Upalokayukta refers complaint on flaws in Ambedkar Bhavan to Lokayukta

Upalokyukta B. Veerappa on Monday referred to the Lokayukta a complaint which accused Mangaluru City Corporation of taking into possession Ambedkar Bhavan at Urwa Stores after overlooking 30 construction flaws.

Upalokyukta B. Veerappa on Monday referred to the Lokayukta a complaint which accused Mangaluru City Corporation of taking into possession Ambedkar Bhavan at Urwa Stores after overlooking 30 construction flaws.

During a public hearing on complaints before Justice Veerappa, G. Hanumanth Kamath from Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti said there were 30 flaws in the construction of ₹ 17-crore Ambedkar Bhavan. The flaws include the lack of a monitor to see CCTV camera images, absence of fire extinguisher, and absence of mechanism for maintenance and repair of lifts, generator and other electrical appliances installed at the bhavan. The MCC overlooked the flaws and took possession of the building in May 2022 from the Social Welfare Department. The department has made payments to the Karnataka Housing Board, which, in turn, cleared bills of the contractor without carrying out third party inspection, he alleged.

Mr. Kamath filed another complaint seeking direction to the MCC to remove illegal hoardings erected in Mangaluru. His third complaint was about the poor quality of construction of a stormwater drain on Bejai Karangalpady road.

The Upalokayukta referred the three complaints to the Lokayukta. He also referred to the Lokaykta the complaint by a farmers’ body which accused executors of Udupi-Kasaragod power transmission line of not following guidelines in laying the line through agricultural lands. A compliant by Rajendra Kumar and Kishore Attavar of the Citizen Forum for Sustainable Development accusing the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada of not hearing suggestions about alternatives to underpasses at KPT and Nantoor Junctions, was also referred to the Lokayukta.

On the complaint by a resident of Puthige in Moodbidri about water pollution from a local laundry unit operating since 2018, the Upalokayutka directed the Puthige Gram Panchayat to take action to close down the unit.

Regional Scientific Officer of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Laxmikant was asked to submit a factual report about the problem.

A complaint by autorickshaw driver Ganesh R. Shaktinagar against the order of Deputy Commissioner on July 26, 2024, granting permits for electric autorickshaws was closed. Mr. Ganesh was asked to approach the High Court for redressal.