J R Lobo’s Popularity as MLA has Affected BJP’s Performance for Upcoming Elections – Mahabala Marla
Mangaluru: “Nalin Kumar Kateel is a weak MP which he has proved by his deeds. The construction of the flyover at Pumpwell Circle has still not completed. Nalin should reply why there is a delay in the construction of the flyover at Pumpwell. At the KPT circle, there is always a traffic jam and vehicles are stuck there for hours. There is a demand to construct a flyover at the KPT junction but the MP has not taken any initiative about it. Even for the extension of the runway the central government has not released any funds. MP Nalin has no clear vision to develop the city but is indulged only in politics based on caste and religion. There is no contribution of MP Nalin in the growth of Mangaluru city”, said the former Mayor Mahabala Marla in a press meet held at the Mangaluru South Constituency election office here on May 4.
Addressing the mediapersons Mahabala Marla said, “If MP Nalin has done any work for Mangaluru city let him release a book on the development work done by him. Let him come for an open discussion on the development work done by him and we are ready for it. Instead of talking about his development work, he is calling himself the number one MP, is he the number one in telling lies or in development work? Nalin should answer. The BJP is aware that MLA J R Lobo is a very humble person and he is ready to help anyone without discrimination of caste, creed and religion. Considering his popularity the BJP leaders are trying to degrade him by putting false allegations on him. The BJP is aware that their candidate will lose the elections so they are publishing false information about Lobo in some newspapers.”
Mahabala Marla further said, “In the smart city project the Central government released only Rs 107.5 crores and Rs 107.5 crores was sanctioned by the State government. But the MP is lying that the Central government has released Rs 215 crores which is far from the truth. We have all the records. In the beginning, MLA Lobo along with the technical team prepared the smart city project costing Rs 2100 crore and submitted it online. Because of the efforts by MLA Lobo and the technical team Mangaluru was listed in the second phase and not because of MP Nalin. The MP did not understand the meaning of smart city because for smart city, the central government provides Rs 500 crore for five years and the state government will provide Rs 500 crores, rest of the funds will be spent by the Mangaluru City corporation.”
Marla also said, “Under the smart city project, a committee has been formed and the opposition leader is also a member of the committee including DC, Mayor, district minister in-charge, and three members from the MCC. We have already called tenders for Rs 178 crore worth projects such as the construction of a multi-level car parking facility in the Old Hampankatta bus-stand (Rs 94 crore), Command Control Centre (Rs 40 Crore), Rooftop solar system on Government buildings (Rs 10 crore), 45 smart bus-stops in city (Rs 8crore), A B Shetty circle to Clock Tower smart road (Rs 7.5 crore), drainage (Rs 4 crore) and Clock Tower (Rs 90 Lakh). We have completed the DPR for projects worth Rs 500 crores.”
Congress Spokesperson Vinayaraj, Nirajpal, T K Sudheer and others were also present.