Hello Madam! Mayor Answers 26 Callers during Phone-In on Civic Issues

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Hello Madam! Mayor Answers 26 Callers during Phone-In on Civic Issues

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 a live phone-in programme- 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 on 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 held today, 30 August from 11 am-12 noon, where 26 callers phoned in and talked to the Mayor with various civic issues, and the Mayor assured them of quick action from MCC in rectifying their issues at the earliest.This programme has been a medium for people to get in touch with the Mayor, along with commissioner Nazeer by her side and head of other departments of MCC seated in the audience along with media personnel. Most of the civic issues that the callers complained to the Mayor were: dilapidated roads, like overflowing of drainage; huge pot-holes created due to incessant rains; illegal street vendors occupying footpaths and parking space; increase of stray dogs which is a nuisance to motorists as well as commuters; 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.

One called and said that a construction of a house has been creating lots of hassles and inconveniences for the public, due to the construction materials stored on the road side; Another caller said that builders are storing building materials and dumping construction debris along the street, which causes hardship to pedestrians; A restaurant owner near Lalbagh said, “I have been paying taxes, utility bills and bearing other costs, and MCC allowing street vendors/mobile canteens near Pabbas/Mangala stadium is not right. They should be vacated, who are also causing parking problems”- in reply Mayor assured of taking action soon, and directed the concerned MCC officer to look into it immediately. Whether the officer will do it, is just another issue??-because quite a few civic issues put forth by the callers during the last phone-in programme have not been rectified until this day?

A Lady Hill resident calling in complained about bunch of street vendors occupying the footpaths right from MCC building area towards Lady Hill during day time-and in the late evenings mobile food canteens are also set up there; Callers from Bibi Alabi Road/Bunder/Car Street/Alake Road expressed their unhappiness about the dilapidated and potholed roads in their area, and such situation appears every monsoon, and no authorities take action to solve this problem once for all; Other caller said MCC should have a paid parking space for two-wheelers at many spots, so that the attender can watch over the riders helmets; MCC constructs brand new wide roads, and once they are completed we see vehicles using portion of these roads for parking-this needs to be looked over by MCC, complained yet another caller.

Another caller fuming said, ” In spite of constant approach by the citizens the corporator in-charge of Bendore-well area is not taking any action in repairing the dilapidated and potholed road near Bendore-well. This road gets beaten up every year once it starts raining. It’s simply horrible, if you look at this road. Mayor should take action soon. There were among the many civic issues, including some issues pertaining to parking of vehicles, that the citizens of Mangaluru complained to the Mayor during the Phone-In programme, and the Mayor assured everyone that action will be taken as quickly as possible- she even noted down the phone numbers of the callers, to do a follow up on their complaints. The Mayor directed the officials of the concerned department to act quickly and rectify the problems soon.

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Alongside mayor, various department heads were present during the phone-in programme and took note of problems raised by people. On the dais were MCC commissioner Mohammed Nazeer, Former Mayor Sashidhar Hegde, SC-Srinivas and Corporator Sabitha Misquith. Although the phone line was opened for the public to report any civic issues to the mayor directly, but the Mayor said that citizens can drop in at her office anytime with their civic problems, or also come up with any constructive suggestions so that we could improve our smart city.

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