Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Nov 26: After taking charge as the president of City Municipal Council (CMC), Sunitha Naik told that the old underground system has deteriorated completely for which Rs 25 lac was paid to the water body for renovation. Highlighting the conditions, she said that the existing drainage pits are made of stones and street lights are not functioning and therefore additional funds will be asked from the government and a tender has been called for 1,000 LED bulbs. About 770 new LED bulbs were already purchased. Sunith Naik was speaking at her first general meeting after she took charge.

Since the local body election, the first meeting was held after two and a half years on Thursday, November 26 at Satyamurthy meeting hall, CMC Udupi.

Naik said that there are four well wells in the city located at Matadabettu, Kinnimulki, Kappettu and Sharada hotel. Most of the commercial buildings are releasing polluted water directly into the Indrayani rivulet when there is no electricity, which is a common phenomenon in various parts of the city. And even though generators were installed at the cost of Rs 70 lac, yet the situation is going unnoticed. Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) should be rectified, she said.

The new council members Vijay Kumar Kodavoor, Santhosh J Kalmady, Harish Ram shared the drainage problems in their respective wards and demanded an immediate solution.

Vijay Kodavoor raising the topic of Indrayani river said, "People were using the Indrayani river water for agriculture purposes but now the situation is worsened and the water is good for nothing."

Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat said, "The entire drainage system is spoiled due to the poor work of Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUNDCEMP). It is creating lots of problems for the people in the city. The nearby wells are absorbing polluted water from the drainages."

"Around 57 households have no separate toilet pits at their houses; they are directly releasing it to the rivulet through a pipe. CMC should pay extra attention to this issue and stop it immediately," said Sundar J Kalmady.

Ramesh Kanchan and Amrith Krishnamurthy, opposition party councillors taking the president to task said that the officials in their ward were working without any notice which led the public to raise questions. "CMC officers are getting transferred without any information. At least CMC should issue the notice which would make everyone aware of all that is happening," one of the councillors said. Both raised improper drainage issues.

Manjunath, Manipal ward expressed problems faced in water in Manipal. "It is a long persisting issue and in some parts, people are not getting water on time," he said.

"A special meeting will be scheduled to discuss the water supply problem. Let all councillors have a chance to ask two questions. If any queries from the departmental officials, let the councillors give questions in writings two days prior to the meeting so that officials will get time to prepare a report and all councillors will get an opportunity to share their opinion," Sumithra Naik said in conclusion.

Gururaj from Qogno digital infrastructure private limited presented Udupi Smart City plans. The total cost estimation of the plan is about Rs 130 crore.

Anand Kallolikar CMC commissioner, Lakshmi Mendon vice-president were present.