Mysuru; With the Monsoon set to arrive in less than a month, Mayor (in-Charge) Sunanda Palanetra said that the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is bracing to cope with excessive rains and the consequent damage that could arise during the Monsoon season.

She was addressing a press meet after a meeting with officials at her office in the MCC premises here on Friday.

She said that the officials have been instructed to identify low-lying areas and other places that are prone to inundation and also to take up clearing of clogged storm water and Underground Drains (UGD) on a war-footing.

Noting that the maximum complaints regarding storm water and UGD clogging have come from N.R. Mohalla and Agrahara areas, she said that such complaints have to be addressed immediately by clearing blocked UGD pipelines or replacing them wherever necessary.

Referring to road repair works, the Mayor (in-Charge) said that road repair works will be taken up only after a month as the Model Code of Conduct for the Legislative Council polls from South Graduates constituency is in vogue.

She stated that the Government has released Rs. 50 crore for relaying and repair of major arterial roads of the city, while the roads in interior areas of the Wards will be taken by the respective area Corporators, for which separate funds have been earmarked. However, potholes are being filled up. But incessant rains are putting paid to all the work and as such, the MCC is forced to wait for the rains to subside, she added.

Continuing, she said that the MCC staff are engaged in identifying and pruning such roadside trees which are prone to fall during rains and cause damage to property and life.

Announcing that the MCC is also equipping itself with new machinery, including 12 compactors, 5 heavy earth-moving equipment and 65 tractors (one in each of the 65 Wards), Sunanda said that all these newly bought machineries will be deployed for works by May 23  without any formal launch.

Referring to the Vani Vilas Market (V.V. Market) issue, she attributed the recent collapse of the parapet wall of the Market to water seepage since decades, coupled with lack of maintenance. However, the damaged portion of the Market is being repaired, she added.

She further said that ‘Abhaya’, the rapid response team of the MCC and the Engineers have been asked to be ever-ready to attend any emergencies or exigencies and also to ensure  resolution of complaints 24×7.

With regard to heritage buildings of the city, some of which are on the brink of collapse due to poor maintenance, the Mayor (in-Charge) said that the MCC has sent a list of such structures that come under its jurisdiction, to the District Heritage Committee. But the MCC by itself cannot intervene as it requires the clearance of the Heritage Committee, she maintained, adding that the MCC also does not have budgetary support to take up major restoration works of heritage structures.

Corporators M.V. Ramprasad and M.U. Subbaiah and other officials were present.

Congress Corporators stage demonstration

Soon after Mayor (in-Charge) Sunanda Palanetra concluded her press meet, a section of Corporators from the Congress staged a demonstration in front of the Mayor’s office in protest against BJP MP Pratap Simha’s recent statement and also against the poor condition of city roads.

Raising slogans against the MP for his reported remarks that public should lay siege to the houses of local Corporators if they failed to take up civic works, the Congress Corporators alleged that Simha’s  remarks lacked culture.

Charging the ruling BJP of failure in fixing potholes, the protesters said that the MP was issuing  unwarranted and provocative statements on issues that are beyond his purview.

Asking the MP to talk about issues such as inflation, unemployment and soaring prices of essential commodities and fuel, they said that the MP, instead of making such inappropriate remarks, should convince the Government for releasing more funds to the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC).

Former Mayors Ayub Khan and Pushpalatha Jagannath, former Deputy Mayor C. Sridhar, Corporators Shaukath Pasha, Gopi, Usha, Pradeep Chandra, Shobha Sunil, Hajira Seema and Syed Hasrath and others took part in the protest.