"It is my vision to make Mangalore a beautiful city……"

Congress candidate for Mangalore assembly constituency, Lancelot Pinto, dreams of alleviating the city's problems and unveils his plans to implement them, as he speaks to Richie Lasrado, exclusively for Daijiworld.com

As one who has been a corporator for an unbroken stretch of 20 long years ever since the Municipal Council was made a City Corporation in 1983,  a deputy mayor for a term in 2001, and now deservingly given a ticket for the assembly contest, Lancelot Pinto is refreshingly simple, unassuming and receptive. In between hectic preparations for the procession prior to the filing of nomination on Wednesdy, Lancy was ever polite and cool, receiving every visitor and every call that came in to congratulate him. The hill-top home overlooking the Lourdes Central School on the other side of the road in Bijai was virtually a beehive of activity.

The developmental projects he has got completed for his ward in Bijai is proof to his enthusiasm. The assembly constituency is almost the same as the city stretches itself out. So, being a corporator, especially the one having served as deputy mayor, he will have already known what the problems of the constituency are.

The very fact that Lancy refused to confirm his candidature until he got the 'B Form' in his hand, proves what he asserted - that he did not much lobby for his candidature, but got it strictly on merit.

As he spoke to Daijiworld.com, Lancy seemed to have his agenda clearly set for himself.

Excerpts from a flash interview:

If elected to the assembly, what are your priorities?

The general impression about an elected representative is that he would come to visit his constituency only once every five years. If elected, it is my promise to visit every home at least once in six months. I would like to feel the pulse of the people, studying their needs and requirements.

What are the problems that afflict our city at present?

The most worrying problem is of water. The present vented dam in Thumbe that supplies water to the city is not providing us sufficient water. I have plans for an extra dam there so that we could have enough water. Further, with the increasing population, there are problems of traffic and congestion.  Further, to ease congestion of traffic, we do need some flyovers, especially, in Hampankatta, Nantur, KPT and Kuntikan. It is my vision to see Mangalore as a clean, beautiful city.

Won't it be the best solution to have the main bus-stand shifted out of the areas of concentration, by overcoming pressure from the business and real estate lobby?

I do agree that as the city grows, we cannot have the bus stand in the centre of the city. There are plans to have a new bus stand at Pumpwell, behind the Pentagon hotel. The land has been earmarked, but acquisition and other process is not over. It is also my dream to have a new, spacious and full-fledged market for the city.

What about the growing garbage problem?

Comparatively, I can say Mangalore is the cleanest city around. There is a garbage management plan with an Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan of Rs 306 crore under process, which should largely solve the problem of garbage in the city.

The stretch and range of the Mangalore City Corporation almost coincides with that of the assembly