Concerned citizens of Mangaluru have demanded transparency in the execution of projects under the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Plan (Kudcemp) funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the region.
Participating in a discussion on “Mangalore’s Experience With Infrastructure Projects as ADB turns 50” organised by the Citizens For Mangalore Development, an NGO, here on Saturday, the residents said Kudcemp Phase 1 — conceived in 1999 and executed since 2001 — was not yet complete.
In such a scenario, Kudcemp Phase 2 is on the anvil and people’s representatives are accountable to provide details, residents said. As many as 10 cities and towns in three coastal districts were chosen for the project to provide drinking water and drainage infrastructure.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP for Dakshina Kannada, had said he will file a plaint with the Lokayukta against a particular officer who was heading the Mangaluru City Corporation that time alleging ineffective implementation of Kudcemp 1.
Participants at the discussion said Kudcemp 1, which should have been completed by 2009, is yet to get completed at some places. Mangaluru’s population was estimated to be six lakh and solid waste generation at 200 tonnes by 2026 in the project report; but its population has already crossed five lakh and solid waste generation 400 tonnes per day, said M. Raghavan from NGO Task Force on ADB Funded Projects, questioning the veracity of the report.
Another participant said public funds are being looted under the ADB-funded project. Giving an example, he said those executing the project had claimed to have spent ₹890.98 to clear grass on one square metre land. It is the residents who are bearing the brunt in the form of steep increase in property and other taxes to repay ADB loans, he said. He also castigated the indifference of MCC in forming ward committees as mandated under the KMC Act as well as the Supreme Court.
Sumit Rao, an industrialist, said officials and people’s representatives patted their own back saying ADB loan were offered at very cheap rate of interest (2%); what they did not mention was that it has to be repaid in US Dollars, whose Rupee value has more than doubled since then. Weren’t there any Indian institution to offer loan, if at all it had to be availed? he questioned.
