Ward 33 Residents Oppose Constructing Public Toilets in Mallikatta
Mangaluru: The residents of ward number 33, gathered near Suma Sadan Road, Mallikatta, opposite to Newly constructed Congress office, to oppose the move of constructing toilets by the corporator of the area, here on November 22.
Speaking to mangalorean.com General Secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha and resident of ward number 33, Nandan Mallya, said, “The road has been extended according to MCC requirement. The road widening has been done and they are planning to construct toilets, but there are no drainage facilities. Having the toilets on the service will not serve the purpose instead, it will encourage illegal activities. Some people sit here, consume alcohol and smoke Ganja, they have also damaged the street lights in the area by pelting stones. Whenever there are programmes at the Kadri grounds, they clean the Kadri/Mallikatta area and dump all the waste on this road. Even the road has been asphalted only half way and the other half of the road till the dead end is left unattended and in a pathetic condition due to differences between two corporators, causing inconvenience to the residents”.
Nandan Mallya also said, “The main road widening has been done to provide parking facilities to the Newly constructed congress office and not for the public. The bus stop which had collapsed has not been reconstructed. There is enough space to make a proper bus bay instead of widening the service road. We want clarification from the corporator”.
Speaking to mangalorean.com Corporator Ashok said, “We are constructing a bus bay, under the SFC grant of Rs 25 lakh, we are also constructing the steps for the residents of the area providing access to the main road. We are constructing a bus bay and a bus stop with a 15 ft gap for the smooth flow of traffic. From Mallikatta temple entrance to Kadri Market, we will construct bus bays. Under the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, we have yet to identify places to build toilets for the public. Electrical contractor Umanath Kottary has shifted the high tension wires keeping in mind the total development of the ward. Many residents of this area had requested access to the main road by providing steps to help them shorten the distance to the main road and the market”.
When asked on the negligence in developing the road, Ashok said, “Many people cannot afford to own vehicles. We will construct the RCC rain water drain and the retaining wall. After all the work is done, we will concrete the road and develop the area. To develop roads in Ward number 33, we have various funds which will be used. We will widen the road from Kadri Kambla to Kadri temple road at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, Mallikatta Road Rs 1.5 crore. Rs 8 crore funds have been reserved for the total development of the ward. We will develop George Martis road at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. Soon after the Mallikatta junction work is done we will start the work, all the bypass roads will also be developed”.
Sharada, a resident of ward number 33, said, “When I heard that public toilets will be constructed on the road leading to our residence, we opposed it. Because building public toilets on this road is a danger to all the residents of the area. If the MCC is widening the road and constructing the retaining wall we welcome the move, but we will not allow the construction of toilets on this road as there is no proper drainage and will encourage illegal activities in the area”.
MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazir, Engineers and contractor also visited the spot. Frederick, Ward 33 president of the BJP; Girish Kottary president Shakthi Kendra; Srikanth Rao; Ramanath Pai, co-convenor BJP district IT cell; Bhaskar Chandra Shetty; Vignesh Pai; Nataraj Alva and other Residents of the area were also present.