Greater Udupi Proposal hangs fire amid CMC staff shortage, BJP opposition

by news
•
March 25, 2015

Udupi: The Greater Udupi Proposal hangs fire as the CMC suffers from severe staff shortage. Though its sanctioned staff strength is 291, it has only 122 staff members, while 169 positions are vacant. Of the sanctioned strength of 125 civic workers, only 44 are filled, while 81 are vacant. Though the sanctioned strength of health inspectors is six, the CMC has only two.

It is learnt that on August 6, 2014, a meeting was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here, on the topic of Greater Udupi. It was chaired by Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, also attended by CMC president P. Yuvaraj and presidents of the gram panchayats that were proposed to be merged with Udupi municipal council. Sources say that Mr. Sorake promised more funds for creation of Greater Udupi at the meeting.

Mr. Yuvaraj was of the opinion that the gram panchayats were eager to join the CMC as they expected better development. However due to the staff shortage, it was decided that the  the matter will be discussed with all CMC councillors and with MLA Pramod Madhwaraj and Mr. Sorake.

As yet no decision has been taken and the proposal has been expanded from the earlier four gram panchayats to six panchayats and a village each from two other gram panchayats.The gram panchayats to be included are Ambalpady, Kadekar, Alevoor,Udyavar, and Yembattu Badagabettu.The expanded list includes Badanidiyoor Gram Panchayat; and Padutonse village from Kemmannu Gram Panchayat and Moodutonse village from Kallianpur Gram Panchayat.

Though Udupi was a Town Municipal Council (TMC) till 1995, it was converted into a CMC by including five notified villages – Shivally (Manipal), Herga, Malpe and Bailoor (Yeppataru Badagabettu).

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is opposed to the Greater Udupi proposal as even drainage has not been provided to the already notified villages.

The addition of the six gram panchayats and two villages would add 82,544 persons more to the existing population of the city, which is 1.25 lakh. All these villages together generate a revenue of just Rs. 2.03 crore annually and no additional grants will flow from the state it is learnt.