‘Promises of Upgrading Suratkal Market by Congress is Election Stunt’ – Palemar

‘Promises of Upgrading Suratkal Market by Congress is Election Stunt’ – Palemar

Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at Mangalore Press Club, Former State Minister Krishna J Palemar said, ” In the wake of forthcoming elections, Congress leaders have been assuring people that the Suratkal market will get a state-of-art look- but all these assurances have been fake. This is just an election stunt by congress. In spite of the foundation stone laid last year by CM Siddaramaiah, until now there has no progress at all. Their decision to shift the existing market and build it on the Kendra Maidan, which is also a ‘Gomaala’ ( where cows graze) is illegal, as per the law. Mangaluru City Corporation will not be allowed to construct a market on the cow grazing land. BJP will be against it and will stop the work”.

“When I was a minister I had asked the government to sanction Rs 120 crore for the project, but until now it has not been approved. In the meantime, Rs 3 crore has been already sanctioned to upgrade the existing market and also for shifting arrangements of the nearly 87 shops to the Kendra Maidan at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, where the new market will come up. But there has been so signs of any progress of this project, even the chief minister Secretariat has renamed quite on this issue. Seems like congress and MCC are trying to fool citizens by their ideas to construct permanent market on the cattle grazing land, instead of a temporary market”.added Palemar.

He further said, ” The Supreme Court law clearly says no one could construct a building not even erect a permanent pillar on a cattle grazing land. Then why is MCC taking the steps to construct a market on this Kendra Maidan. The Maidan is also used by the locals for sports and games since many years. Few local associations have raised objections to this proposed plans by the Congress and MCC and notice has been issued to them through the court. The funny part is that there is no proof that only a temporary market will be constructed, and for that matter, even the MCC officials are unaware of the project when we contacted the Commissioner and other MCC officials. “

BJP member Bharath Shetty also speaking said, “When you look at all the projects planned or undertaken by MCC and Congress none of them are done systematically. Some of the projects have been left half completed like the bus stand, market, upgrading dilapidated roads etc. Every time we raise our voices against such plans by the Congress, they accuse us that we are trying to interrupt the development work. That’s not true, we have always welcomed and supported every project for the development of Suratkal. All that we are urging MCC is that they should come up with a proper plan and complete the project fully without any delay or leave the project half done.”

Ashok Kumar and Corporator Tilak Raj Krishnapura were also present during the press meet.