Mangaluru City Corporation seeks Rs 100 crore loan to repair damaged infrastructure

Mangaluru: Even as most roads, stormwater drains and underground drainage (UGD) are damaged in the city after heavy rain and flash floods, the Mangaluru City Corporation ( MCC ) has sought loans to the tune of Rs 100 crore for repairs, from the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC).

The MCC has decided to seek loans from the KUIDFC, as the city corporation has no funds to take up the work.

The city corporation has prepared six projects for the restoration of stormwater drains (rajakaluve), roads and UGDs, for wards in Mangaluru City North and Mangaluru City South assembly constituencies, represented by BJP MLAs Y Bharath Shetty and D Vedavyas Kamath, respectively.

An estimate of Rs 99.7 crore has been prepared, to take up the proposed projects in city wards. While projects worth Rs 59.7 crore have been planned for wards in Mangaluru City South constituency, Rs 40 crore has been sought for wards in Mangaluru City North constituency.

The city corporation’s decision to seek a loan from the KUIDFC, has made the Congress in the opposition in the MCC council, see red. Abdul Ravoof , senior corporator from the Congress, said that the city corporation has been trying to add to the burden of people, by borrowing huge amounts from the KUIDFC.

“The city corporation already owes nearly Rs 1,500 crore to various agencies, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and additional borrowing will increase people’s burden. The MCC should make efforts to take up the works through separate funds, from the state and central governments. Crores of rupees sanctioned for the city, through the Mangaluru Smart City Limited, can be utilised for the works,” Ravoof said.

Mayor Premanand Shetty said that the proposals which were mooted by the MLAs of Mangaluru City South and Mangaluru City North, may get government approval.

“The proposals have already been approved by the MCC council, and the city corporation has sent it to the government, registering the opposition’s objections. MLAs have assured that they will follow up the proposals, to get the government’s approval,” he added.