‘Ward Committees & Citizens Support is Very Much Needed for progress of Smart City’- DC Senthil
Mangaluru: An interaction with Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil was held at Mangaluru Press Club on Wednesday, 9 January 2019, where the DC after His formal speech answered a bunch of queries posed at him by the journos. After being felicitated by the journos belonging to the Mangaluru Press Clu and Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association, DC Sasikanth Senthil said, “This is indeed a pleasant moment for me to be here and discuss about certain civic issues of the Smart City-Mangaluru. While I was Assistant Commissioner in Raichur, the citizens issues were different from those what we have here in Mangaluru. Raichur being an agricultural town, the civic issues were pertaining to farmers and agricultural problems”.
“The uniqueness of Mangaluru City is that there is governance at its best, and mutual understanding between the knowledgeable and educated people in this educational city. The problems here now are much more different from those existed decades ago, where now we have communal related issues. By organizing this interaction programme, we can chalk out and discuss many civic issues and try to solve them systematically. Mangaluru is a role model to other cities as to how things can be worked out and rectified. Mangaluru had the “Brand Status” decades ago, but due to one incident that happened at a pub had put a black dot on the Brand City, and we should now try to erase that back dot and make this Smart City more Smarter than before” added DC Senthil.
He further said, “I appreciate the important role played by the media in the development of this smart city, and trying to reach it to greater heights. But sadly due to a few people this City has been led into communal disharmony, which we need to stop it. hate and communal disharmony is spread through social media by posting derogatory messages, leading to hate and violence. Murders do happen in every city, but here in Mangaluru when there is a murder people highlight it to a greater extent, which many a times lead to communal connections, and thus creating tension in the City. Even though Brand Mangaluru initiated by the media people is a very good idea, however, while broadcasting or publishing any reports, media should think twice before highlighting it to the public”.
When asked about the hectic problems pertaining to traffic chaos in the City, DC Senthil said, “While both the MCC and Police blame on each other on traffic-related/parking issues, finally it comes as a burden on me. But comparing to Bengaluru where it is hard to move from one place to other, Mangaluru is much better. But we need to implement certain solutions to rectify these traffic-related issues in the City, which has been a headache to the citizens and the district administration. As the City develops, residents increase, and also the vehicles. A vehicle which can transport 6-10 people, is seen with just one person behind the wheel. A family has more than two-three cars, which has made the city too congested with vehicles. But comparing to other Smart Cities, ours is way better” added DC Senthil.
Speaking further DC said, “We are trying putting system in proper place. Parking should be the onus of the owners. We need to do a policy reversal. Regarding the City buses which are a menace, I really didn’t like the buses owned privately. We have held many meetings about the city buses issue, and we are planning to give more power to the commuters in this regard, so that the issues could be solved quickly. We need good bus bays for smooth flow of vehicles, and we are trying to leverage the private buses system into better citizen friendly system”. When asked about processions being allowed in the heart of the City which creates lots of inconveniences and hardship to others, DC said “I am ready to issue an order to ban all processions in the area. But to implement such orders I need the support and okay from the citizens, only then it could be materialized”.
Regarding the Clock Tower issue and Sand mining issues, DC said, “There has been some modification done in the Smart City project which includes the A B Shetty Circle and surrounding areas. The Clock Tower will still be there, but a few modifications have been planned. Clock Tower is overall planning. Regarding the sand mining we have down the licenses from 500 to only 100/120 licenses, and the sand mining will be done systematically by these license holders. Even though we get complaints that sand is illegally transported to Kerala, but the mafia are transporting the sand through inner roads and other means, and not by highway or proper roads, so it has been hard to catch them. We are trying to get a patrol boat so that we can crack down on illegal sand mining in the rivers. I have even directed the authorities to keep an eye on such activities, and seize all vehicles involved in the act, and punish the culprits seriously. I am very much confident by this year the sand mining issue will be completely settled”.
Finally before concluding DC Sasikanth Senthil said, “We need to make this City and Dakshina Kannada a people friendly one, and we should care for the Health, Safety and a Friendly Environmental atmosphere to live here. Also provide good employment to the people, so that they can support their families without any hardships. I alone can’t make a difference but I need the support of the citizens too. So let’s work together for the better development and growth of this Smart City, and make Mangaluru stand top among the other Smart Cities in the nation”.
