Fill potholes of PWD roads in DK, Udupi, says Khader

Minister for Urban Development U T Khader said that the Public Works Department (PWD) officials have been directed to fill the potholes on PWD roads in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Speaking to media persons after a meeting of MLAs from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Monday, he said the work on filling the potholes will commence from July 23.

The recent rain has damaged 112 PWD roads in Dakshina Kannada and 119 PWD roads in Udupi district. The officials have been directed to ensure that drains, beside the PWD roads, are cleared for the easy flow of rainwater, he added.

‘Use gravel’

The damaged roads cannot be asphalted immediately due to rain in the region. But gravel will be used for filling the potholes to make them motorable, he said.

Khader said all the MLAs have been directed to prepare a proposal on roads in their constituency for Rs 50 crore. The proposals will be submitted to the PWD minister, who in turn, will submit it to the state government to be taken up on priority basis.

A master plan will be prepared on the development of Dakshina Kannada district after consulting the MLAs and MLCs of the district. A delegation will be taken to chief minister to impress upon him on the need to take up development works on a priority basis, he noted.

Moolarapatna bridge

The minister said that defence wing will be asked to explore the possibility
temporary repair of collapsed Moolarapatna bridge, to allow the light vehicles and movement of people on the bridge.

The PWD has already submitted a proposal to the state government to build a new bridge at Moolarapatna at a cost of Rs 18 crore.

e-governance

To a question on Mangaluru City Corporation’s (MCC) failure to provide the facility of online payment of property tax and water bill, the minister said that he has already directed MCC and Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) officials to implement e-governance effectively by August 15.

With this, the citizens can pay property tax, water bill and also automated licence system online. The deputy commissioner will submit a report on the glitches in conversion of land and single site approval to the state government, he added.

The MUDA and MCC Commissioners have been directed to prepare a policy for the safety of buildings during construction work. No guidelines are being followed for the safety of buildings near the construction sites so far. Technical experts will be asked to prepare the guidelines, the minister said.

WhatsApp on PWD roads

Citizens can WhatsApp on the pathetic condition of PWD roads, to bring it to the notice of the following PWD officials in Mangaluru Circle: B T Kantaraj, Superintending Engineer (9448319640), D Sooryanarayana, Technical Assistant (9448352324), Yashvanth Kumar S, Executive Engineer (9483614345), Mohammed Haneef, technical assistant (9448163789).