Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Oct 12: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will be undertaking an operation to clear unauthorized shops, huts, bus shelters etc located by the side of the highway from October 15 to 30. Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, asked the officials of NHAI to obtain help from police department for the implementation of this scheme.
He spoke after presiding over a meeting of district development coordination and monitoring committee held at the auditorium of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat here on Wednesday October 11. "Although instructions were issued long back for clearing of unauthorized buildings dotting the side of the highway, the clearance operation is getting unduly delayed, he observed. He instructed officials to immediately execute the plan without further delay. The official representing NHAI then informed that clearance operation will be held between October 15 and 30, to which Nalin advised the department to seek support from the police department. On the occasion, Nalin wanted taluk panchayat executive officers and panchayat development officers to closely monitor completion of houses sanctioned in the district under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Dr M R Ravi, informed that commencing next month, Vasati Adalats will be held in all the taluks for the purpose.
The MP also asked the officials to conduct a survey on houses which are constructed without authorization on government land and identify those which do not have toilets. He said that these houses affect the Swachh Bharat survey and wanted the officials to regularize their constructions if it is possible legally, and provide help under government schemes like toilets.
Kateel also said that work on second phase of highway at Shiradi Ghat will begin in November. He expressed resentment at the delay in handing over land by Bantwal municipality for the construction of a complex that is planned to be constructed at B C Road under corporate social responsibility scheme of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd at a cost of five crore rupees, which will have well-equipped toilets, soil testing centre etc.
Zilla panchayat president, Meenakshi Shantigodu, was present.