Fighting like Cats & Dogs? Final MCC Council Meeting of 2018-19 ended in an Unruly & Noisy Drama
Mangaluru: OMG! As always, where the Mangaluru City Corporation council meetings result in loud arguments between the councilors, this Final Council meeting of 2018-19 was of no exception. I was totally confused whether I was at an MCC Council Meeting Hall or at the Central Fish Market? The noise and behaviour of the elected MCC corporators and opposition members was so very unruly and noisy, it was simply an ugly scene to watch and listen to these so-called councilors yelling at each other over the microphone- and the helpless Mayor had to convince and pacify these “Men” and “Women” to calm down and sit calm at their seats, and behave like councilors and not like……?? You could term this situation like an Indo-Pak War or like a Cats & Dogs fight? Oh well.
The meeting began with the students of Govt School-Bockapatna, Mangaluru singing the Nada Geethe, followed by an announcement made by the former Mayor Sashidhar Hegde that a two-minutes silence is observed in respect to the 40 soldiers who were martyred in Pulwana. Opposition party leader Premanath Shetty stood up and complimented PM Modi for his quick action in striking back at the terrorists through the air raid on the terrorists camp, which received a loud applaud from the members in the hall.
In a big relief to marble and granite traders in the city, during the council meeting it decided to slash the solid waste management cess being collected from them by keeping traders out of the category of “bulk producers of solid waste”. The council agreed to consider the traders under the general category of waste producers on a request by Marble and Granites Association, Kulai-Hosabettu. The decision of the council will be effective on April 1, 2019, subject to ratification. As the five-year term of the elected council ends on March 7 and Thursday’s was its last meeting, the decision will have to be ratified by the administrator of the corporation who would take charge on March 8.
According to the decision of the council, traders will have to pay Rs 960 up to 250 sq ft area, including office and stock area; Rs 1,440 for area between 251 sq ft and 500 sq ft; Rs 2,400 for area between 501 sq ft and 1,000 sq ft; Rs 3,840 for area between 1,001 sq ft and 2,000 sq ft area; and for those having office and stock area above 2,000 sq ft, there will be a 10 % rise for every 500 sq ft area thereof. Meanwhile, the council approved the draft Sanitation and Solid Waste Management bylaws 2018 of the corporation.
When a member of the opposition party raised a question about many areas not receiving proper water supply, in response MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazir told the council that the daily drinking water supply in the city will continue till March-end as there is no shortage of water. Water storage at the Thumbay vented dam on Thursday stood at 5.79 m. To a question raised by an opposition member that not much development has been done by the present MCC body in the last five years, in response the Mayor said that it’s not true, since many development work have been completed, and few more will be completed in the nearest future.
Mayor said that Mangaluru City Corporation has decided to utilize Rs 22.97 crore from premium FAR funds for 13 major works planned in the second phase of the MCC action plan. The works include the development of roads, circles, storm water drains, and footpaths. Mayor Bhaskar K submitting a proposal during the Council meeting said that a total of Rs 22.97 crore will be drawn from the premium FAR, collected by the Town Planning committee while issuing a licence to buildings in MCC limits.
Corporator Abdul Rauf said that the funds released under premium FAR should be allocated as per the guidelines of the work and not diverted to other proposed works. Corporators sought allocation of additional funds for developmental works in their respective wards…The sanitation and solid waste management bylaw 2018 which was approved during the meeting, included segregation of waste at source, prevention of burning waste, reduce, reuse and recycle dry waste, construction of smaller units for the conversion of organic waste to manure, to reduce the amount of waste coming into the main unit, scientific management of biomedical waste and imposing a fine for violations.
The meeting resolved to submit the model building bylaw applicable to Mangaluru city, for government approval. The new bylaw is formed in adherence to the final order by the government to introduce amendments and inclusion of more provisions in the existing bylaw, considering that Mangaluru is a hilly area. The bylaw includes provisions to obtain services of an alternative empanelled professional, if the original empanelled professional delays the work.
Rules will be imposed to install at least two CCTV cameras in the buildings bigger than 500 square metres and provision of CMAR/CMR monitor at low-risk buildings. During the discussion, Opposition leader Premanand Shetty pointed out that the computerization of the public services in MCC has not been done yet. The site meant for G+3 model residential complex in Shaktinagar has not been handed over to MCC. Commissioner Nazeer replied that the first phase of a paperless office has been approved by the government. “The government will implement a centralized system for the computerization of public services in all city corporations. Arrangements have been made to ensure proper availability of water in summer. There will be regular water supply till March-end. Water supply in Surathkal is hit due to frequent power disruptions. The issue will be addressed by Mescom,” he said.
Premanand Shetty also raised the question about the housing scheme in Shakthinagar which is not been implemented properly and that work has not begun at the identified site to construct 930 houses. In reply, MCC commissioner said that the Shakthinagar housing project is stalled after there was an objection from environmentalists on felling of trees. Once this issue is taken care of, the construction work will begin.
This being the final meeting of the MCC, the mayor Bhasker K acknowledged the cooperation by the council and public, when his tenure ends on 7 March 2019. Mayor said that he will be leaving the post with the satisfaction of expediting development projects. “I am happy that all the works being taken up by MCC gained momentum during my tenure, “he said – and in response he received a loud applaud from the councilors for his leadership as MCC Mayor.
Deputy Mayor K Mohammed Kunjaithbail, Town Planning and Reforms Standing Committee Chairman Pravinchandra Alva, Accounts Committee Chairperson Lata Salian, Taxation, Finance and Appeal Committee Chairman Radhakrishna were present.
