Pics: Nayana J C
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, March 6: BJP MLA Vedavyas Kamath on Friday accused the Congress-run state government of neglecting Mangaluru’s development while attempting to take credit for projects funded by the Government of India.
Addressing a press conference at the Atal Seva Kendra, Kamath criticised the state government for conducting the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction and upgradation of the sewerage system at the Vachchanadi Sewage Treatment Plant without informing local representatives.
He said the project, estimated at around Rs 40 crore, is being implemented under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 and funded through the environmental compensation fund of the National Green Tribunal. “These are Central government initiatives, but the state government is trying to project the project as its own,” Kamath alleged.
The BJP leader also raised concerns about the development of the memorial of social reformer Kudmul Ranga Rao at Attavar. He said that during the BJP government’s tenure in 2022, Rs 3 crore had been sanctioned under the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana for the project and a foundation ceremony had already been held. However, he alleged that after the Congress government came to power, funds for several projects approved during the previous administration were withheld, leaving the work incomplete.
Referring to the recent visit of the district in-charge minister to the Thumbe Dam, Kamath said the minister’s statement that the city would have sufficient water supply until June or July showed a lack of awareness of the ground situation. “Several wards in Mangaluru are already facing severe water shortages, and residents have been regularly lodging complaints with corporators and officials,” he said.
Kamath further claimed that people are still facing difficulties in obtaining e-Khata within the limits of the Mangaluru City Corporation. Despite the issue being raised multiple times in the Assembly, the government has not taken effective steps to resolve it, he alleged.
He also criticised the recent hike in property tax within the corporation limits, saying it has placed an additional financial burden on the public. Kamath pointed out that the civic body is currently being administered by officials without elected representatives and alleged that the government has used this situation to increase taxes.
Speaking on infrastructure development, he said that Rs 2 crore had been sanctioned during the BJP administration under the Smart Cities Mission for the development of the Ballalbagh bridge on M G Road. However, he alleged that Congress leaders diverted the funds to complete the DC office complex at Padil. Following public demand, the district administration later approved the bridge project again under the Premium FAR fund, he added.
Kamath also expressed concern over the decision to award the contract for advertisement hoardings in the city to a Tamil Nadu-based company without consulting local representatives or the civic body. He alleged that the move sidelines local operators who have been running the business for several years.
“The state government should focus on addressing civic issues and ensuring development works rather than making political claims,” Kamath said.