Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 29: The opposition party members including city municipal councillors opposed decision taken by district administration in placing blanket ban on holding protests at places like Clock Tower near service bus stand, and Jatka stand.

Yashpal Suvarna, who raised the topic, pointed out that the district administration failed to obtain the opinion of the city municipality on this proposal beforehand although the places where protests has been banned belong to the city municipal council.

The general session meeting of city municipal council (CMC) was held on Thursday, September 28 at Sathyamurthy auditorium.

Janardhan Bhandarkar, nominated member of the municipality, also condemned the decision of the district administration.

Bandarkar further said, "Clock Tower is ideally located, and is very suitable to hold symbolic protests and grab the attention of te public relating to issue and current problems. But now the designated place of protest has been shifted to DC office at Rajathadri Manipal. This place is suitable only to hold day and night protest,"

President of the municipal council, Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, announced her decision to address a letter to district authority to sort out the issue after considering views expressed by members.

Shyam Prasad Kudva complained about the convener of mass contact meetings not showing the courtesy of inviting ward councillors to ward meetings and expressed his anger at wrong publication of his name in a daily.

Sunitha Naik, raising the problem of stray dogs, stated that the holding the contract did not complete vaccination and castration (vesectomy) operation fo stray dogs.

In relation thereto, environment engineer, Raghavendra said that the number of stray dogs in the city has been estimated at 2500, out of which vaccination procedure is done for 1000 dogs. 'Once monsoon gets over the vaccination process will resume,' he said.

The commissioner said that the CMC has decided to establish a 'dog care center' in the city and one at Uchila. "Phase by phase all dogs will be sent to this centre. The required food will be provided by CMC," he explained.

Ramesh Kanchan, a councillor, came out with the suggestion to write a letter on behalf of council to concerned department to fix the problem of Manipal road repair work. The repair work should start as soon as possible, he insisted.

Amritha Krishnamurthy said, "An acre of land stands reserved for building KSRTC bus stand in Nayarkere. It should be taken back by CMC administration from KSRTC department's possession," she demanded.

Vice president, Sandhya Thilakraj, and municipal commissioner, Manjunathayya, were present.