Heated exchange at Mangaluru City Corporation meeting over housing sites
In a confrontational General Body Meeting of the Mangaluru City Corporation on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Praveen Chandra Alva raised concerns about the alleged lack of distribution of housing sites to applicants during his six-year membership.
Alva directed his criticism towards local legislators, accusing them of inaction in ensuring the provision of housing sites, sparking a heated exchange with ruling party members.
Alva's contention centered on the apparent discrepancy between the distribution of title deeds to 900 beneficiaries six years ago and the absence of actual housing sites for applicants. Members of the ruling party, including Jagadish Shetty and Shakeela Kava, vehemently rebutted Alva's claims, attributing the delay in site allocation to errors made by a former MLA from Alva's party.
Chief Whip Premananda Shetty accused Alva of attempting to politicize the housing issue, emphasizing that the matter falls outside the administrative purview of the Mayor. He contended that the delay was a consequence of the former MLA's distribution of title deeds without prior permission, coinciding with election-related activities.
Amidst the verbal sparring, Corporation Commissioner Anand intervened to provide information on the progress of ongoing housing projects. He detailed the construction of residential complexes in various locations, specifying the number of houses allocated to beneficiaries from different categories.
Mayor Sudhir Shetty Kannur, addressing concerns raised by Alva regarding irregularities in the sewage treatment plant (STP), informed the assembly that he had personally inspected the plant. He clarified that funds amounting to Rs 80 lakh had been allocated for the Bajal Stepwell project under the 15th Finance Commission, scheduled to commence operations within a week. Shetty highlighted similar projects at Jalligudda and Kadekar.
The Mayor also addressed issues related to traffic congestion, the dengue outbreak, and water shortages in the city. Shetty assured the assembly that Rs 40 crore would be granted for sewage treatment projects, and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be submitted to the government.
Opposition Leader Alva urged the Mayor to establish a committee for the management of underground drainage, akin to water supply systems.
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
