50% of Callers Civic Issues DON’T get RECTIFIED through Mayor’s Phone-In Programme?

50% of Callers Civic Issues DON’T get RECTIFIED through Mayor’s Phone-In Programme?

50%, could be even more, of Caller’s Civic Issues don’t get RECTIFIED as assured by the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Mayor Kavitha Sanil. So it looks like the programme is a just a JOKE or probably done for PUBLICITY STUNT?

During the Phone -In programme held on Friday, 27 October Mayor Kavitha Sanil was virtually taken to task by a lady citizen who asked her if she has ridden a motorcycle on the city’s roads. “Why are potholes in the city not being filled even after several accidents? Do you ride a two-wheeler? Do you have the experience of riding a two-wheeler on the Balmatta – Bendore-well road? You visit the place and check,” the woman caller told the mayor over phone very emotionally. “I just had an accident riding a two-wheeler with my mother while negotiating potholes. My mother miraculously escaped from being crushed by a heavy vehicle and sustaining injuries. I too sustained injuries in this fall” the caller said.

Mangaluru: With an aim to help public and listen to their grievances, MCC Mayor Kavita Sanil and MCC commissioner Mohammed Nazeer had decided to host live phone-in programmes- the first phone-in programme was held on May 23, 2017 between 10 am and 11 am, where nearly 50 citizens called in, and the Mayor assured of action from her and MCC. The second phone-in programme was held today, 27 June 2017 from 12 noon until 1.10 pm, where 28 people called in, excluding 14 missed calls before 12 noon. The third phone-in was 30 August from 11 am-12 noon, where 26 callers phoned in and talked to the Mayor with various civic issues. The Fourth Phone-In programme was held on 26 September, and 28 callers spoke to the Mayor with various civic issues. The Fifth Phone-In programme was held on 27 October, where 26 people called in.

This programme has been a medium for citizens to get in touch with the Mayor, along with MCC Commissioner, including head of other departments of MCC to solve their civic issues. Most of the civic issues that the callers complain to the Mayor are about: dilapidated roads, like overflowing of drainage; youth using govt. property to drink/smoke and involve in other illegal activities; huge pot-holes created due to incessant rains; illegal street vendors occupying footpaths and parking space; open drainage which are filthy and stinky; Mobile canteens hurting legal restaurant business owners, and also occupying lots of parking spaces- and many other civic issues etc etc. But even though Mayor assures the callers of quick action, and even though she directs MCC Officials to follow up and rectify the citizens civic problems, it came to the notice of Team Mangalore that about 50% of the civic issues have not been rectified- when these callers had complained to her during the last month Phone-In programme.

Yes, we need to compliment the Mayor for her initiative in starting this Phone-In programme, but the problem is that even though she directs the MCC officials to take action soon and solve all these civic issues, the officials take it easy and no action is taken. Team Mangalorean made a few calls to citizens who had called in during the September month Phone-In programme, and was surprised to note more than 50% of the callers civic issues-forget about solving them- the MCC officials didn’t even follow up, or even bother to contact the callers- like citizen Patrick D’souza who had called in and complained about garbage issue, and dogs ripping off garbage issues, which the Mayor said it would be taken care of- but all in vain- Patrick said No MCC Official showed up and the problem still continues.

Rajesh who had called and complained about the pathetic condition of the road near Nanthoor Junction, and also street flower vendors creating nuisance for motorists, but Mayor’s promise to take care of the issue is all in vain, he said. Yet another elderly lady who had called about a Gym started in their residential area near Adumaroli Temple/Marikamba Temple Rd (on the Nanthoor-Kankanady Highway Rd) which has been causing inconveniences due to vehicle parking of the Gym patrons, and also loud noise coming from that business, has not been taken action by the Mayor nor MCC officials as promised during the last phone-in programme.

Azeez who had called about a business getting converted into a lodging near Maidan Crossroad, seems like no action is taken since the work is still going on- only the garbage was cleared by MCC after his complaints near Global residency, but other issues still exist- even though Mayor promised to take care of it. Nanjudappa from Surathkal had called last month to repair the dilapidated road which has been existing for a long time- after his call MCC official came and inspected the spot, but until now no action has been taken. “What’s the use by just coming to the spot, inspecting it, taking an estimation but no work done until now” added Nanjudappa. Few others also whom Team Mangalorean contacted on their civic issues like bad roads, open drainage/dilapidated footpath, etc etc also said that no action has been taken since they had called on 26 September. Also a few other issues called in by the citizens during the August month phone-in programme also not seen any action from MCC.

Now coming to the Phone -In programme held on Friday, 27 October Mayor Kavitha Sanil was on Friday virtually taken to task by a citizen who asked her if she has ridden a motorcycle on the city’s roads. “Why are potholes in the city not being filled even after several accidents? Do you ride a two-wheeler? Do you have the experience of riding a two-wheeler on the Balmatta – Bendore-well road? You visit the place and check,” the woman caller told the mayor over phone very emotionally. “I just had an accident riding a two-wheeler with my mother while negotiating potholes. My mother miraculously escaped from being crushed by a heavy vehicle and sustaining injuries,” the caller said.

The woman said she too had sustained injuries and asked the Mayor who should be held responsible. Though the mayor tried to pacify her stating that pothole filling has not been taken up due to rains, the caller was in no mood to buy the argument. “When the National Highway Authority of India can take up road repair works during during rainy season, why can’t MCC do so?.” she asked. The mayor put an end to the conversation stating that all the potholes will be filled soon.

A caller, who introduced himself as an employee of BSNL, complained that the city corporation workers have been damaging BSNL cables while digging roads for development and repair works. Irked over the complaint, the mayor said the BSNL too do not inform the city corporation while digging the roads for their works. She told the complainant to visit the city corporation and speak to officials concerned. Meanwhile, another citizen drew the attention of the mayor towards unscientific laying of underground drainage (UGD) and drinking water pipelines side by side at Surathkal, Alape and Padil which could lead to contamination of water.

Another caller spoke about water scarcity in areas around Kuloor-Kavoor Road because of damaged pipelines. Ms. Sanil said a new pipeline was being laid. Yet another caller complained about the display of flex boards across the city in public spaces, including on electricity poles, which goes against the ‘Swachh Mangaluru’ campaign. A resident of Mullakkad said attempts were on to convert petty shops into concrete structures in the area. One more complaint was about a mobile eatery near Bejai KSRTC bus station that was allegedly creating nuisance. To another caller, who complained about the incomplete widening work of Kudroli-Alake because of a narrow bridge, Ms. Sanil said initially the plan was to have a minor culvert. Later, the corporation decided to go for a major culvert. The work is expected to start by December.

Meanwhile, other callers complained about irregular water supply and damaged underground drainage connections, as a result of which waste water is flowing in public places at Surathkal, Alape, Padil and other areas. Mayor said a Rs 54-crore project is planned to rectify defects in the UGD system while the Alape-Padil works are included in the ADB project’s II phase. Tenders will be floated next month and work will start soon, she said. To a complaint regarding irregular drinking water supply meter reading by the city corporation, the mayor said action will be initiated to set right the delay.

We will have to wait and see how many of these civic issues that were complained to the Mayor in yesterday’s Phone-In programme will be rectified- until then keep your fingers crossed?

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