State government is responsible for delay in Pumpwell Flyover work: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel
Mangaluru, November 18: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that construction of Pumpwell Flyover was delayed as the state government had not completed the land acquisition on time.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the flyover work here on Sunday, he said that now, the construction work was at the final stage and it would be completed by January end. Thokkottu Flyover would be opened for traffic movement by December. Though the work started in 2010, it was delayed because of shifting of a big Kalasha of Mahaveera Circle and construction of service bus stand besides national highway. The work was accelerated in 2016. National highway was designed fifteen years ago. But due to construction of bus stand at Pumpwell circle, there was a demand to change the design of the National Highway. But the state government and the then deputy commissioner had delayed the process and it postponed the work. Meanwhile, the company which was entrusted the responsibility of construction, has incurred financial loss. For all these reasons, the work was delayed, he said.
Then deputy commissioner, MLA and the district minister were responsible for the delay of the work. Though 15 years have gone after disbursing the compensation to the owners of the land on BC Road, 10 buildings on the roadside were not yet evicted. There were three houses amidst the service road at Thokkottu. If the officials tried to evict them, they were getting threatening calls. He was silent because he didn't want to mix politics in development. When there was Congress government both at the centre and in the state, they had taken 13 years to complete 30 km road from BC Road to Surathkal Mukka. But Baikampady bridge was not included in that work. It was completed during his tenure. Panemangaluru Nethravathi river bridge took 14 years to complete. When Yeddyurappa was the chief minister, he had given Rs 300 crore to the Mangaluru city corporation. Then concrete roads were laid in the city. Even after 11 years, the corporation has failed to lay footpaths. Those who oppose everything, should answer as to why those works were delayed, he said.
Letter to suspend toll
"We have been demanding suspension of Mukka and Brahmarakutlu tollgate, for the state government has to submit a proposal to the union minister of national highways. He has already written a letter to the Chief Minister regarding this issue. Meanwhile, the NHAI regional office has submitted it's opinion to the central government that tollgate can be removed. So the state government should take a suitable decision", he demanded.
NHAI project director Samson Vijay Kumar, Engineer Ajith Kumar and Navayug Company officers were present.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
