Udupi, Jun 15: During a Udupi city municipality council (CMC) meeting on Saturday, MLA Yashpal Suvarna issued a stern warning, stating that all councillors will gherao the police station if the municipality’s excavator is not released by June 18. The vehicle was seized by the police after demolishing an illegally constructed shed, following a dispute between the driver and the shed owner.
Suvarna emphasized, “Let the sub-inspector do his duty, and we will do ours. If the Udupi police station does not act against all illegal shops and structures, we will leave our vehicle in front of the police station, making them understand our plight.”
Addressing monsoon challenges, Suvarna called for better coordination among the fire department, MESCOM, and the forest department. He highlighted the inadequacy of the fire service in Malpe and Udupi, urging for additional vehicles and rescue equipment.
Suvarna criticized the forest department’s selective removal of tree branches, stressing the need to remove dangerous branches and to inform the municipality about tree-cutting activities. He also mentioned the development of a new app for MESCOM to facilitate public reporting of issues.
Traffic safety in Udupi taluk was another key point, with Suvarna advocating for reflectors, temporary dividers, and proper traffic policies near school zones. He pointed out the misalignment of the temporary divider near Indrali Bridge and called for the removal of parked vehicles near key areas.
Regarding the Varahi Project, Suvarna stated that it would be monitored for six months by the municipality before proceeding. He also asserted that tourism funds should remain within municipality areas and that revenue lands should not be transferred to other departments. Suvarna emphasized the importance of organizing fairs to utilize public spaces and reach diverse customer bases.
The meeting concluded with discussions on reusing collected sludge as fertilizer and planning tenders for odour-free waste disposal methods. Rayappa, commissioner CMC, along with officials from various departments and councillors, were present.
