Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 27: Mangalore City Corporation mayor Ganesh Hosabettu opined that the minimum monthly water tariff of Rs 65 (upto 24,000 litres) fixed for the city is a model for the entire state and compares favourably with water tariffs of various other districts.

Expressing this opinion at the monthly session of the City Corporation held on Tuesday August 26, the mayor said that the minimum monthly tariff has been fixed at Rs 50 under the 'Jalabhagya' scheme (19,500 litres) and that this scheme has been extended by one more month.

The minimum water tariffs for residential use in various cities are Rs 90 in Dharwad, Rs 83 in Belgaum, Rs 90 in Mysore and Rs 48 in Bangalore, the mayor said.

When CPI (M) corporator Jayanti Shetty sought clarification from the mayor for his failure to personally receive the memorandum from the water tariff protestors demonstrating in front of the corporation office on August 4, the mayor told her that she had not informed him of the said protest in advance, although she too had participated in it.

Chaos prevailed in the session, after some ruling members tried to justify the actions of the mayor and the police, as regards the above protest.

City corporation commissioner Samir Shukla informed, that the solid waste management at Pacchandy is being looked after by the City Corporation for the present, and that the Corporation is on the look out for willing persons to take over the entire management of solid waste on single contract basis. MSEZ Ltd has already expressed its willingness to manage the solid waste at Pacchandi. MSEZ will also be processing and recycling the sewage water from the underground drainage system for industrial purposes, for which an estimated amount of Rs.1.25 crore will have to be spent. Dialogue on this issue is continuing, he explained.