Take measures to prevent monsoon damage in city: MLA

Mangaluru: Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, accompanied by former BJP corporators, expressed strong disapproval over the lack of essential preventive measures in the city against possible natural disasters during the monsoon. During a meeting with the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner, the delegation specifically highlighted the inadequate maintenance of rajakaluve and stormwater drains within the city corporation boundaries before the impending monsoon season.
Kamath led a delegation of former corporators from the BJP on Friday, and met MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik, demanding immediate action on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, the MLA said that during the BJP's tenure in the city corporation, pre-monsoon preparations such as clearing drains and sewers would begin by the end of March. With the BJP's tenure in the city corporation ended, the district administration and city corporation officials, under the control of the state govt led by the Congress, failed to take up precautionary measures even in April. Due to the negligence of the city corporation, houses in many areas in the city were flooded even when the city received light showers, the MLA said.
"District minister Dinesh Gundu Rao should have convened a meeting with city corporation officials to address issues related to the monsoon. The minister should have directed officials to take up work on desilting stormwater drains and other measures. Due to the lack of concern on the part of the minister, officials too showed no interest. People of Mangaluru will be affected severely if the situation continues," he said, adding that the Congress govt has been neglecting the coastal city.
He said that the BJP will continue to voice the concerns of people, and announced that a meeting between city corporation officials and former BJP corporators will be held in the next four to five days. Former mayors Diwakar Pandeshwar and Premanand Shetty were present.