The UDF is of the view that there is no need for ‘opinion-collecting gimmicks’ for its manifesto, as the issues relevant to the city Corporation are familiar to everyone from the experiences of all these years.
The initial form of its manifesto for the local body elections has been discussed in the District Congress Committee.
According to sources within the UDF, it is holding waste management as the primary responsibility of the Corporation and hence much of the thrust will be in that area.
Waste management
As part of this, an arrangement for waste management will be made compulsory for all new houses for which permits are granted.
This will be promoted with incentives like tax reduction.
Similar measures will be followed in granting license to slaughterhouses. Stringent action will be taken against those who throw waste in public.
The party plans to go for a mix of decentralised and centralised waste management programmes.
Modern abattoir will be implemented.
Stray dogs
The issue of stray dogs is another focus area and new programmes to tackle the issue within existing legal framework will be formed in consultation with the State government.
The manifesto will also highlight the ‘rampant corruption existing’ in the Corporation offices, especially ‘in the implementation of public works’.
To tackle this, shifting of much of the processes online will be considered. For the effective utilisation of State-Central funds, ward committee level programmes will be conducted.
A novel promise is the one for providing drinking water at various points in the city.
Provision of more public toilets will be another focus area. Public Health Centres will be revitalised with effective supply of medicines.
Similar to LDF’s manifesto, the UDF’s also promises to reclaim all land owned by the Corporation, which has been occupied by various private parties.
In the wards
Such instances are more in the wards which were recently added to the local body.
These lands will be made use of for various projects.
Organic farming is another similarity with LDF manifesto.
It will launch schemes to make organic farming at home attractive to all city residents.
The UDF promises to crackdown on drug menace, by controlling its distribution through agents and shops.
