Udupi DC asks municipal officials to report to work at 6 am or go home

Udupi: The new Udupi DC G Jagadeesha has asked the municipality council officials to report to field work every day at 6 am and warned that officials who turned up late would be sent back nome, he warned. He was speaking at his first meeting at Sathyamurthy Hall, after taking charge as DC on Thursday, August 29.

During the meeting, the DC issued strict guidelines to government employees and also heard the grievances from the councillors of the city.

“I had done my probation under Ponnuraj, who was then the Dakshina Kannada DC and Hemalatha who was then the Udupi DC. I have little knowledge about Udupi. However, I have headed several developmental works in urban areas. I have thorough knowledge on policy matters. When I served as commissioner of Mysuru City Corporation, the city bagged cleanest city award in the country under Swachh Suruvekshan. I do not think making Udupi a clean city is a challenge. Mysuru was larger and more challenging,” said the DC.

“To increase efficiency in work, I will ensure there is an increase in manpower and more equipment is purchased. We should adopt more advanced technology in work. Otherwise, it will affect development in future. There are many small tools and equipment that can be used to make work easy,” he informed and added that the council officials should respect councillors as well as public, when they come to council office.

“We should work according to the wishes of the people. For that, officials need to put in extra effort and react to problems. An administration should be responsive. Officials should know how to work under pressure. I have never sent back anyone saying ‘no time’ even though I am busy. Complete your work on time and properly. Only then, everything will go on smoothly. The burning issue of the coastal district is sand mining on which we will have better clarity soon,” said the DC.

During the meeting, councillors raised issues regarding poor maintenance of street lights, poor management of waste, underground drainage issues, shortage of workers and staff at council, water management issues, maintenance and other concerns.

Speaking on the occasion, Bailoor councillor Ramesh Kanchan said, “Due to delay in formation of council, it is difficult to issue completion certificate and NOC to street lights. He stressed on rectifying divider lights as Ganesha Chaturthi festival is drawing close.”

Sumithra Naik said, “In Udupi council, there is only one labourer for 700 people. Dredging work in drainage is not happening on time, which creates problems during monsoon. More civil workers, a permanent electrical engineer and staff are needed to be appointed in CMC.”

Krishnarao Kodancha said, “We are elected to serve people, but we are not given a chance since one year. The problems in council are affecting our service.”

Another councillor informed that there is no electricity connection in six houses belonging to SC/ ST people in Subrahmanya ward because NOC is not yet given to them.

Speaking during the meeting, MLA Raghupati Bhat said, “Water and electricity are fundamental requirements. It has to be provided to all. We will look into the problems. The chief minister has sanctioned Rs 25 crore recently, out of that Rs 5 crore will be used for PWD roads and delisting at Baje dam and so on,” he informed.