Karnataka - Hassan   

Development of Kuvempu Nagar receives a setback

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, NOV. 25. Lack of coordination between the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) and the Hassan City Municipal Council (CMC) has resulted in the neglect of Kuvempu Nagar, a residential extension developed by the KHB on the Beeranahalli tank-bed a decade ago.

Poor infrastructure

The residents of Kuvempu Nagar complain that the area does not have proper infrastructure. It gets inundated by sewage during the monsoon, as the area does not have underground drainage even though betterment charges have been collected. Roads have not been asphalted and the area is not cleaned regularly.

K.J. Jagadeesh, secretary of the Kuvempu Badavane Balaga alleged that despite several appeals, the CMC and the KHB had failed to address their problems.

Speaking to The Hindu , the president of the CMC, G.T. Kumar, said that the CMC took over Kuvempu Nagar from the KHB on the condition that the latter develop the area within six months. However, the KHB failed to do so and it had now been decided to hand the area back to the KHB, he added.

When contacted, the Assistant Executive Engineer of the KHB, Kantharaju, said that the first stage of Kuvempu Nagar was handed over in November 2001 and the second stage in 2003. KHB had handed over the area after it was completely developed. The municipal council should have objected before it took over instead of "complaining" after the area was transferred to it, he said.

B.A. Paramesh, commissioner of the CMC, said that the take-over was a conditional one and it was agreed that the KHB would develop the area, failing which it would meet the expenditure made by CMC to develop the area.

As the KHB failed to do so, a meeting of the CMC members had decided to hand the area back to the KHB. Though a letter to this effect had been sent to the commissioner of the KHB on October 18, the KHB had not responded, he added.

He said that CMC could maintain the area only after the completion of development works. It would otherwise be difficult for the CMC to maintain the underdeveloped area with the limited budgetary allocation. The CMC now wanted the KHB to pay for the development of the area. The cost of development was estimated at Rs. 8 crores.

Pending works

At a meeting convened by the Hassan Urban Development Authority in the presence of elected representatives, the KHB was asked take up pending works.

It was agreed that the KHB would repay the amount to CMC in case it did not complete the work within six months. It was also agreed that vacant sites would be handed over to CMC after the area was developed, Mr. Paramesh said.

A few people have constructed houses in the area earmarked for developing a park in the extension. Mr. Paramesh said that the issue had been brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner. The park area came under Satyamangala village and CMC had no jurisdiction over it, he added.

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