‘Potholes on Mangalore's interior roads not filled up’

‘Repair of various roads have been pending to be completed since April 2013’

Some councillors-elect of Mangalore City Corporation at a meeting here on Monday alleged that officials of the civic body had not shown interest in filling up potholes on interior roads in the city.

Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada B. Ramanath Rai had convened the meeting to review the functioning of the civic body.

Mahabala Marla, a councillor-elect, alleged that some of the interior roads have not been improved for the past two years. B. T. Kantharaj, Deputy Commissioner (Development) and Superintending Engineer, said that 33 various roads for which work orders had been issued were pending to be completed since April 2013. Contractors have been issued notices.

Black list

J.R. Lobo, MLA, Mangalore City South, asked why the corporation has not added non-performing contractors to the black list. He said that the corporation was not handling contract management properly. A visibly upset Mr. Rai told the officials that they should get the works done or vacate their posts in the Corporation. He said that he should not receive any such complaints at the next meeting and the works should have been completed by then.

The Deputy Commissioner and administrator of the corporation A.B. Ibrahim took objection for the corporation for implementing 591 works worth Rs. 8.89 crore since April, 2013 (mainly between April and July) without obtaining what he said was ‘administrative approval’ from the then administrator in advance. He said that the civic body invited bids without the approval of the administrator.

Ajith Kumar Hegde S., Commissioner of the corporation, said that though he was not the Commissioner then bids had been invited for taking up emergency works relating to desilting drains, road works, electricity, underground drainage and water supply.

Approval

Mr. Lobo said that administrative approval should have been obtained before inviting bids.

Former Mayor and now councillor-elect M. Shashidhar Hegde said that when elected council and standing committees were in place such a system was in vogue for taking up some emergency works in summer and rainy season.

Usually standing committee for town planning and improvement approved those works later.

Mr. Rai asked Mr. Ibrahim to sort out those issues as it was purely an administrative matter.