Mangaluru : The Council of the Mangaluru City Corporation has decided to take charge of UGD system, taken up under the first phase of Kudcemp project and funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), for its future maintenance.

It will also write to the State government seeking funds to complete the pending work, under the first phase of the project.

Owing to various reasons, the work that was taken up has failed to connect sewer lines from houses of the residents to the manholes of the main sewage-carrying pipelines in several areas. Hence, the officials from the MCC and KUIDFC conducted a joint survey to prepare an estimate for the pending works.

Accordingly, an estimate of Rs 19.91 crore has been prepared to take up the pending works that has not been covered in the first phase. This includes Rs 6.96 crore for mislinking work, Rs seven crore for concrete road, Rs 1.20 crore for repairing the manholes.

The opposition members said that before submitting a proposal for the second phase of the project, there is a need to complete the works initiated under the first phase of the ADB project.

Earlier, members Ganesh Hosabettu, Vijaykumar, Rajendra, Ayaz, Dayanand, Azeez and K Mohammed alleged that wet wells in the MCC limits are not functioning properly. As a result, the sewage carrying lines have polluted the water bodies in the vicinity.
The loopholes in the first phase of the ADB-funded project should be rectified. Vijaykumar said that sewage treatment plant (STP) built at Jeppinamogaru was inaugurated a few months ago. However, the corporation has kept people guessing on whether to connect their house connections or not.

Deputy Commissioner (Development) N Shivashankar Swami said that laying of electricity cable to the Surathkal STP was in progress. After the completion of the work, trial run will be taken up before commissioning the STP.

RUB at Jeppu Kudupady
The Council also gave nod for release of Rs 80,21,093 to Railways for the construction of road under bridge (RUB) at Jeppu Kudupady.

The Mangaluru City Corporation has already paid Rs 3,70,98,294 for the work including the centage charge. However, Divisional Railway Manager Works, Palakkad had written to the MCC seeking additional Rs 80,21,093 to take up the work.

Council Opposition Leader Sudheer Shetty said that the fee for installing hoardings on government land has been hiked by only 30 per cent. The fee for ad should be increased to mobilise internal resources to take up development activities. The solid waste management cess has been hiked unscientifically, he alleged.

Reacting to it, Standing Committee on Finance president Harinath said that the advertisement fee has been hiked by 45 per cent.

“We can not hike it by 100 per cent all of a sudden. The SWM cess for households will be reduced by 50 per cent. The proposal on the same will be placed in the Council after finalising the cess for commercial complexes.”

Pending water bills
When the members alleged that water bills were not being generated and given to the households by the agency, Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak said that last month, the agency had generated 52,000 bills. “We have given target to the agency to cover all 77,000 connections within two months.”

The members alleged that several commercial buildings after handing over gift deed to the MCC for the widening of the road, has built compound wall by covering the land given through gift deed. Such compound walls should cleared in the MCC limits.

“Once the gift deed is given then the land becomes MCC’s property. The original owner has no control over it,” said Mahabala Marla. Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred directed the officials to look into the issue.