsoon had ended.

They were dressed in black, as a “mark of respect” for citizens but protesting against the civic body’s failure, to maintain interior roads properly asphalted in autumn/winter seasons.

Opposition leader Lancelot Pinto opened the day’s discussions to tell the city authorities concerned to take up immediate work, to reform the inner Walks of the city, instead of keeping on renewing the main roads only as in Kadri.

He pointed out that pedestrians had difficulty in moving on such bad roads everywhere.

General funds and SFC grants were entirely used only to concretize some main roads, but not in their entirety  at all, and only in parts, as in Shaktinagar, leading nowhere.

The 12the Finance Commission grants should be equally distributed in all 60 words of MCC,  he insisted, to improve the interior roads in every way.

Former Mayor Shastidhar Hegde asked the Mayor to focus on overall development of city, not in a lop-sided manner.

Development was not related only to RCC roads, but it also covers repairing interior roads in a fast growing Malnad city of ups and downs and this aspect should get its priority, as another monsoon is due in 6 months now, and nothing has been done.

D.K. Ashok asked if Kadri Temple road would be asphalted before Sankramana, Jan 14, 2012.

Deepak Pujari asked the MCC to “blacklist” those road contractors who failed to keep their “deadlines” (time limits).

When Sudheer Shetty informed that funds had been already released for road works, the Congress Corporators demanded a list of such approved projects, to go through and feel satisfied.

Prmanand Shetty urged MCC to prioritize interior roads accessibility, and repairs work to be done.

James D’souza butted in to say that contractors did not take up road repairs, as the schedule of rates for roads improvement was quite low, as compared to high cost of raw materials involved.

Issues like maintenance of street-lights, and solid waste management, came up during discussions.

Shankdr Bhat (ex-mayor) suggested 4 to 6 package systems, instead of just done.

The Congress members referred to Audit queries on misappropriation of funds in the civic body. Deputy Mayor Geetha and Commissioner Dr. Harish K, were present.