Mangalore to become Greater Mangalore City Corporation?
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
 
Bangalore, Oct 29: If Karnataka’s Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has his way, Mangalore City Corporation is likely to be upgraded into Greater Mangalore City Corporation in the near future.

The proposed Greater Mangalore City Corporation would cover the existing urban local bodies of Ullal and Mulki, Sorake said.

Addressing a news conference in Bangalore on Tuesday, the minister said the State Government has proposed to upgrade several existing city corporations.

He, however, declined to indicate any timeline and explained that the State Cabinet will have to take a decision after examining all aspects.

With Bangalore-Mysore corridor witnessing high growth rate, he said the State Government has proposed to merge the urban local bodies of Ramanagaram, Channapatna and Bidadi to form a city corporation and Mandya and Maddur Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) into another city corporation.

The State Government has proposed to upgrade three city municipal councils to city corporations, 15 town municipal councils to city municipal corporations, 18 town panchayats to town municipal councils and 164 gram panchayats to town panchayats, Sorake said.

The Urban Development Department has proposed to upgrade urban local bodies based on the 2011 Census.

The proposed merger of three urban local bodies of Ramanagaram, Channapatna and Bidadi in one City Corporation would decongest the Bangalore City and enable neighbouring ULBs to grow, he said.

Deputy Commissioners of all districts have been asked to provide reports on upgradation of existing ULBs.

Based on the reports of the Deputy Commissioners of all districts, he said the State Government would take a decision.

The department has set up a land bank at a cost of Rs 30 crore to make available land for development works in urban areas (except Bangalore).

Many projects were delayed due to non-availability of land and also resulted in escalation of project cost, he said.
 

Rs 3,250 Crore Revolving Fund to Help ULBs
 
The State Government has proposed to set up a Rs 3,250 crore revolving fund to grant loans to urban local bodies (ULBs), including city corporations, at 6 per cent rate of interest to take up development works.

Sorake said the main objective of the fund was to grant loans ULBs that have been facing severe financial constraints and have not been able to provide basic amenities to citizens.

The loan amount should be utilised for providing basic facilities such as drinking water, solid waste management, road connectivity, land acquisition and underground drainage.

The Urabn Deveopment Department officials have been told to prepare a note to be placed before the State Cabinet for approval.

The department has got funds given by the Union Government and international funding agencies and the same will be advanced to fund-crunch ULBs, he said.
 

Probe Into Kundamestri Project
 
Sorake said he has issued directions to Regional Commissioner to probe and submit a report into alleged irregularities in the implementation of a Kundamestri drinking water scheme in Kodagu district.

The project to pump water from Kundamestri to augment water level at the Kootuhole reservoir (which caters to most of drinking water needs of Madikeri City) initially was estimated at Rs seven crore and later revised to Rs 23 crore.

The project cost is estimated at Rs 80 crore, he said pointing out that despite spending a huge amount there was no physical progress on the scheme.

The department would initiate action against those who misappropriated funds on the receipt of inquiry report.

The department would explore possibilities of lifting water from the Berthi Reservoir to supply drinking water to people of Madikeri town, he said.

Sorake said the government has submitted proposals worth Rs 5,200 crore to the Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for second phase of works in Bangalore and Mysore cities.

Admitting irregularities in the execution of works in the first phase in both the cities, he said the government was yet to decide on ordering probe into alleged irregularities.