Mysuru: Raising concerns over the bad road conditions in the city, former district minister SA Ramdas pointed out that since January this year around 578 accidents were reported in city which have claimed 110 precious lives while around 410 people suffered injuries. He blamed the potholes for the accidents in most of the cases.
Addressing media persons at Press Club here on Wednesday Ramdas said “According to a survey, Mysuru roads with around 20,000 potholes in the 1,800 kilometers of road was becoming similar to Bengaluru. If Chief Minister Siddaramaiah can grant Rs 100 crores to fill the potholes in Bengaluru, why he is not providing sufficient funds to fill the potholes in Mysuru?. Every year, the government grants Rs 10 crores during the Dasara festival for pothole filling works and other road-related works, this year however, the state government has granted only Rs 3.6 crore. The Mysore City Corporation has filled just 5% of the potholes in the city. The state government failed to release funds to asphalt these potholes. In Mysuru, there are 14.5 lakh registered two-wheelers, 1.61 lakh cars and 1.62 lakh transport vehicles.”
Rules not followed while digging roads
Many telephone companies have dug up the road for their purpose. Around 1,000 kms have been dug in the city to lay the cables; for every one km of digging the road the companies have to pay Rs 4.6 lakhs to MCC and the companies in turn have to asphalt these dug up road stretches but in reality most of the companies have failed to asphalt the roads and MCC has not even given any notices to these companies who have violated the conditions. It seems the government is bankrupt.
On October 27, as a mark of protest and to show bankruptcy of the government, we will be filling 40 potholes in 400 mtr stretch road from Andhani Circle to KSIC Silk factory. If the government fails to act on the bad roads in city within next 10 days , we are ready to take the government to court, he said.
BJP stance on Tipu Sultan undeterred
When media person sought reactions over President Ram Nath Kovind comments on Tipu Sultan that there is nothing wrong in celebrating Tipu Jayanthi, Ramdas said “President Ram Nath Kovind reaction towards Tipu Jayanthi is not that of the BJP party. It is his stance and we BJP stand what by we have said. He is President of India not President of BJP. It is also quite common that a touring President is appreciative of the visiting state”.
Regarding news of senior BJP leader Vijayshankar quitting BJP, Ramdas mentioned that he was confident he will not leave the party. On Tuesday, Shobha Karandlaje had also tried to meet Vijayashankar.
