Mangaluru: Elected representatives, including Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna and members of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), have strongly opposed a proposal to hand over the maintenance of Mannapalla Lake in Manipal to a private agency. They called for the CMC to retain full control over the upkeep and development of the 120-acre lake, which is a local tourist attraction.

MLA Suvarna voiced concerns over the lack of clarity in the proposed plan involving a private entity through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. “We demanded that the CMC itself manage the lake and prepare a development plan to promote it as a tourist destination,” he said, suggesting that the urban local body seek central government funds for the lake’s development.

During a recent council meeting, CMC members echoed these concerns. Ishwara Nagara Ward councillor Kalpana Sudhama emphasized the importance of conservation-focused development and warned against private agencies prioritizing profit over ecological balance. The lake is currently managed by the Mannapalla Development Committee.

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