Mangaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza termed the Smart City project by the central government a “bogus” project aimed at favouring the private companies.
Addressing the reporters here on Friday, October 12 he said, “Instead of taking small projects like bus stand, footpath, streetlamp, toilet among others, huge projects should be taken up under the smart city project. A total of Rs 2000 Crore has been earmarked for the projects under ‘smart city’, in which around 50 percent amount is contributed by the state government only. However, elected representatives are sidelined as all projects are undertaken without the notice of elected representatives”, he said.
Ivan backed District In-charge Minister U T Khader in the issue of modernising the slaughterhouse at a cost of Rs 15 Crore under Smart City project. “The union government itself had planned to modernise the slaughterhouses under `Swacch Bharat` scheme. However, the plan was scrapped after the introduction of Smart City project. The BJP is opposing this project only to politicise the issue and there is no meaning in it”, he said.
DK district to become solar district
Meanwhile, Ivan said, “There is a plan to make Dakshina Kannada district a solar district and efforts are in progress in this regard. For this plan to materialise, the government has been planning to install a solar panel with the capacity of 1,500-megawatt. All government departments, educational institutions and commercial establishments should install the solar panel. The gram panchayats concerned should come forward to assist those who install solar panels. As banks have come forward to assist in this regard, an installation committee should be constituted under the leadership of the deputy commissioner of the district”, he said.
Loan to be released within a week after application
Informing about the cooperation by banks with regard to solar loans, Ivan said, “Earlier, banks refused to release loans for installing solar panels. However, they have now consented to release loans within a week after applying for the loan. The government has instructed all banks to provide more publicity to the scheme”, he said.
