MADIKERI: After much wrangling in the Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC) meeting between Congress and BJP members here on Monday, Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav, who is also in charge of CMC affairs, announced that steps would be taken to revive the Betri drinking water project to bring water from the Cauvery to Madikeri.

Congress member T.M. Aiyappa alleged that officials had distorted the proceedings of the previous CMC meeting to give an impression that the Betri project had been shelved. The project, initially proposed at Rs. 15 crore, would now cost Rs. 19.16 crore. It was awaiting clearance from the Finance Department.

BJP members Shajeel Krishnan, S.C. Subramani and K.S. Ramesh argued that they had not opposed the project, but expressed doubts over its huge maintenance costs.

Councillors lashed out at the poor sanitation system in the city and the inordinate delay in implementing development works.

Mr. Krishnan accused CMC Commissioner D.H. Raya and other health officials of delaying development works. Mr. Yadav said health inspectors should be suspended for dereliction of duty. Mr. Jaffrey suggested that certain contractors and substandard work were responsible for the delay.

Garbage collection

Members were also unanimous in arguing that people should not be burdened with a fee for collecting garbage from their houses under the Nirmala Nagara Scheme. Mr. Raya said the Government had stipulated Rs. 10 per house (below 1,000 sq. ft) a month and Rs. 15 per house (over 1,000 sq. ft) a month as fee for collecting garbage. It was more for commercial buildings and kalyana mantaps. Finally, it was agreed to adhere to the minimum fee prescribed by the Government for residential buildings.

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