HAVERI: After repeated pleas to district officials to repair a 1-km stretch from Muktidhama fell on deaf ears, chilli merchants in Byadagi pooled in Rs 6 lakh to fix it. Work on the road began last week.
The merchants had approached the district administration and MLA Verupakshappa Ballari for funds.
The MLA approved a grant of Rs 45 lakh for the road. But, authorities of the local body didn't release the sanctioned amount. Furious merchants contributed varying amounts depending on plot sizes, each contributing between Rs 25,000 and Rs 1 lakh. They said despite paying crores of rupees in taxes, local body authorities wouldn't fix the road where their chilli trucks pass.
‘We paid taxes, but local authority refused to help’
We approached the TMC chief officer and MLA several times for help to construct the road because many vehicles carrying chilli use it. But officials turned down our appeals. We held a meeting of merchants and everyone agreed to share the cost of road repair,” said chilli merchant Suresh Melagiri.
Anilkumar Boddapati, another merchant, said Muktidhama Road has gone from bad to worse over the past several years. The area was transferred to the Town Municipal Council (TMC) for civic maintenance. “We have paid taxes for the past 10 years. But, the local authority has refused to help us in fixing the road despite the huge turnover in the market,” he said.
“The stretch needs a 3- metre drainage and a cement concrete surface and we need at least Rs 2 crore for the work. I approached the district in-charge minister and the chief minister assured he would give his approval for the grant,” said MLA Verupakshappa Ballari.
When contacted, TMC chief officer Verupakshappa Pujar said Rs 45 lakh has been allotted under MLA special grants. “We’ll start work with Rs 30 lakh initially. Currently, underground drainage work is going on and after that, we’ll start road work. We’re not aware about merchants contributing money to construct this road,” he added.