Govt approves Mangalore City's Masterplan

30 September 2009

The masterplan, a blueprint for the city's future development has received the state government's approval, mayor M Shankar Bhat said here on Tuesday, September 29.

Chairing the monthly meeting of City Corporation, the mayor said the governor has given his assent to the masterplan. The Mangalore Urban Development Authority had taken up the work of revising the masterplan, which was hanging fire for long.

Door numbers

Replying to queries raised by corporators on problems faced by people in obtaining door numbers, Bhat informed them about this recent development. "One has to go through the masterplan and see if it has any specific relief for people who are facing difficulties in obtaining door number in view of violations while constructing buildings," he said, adding that both legal and humanitarian aspects of the issue has to be considered.

The Mysore City Corporation has incorporated a provision to regularise up to 20% deviation in building construction after levying a fine in its building by-laws. Likewise, the city corporation now has to study the same and frame its own by-laws accordingly, he said adding that he would consult the legal cell of the civic body, deputy commissioner, and district in-charge minister and announce a final decision at the next monthly meeting.

Corporators cutting across party lines expressed their concern at problems faced by the people in obtaining door numbers. Naveen D' Souza suggested that the civic body could withhold licenses of commercial buildings in case they deviated from the sanctioned building plan, but the same yardstick should not be applied for residential units. Former Mayor Shashidhar Hegde said door number was a necessity for various other purposes.

The mayor while agreeing with the observations of the corporators cautioned that the door number issued by the civic body was also liable for misuse and greater caution needed to be exercised in this regard. "This had also paved the way for corruption among the staff of the civic body," the Mayor said, adding that the civic body is determined, and will work towards providing relief to common man, albeit within the legal framework.

Be patient on SAS

Replying to a query from CPM corporator Jayanthi on the status of self-assessment scheme (SAS) sent by the civic body for government approval, the mayor said the directorate of municipal administration has vetted the same and it is presently before the state cabinet. Stating that he is pursuing the matter with the government, Bhat expressed confidence that the revised SAS scheme would receive approval by end of October.

Water to UPC

The issue of providing water to coal stacking yard of Udupi Power Corporation Limited at New Mangalore Port surfaced at the fag end of the meeting with opposition Congress corporators registering their strong opposition to the proposal. The chief whip Ganesh Hosabettu read through the agenda amidst the din. Bhat had earlier defended the decision to provide 0.05 MGD water to the yard, as the civic body was now water sufficient.

source daijiworld.com