Udupi CMC seeks public hearing before upgrading the civic body to City Corporation

The Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) on Monday, January 27, resolved to seek a public hearing to gather residents’ opinion on the government proposal to upgrade the CMC into a City Corporation even as MLA Yashpal Suvarna argued that the proposal should not be hurried through without creating basic infrastructure in areas to be brought under the proposed corporation.

The Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) on Monday, January 27, resolved to seek a public hearing to gather residents’ opinion on the government proposal to upgrade the CMC into a City Corporation even as MLA Yashpal Suvarna argued that the proposal should not be hurried through without creating basic infrastructure in areas to be brought under the proposed corporation.

Raising the issue at the council’s ordinary meeting chaired by president Prabhakara Poojary, BJP member Girish Anchan said people of Katpady, Kote and Manipura Gram Panchayats, that are presently not under the Udupi Development Authority, might object to the proposal. Joining the issue, MLA Suvarna said areas that were brought while forming the CMC themselves do not have basic infrastructure, including proper roads, underground drainage system etc. Things being so, including new areas under the proposed corporation would only add to the existing woes. A public hearing under the Deputy Commissioner was therefore necessary, he argued.

Stating that a corporation could be formed in the next five years if the government releases a ₹25 crore grant to upgrade the civic infrastructure in each panchayat proposed under the corporation. Areas like Malpe, Puttur, Herga, Manipal and 76 Badagubettu, had been included while upgrading the Town Municipal Council to a CMC. However, civic infrastructure eludes these regions. If the new gram panchayats were given the grants and provided with civic infrastructure in a phased manner, the formation of a corporation could be feasible by 2030, he said.

Municipal Commissioner Uday Kumar Shetty said a city needs to have a population of 3 lakh with density of 3,000 people per sq.km, ₹6 crore revenue, 50% jobs from non-agricultural activities etc. The CMC has prepared a draft note on this, he said.

The Directorate of Municipal Administration had on January 9 asked the Udupi Deputy Commissioner to submit a proposal for upgrading the CMC into a corporation.

When Councillor Amrutha Krishnamurthy raised the issue of street dog menace, the meeting discussed the DC’s reported statement that local administrations would be held responsible for dog bites.

Mr. Suvarna said that as the street dog menace was prevailing across the district, the DC should convene a meeting. Stating that the Veterinary Services Department has identified places at Manipal and Malpe for dog sterilisation, Mr. Shetty said the CMC would identify feeding places for street dogs soon.