Sunil and Premanand’s Allegations on Ashraya Yojana Baseless – J R Lobo
Mangaluru: “Opposition corporator Premanand Shetty had called a press meet and said that the Ashraya Yojana was fake and Yogish Bhat had laid the foundation for the project when he was the MLA. Another candidate from the CPI(M) Sunil Kumar Bajal says that his efforts had succeeded and many have benefited from this scheme. With such statements, the beneficiaries are now confused about the project, but I want to clarify that the project is my initiative and whatever Premanand Shetty and Sunil Kumar Bajal are claiming is baseless and far from the truth. We will complete the project in 18 months and as soon as the election is over the construction of the G+3 residential apartments at Rajiv Nagar, Shaktinagar will start”, clarified the Mangaluru South Candidate J R Lobo in a press meet held at the DCC Office here on April 29.
Addressing the mediapersons Lobo said, “In 2003 when I was the Commissioner of MCC, people were facing the same problem. They had protested for the provision of shelter before I took up the position of the Commissioner. I took the initiative and started to search for the land. At that time, there was no problem of land in Mangalore. I acquired the ‘Kumki’ land in Shaktinagar and built 500 houses; today, that colony is known as Rajiv Nagar. I am very happy that during my tenure as the Commissioner, I could build houses and distribute them to the poor. We are planning to build houses for the poor under the Slum Development Board. The people of Kannagudde and Shaktinagar had built houses without any land rights, but after I became the MLA, I took the initiative and distributed the land rights documents to them.”
Lobo further said, “I never expected such allegations from Premanand because he is aware of this project and before distributing the papers to the beneficiaries I had called all the 60 corporators to select the beneficiaries and they themselves had selected the beneficiaries from their respective wards. Sunil Kumar Bajal is contesting from the South constituency and he is speaking against me. I want to tell Sunil Kumar Bajal by holding the CPI(M) flag and protesting on the road cannot help in getting any houses. I have worked hard for four years on this project and it is my initiative. The Central government in association with the state government and the Mangaluru City Corporation is constructing 930 apartments in Rajiv Nagar, Shaktinagar. The beneficiaries should know that they will get their houses constructed in 18 months. Now since the Model code of conduct is in force we cannot carry out any government projects.”
Lobo also said, “Already Rs 61.50 crores has been sanctioned for the project and we have held meetings with the banks for the loan. If Sunil Kumar Bajal and Premanand Shetty create confusion, the beneficiaries will be hesitant to go to the bank for the loan. The MCC Commissioner has signed the title deed and approved the project. Through the lottery system, we have distributed the title deeds so that there should not be any discrimination. We have given the ground floor to the physically challenged beneficiaries. Sunil Kumar Bajal nor Premanand Shetty has contributed in any way for this project”.
Mayor Bhaskar K, Sashidhar Hegde, Mahabala Marla, Mohammed, Mariamma Thomas, Sudheer T K, Vishwas Das and others were also present.