Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Dec 30: A general body meeting of City Municipal Council was held at Sathyamurthi auditorium hall here on Friday, December 29.
The meeting began with a question and answer session where BJP CMC member Yashpal Suvarna raising the issue of Udupi Utsav asked why the CMC had not presented last year’s account details (income and expenditures) of Udupi Utsav to the CMC members. He also complained, “The organizers of the Utsav charge high entry fees of Rs 50 here whereas it is Rs 30 in Mangaluru. They also neglect sanitation and disposal of waste in a proper way.”
“What is the role of CMC in monitoring Udupi Utsav event? The event is being organised to entertain the people of Udupi and tourists. It should not be organized for the purpose of making money,” he said.
President Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje answered, “We have no role in giving permission. Everything was done by the district administration and the organizers. The CMC does not interfere into the issue.”
Commissioner D Manjunathaiah supporting the president said, “The Utsav organizers asked permission to install 52 banners in and around the city. Every decision was taken by five departments. On sanitation, I have sent environment engineer Raghavendra to examine the spot. He has warned and instructed them to dump waste at the dumping yard in Alevoor and has also levied additional charges on them.
“Former deputy commissioner Vishal changed the system and everything was brought under the control of the district administration to avoid mismanagement in financial matters and also, as Royal Garden, where the Utsav takes place, is a private land. So a resolution was taken by Vishal during his term. Last year, the profit amount of Rs 23 lac from the Utsav was donated to the district hospital’s burns’ ward, instead of using for the development of the city,” he said.
Yuvaraj, a member stressed on the point that beach utsav or Udupi utsav should be held by the CMC. It should not be held by the district administration.
“A resolution should be taken by the CMC regarding fixing the entry fee for the Utsav and that should be brought to the notice of the DC soon,” said Janardhan Bhandarkar, nominated member.
BJP CMC member Yashpal Suvarna questioned about the preparation for the upcoming paryaya. “Last year, the government had announced Rs 3 crore, but released only Rs 1.5 crore. This year, the CMC has not showed much interest in the paryaya preparation which is scheduled to be held on January 17 and 18. From today, there are just 19 days left. A preparation meeting has to be called three months before the paryaya. The road works are going on at a slow pace and no new roads are being constructed anywhere,” he said.
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came to Udupi more than five times, but did not visit Sri Krishna Math even once. He is behaving like ‘anti-Hindu’ in the case of temple visit,” he added.
The president and councilors opposed the word ‘anti-Hindu’ and demanded Yashpal Suvarna to take back his words.
President Meenakshi said, “The state government released Rs 10 crore to the CMC as a special grant for work related to paryaya. We have been doing all repair and patch works of road on priority, considering the demands of public. None of the earlier governments have released such a huge amount for paryaya. We will call a separate meeting to discuss about the preparation for paryaya which includes sanitation, providing toilets and other facilities.”
Other councilors and members complained about LED lights and drainage woks. The pending road works and incomplete drainage works have to be completed before paryaya, they said.
Commissioner D Manjunathaiah invited all members to the chief minister’s programme, who will be coming to Udupi for performing a foundation stone laying ceremony for Varahi-Udupi water supply project and other developmental works. A public function will be held at Gandhi Maidan, near Brahmavar.
Vice-president Tilak Raj was present.