Land Conversion Problem will be Solved Soon – Minister Khader
Mangaluru: “I would like to congratulate the Mayor for receiving the National-level award for the Mangaluru City Corporation. MCC has stood first in the country, let it be a model city corporation in the country and bring more laurels. People should be smart to make the city smart,” said the District minister in-charge and Minister for Housing and Urban Development, U T Khader in a press meet held at KUIDFC office Kadri here, on June 25.
Addressing the mediapersons, U T Khader said, “After becoming the minister, I have discussed the issue of the conversion of land to construct houses. The problem of the land conversion will be solved soon. Today, we have discussed the issue with the Revenue Department officials, MLAs, and others officials, and have asked for a report regarding this matter within three days. The Revenue Department will call a meeting on June 26 and submit the report in three days.”
Regarding the Smart City project for Mangaluru, Khader also said,”The Smart City project in Mangaluru should be a model for the country. As this process of making Mangaluru a smart city is taking place, the people of Mangaluru should also be smart and lend their full support. We need to start this project as soon as possible. In this regard, we are looking for a Project Managing Director who can work with integrity and to whom, the complete responsibility of this project will be given. The MD will be accountable for the success of the project. He would also need to call a meeting every 15 days to discuss the progress of the project with the concerned authorities.”
Khader further said, “For the smart city project, we need human resource and a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) consultant to properly handle the project. The MD will be given the authority to manage the SPV. Once a month, the Deputy Commissioner and the District In-charge Secretary should call for an administrative committee meeting to discuss the progress of the project. The corporators should be taken into confidence and be involved in the monetary meeting along with the elected representatives. We should all work together to make the smart city project a successful one.”
“We have also been thinking of the connectivity from the highway to the city. In this regard, from Thokkottu – Jappinamogeru – Mahakalipadpu – Morgansgate, the road will be widened to 6 lanes. A separate team will be formed and the delegation will be sent to Delhi to discuss on the funding for the 6 lane roads. We will also meet the Railway Minister in Delhi and ask for a 50-50 partnership in funding for the connectivity of highway-city roads. If the Central Government refuses to agree to provide half of the required funding, the state government will provide the entire funding.”
When asked about the fish being preserved in toxic chemical at Walayar in Kerala, Khader replied, “The Deputy Commissioner will investigate the issue to know the truth.”
MLC Ivan D’Souza, MLAs Vedavyas Kamath and Dr. Bharath Shetty, Smart City board director Sashidhar Hegde, Mayor Bhaskar Moily, Premanand Shetty, Lancy Pinto and others were also present.