Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Sep 20: Legislative Council chief whip Ivan D'Souza warned that traffic will be blocked and rally by walk together with other organizations will be held from Mangaluru to Moodbidri in protest if Mangaluru to Moodbidri national highway which is unfit for traffic due to potholes is not repaired before October 10.
He also said that he is interested to contest as the Congress candidate from Moodbidri-Mulki Vidhan Sabha constituency.
Speaking in the news conference on Tuesday, September 19, he said that it was decided to implement national highway project but the work has been deserted for the last several years.
“It is still not decided about the direction on which the road should proceed under four lane project. Though officials have prepared a blueprint of the direction of the road, concerned officials, in order to save the land of those related to them, are persuading and changing the path of the road,” Ivan said.
“They do not have any vision to construct a direct good quality road. Officials are saying that one more year is needed to identify clearly the path of the road and finish the land acquisition process. Rs 18 crores will be required to construct the road and to make it suitable for use. The union government should immediately release the amount. I have written a letter to union minister of surface transport, Nitin Gadkari and the director of national highway authority about it,” Ivan informed.
Objecting to the statement of MP Shobha Karandlaje that UPA government is responsible for the delay in national highway work, he said that BJP MPs have been representing Mangaluru Vidhana Sabha constituency for the last 25 years. “D V Sadananda Gowda was the chief minister of Karnataka and later union minister. Shobha Karandlaje was earlier minister in state cabinet and MP at present. Why did not so many influential leaders show interest to conduct highway work?” he asked.
Former Zilla panchayat member Lazarus D'Costa, KPCC member Gururaj, leaders Baladut Alva, Vishwanath Shetty, Gopinath Padanga, Mayyadi, Sahul Hameed, Harish P, Richard, Nawaz Boonardka, Shashikanth Shetty, Wilfred Mendonca and others were present.
“MLA K Abhayachandra Jain representing Moodbidri-Mulki Vidhan Sabha constituency has already said that he will not be contesting in next elections. Therefore, I am interested in contesting from here. I wish to be elected from here. But selecting candidates to stand for elections is left to the high command,” he said drawing curtains to assumptions about elections.