MANGALORE: Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and Mangalore Electric Supply Company (MESCOM) have locked horns over vacant land. This is the second such dispute between the two organisations.

The MCC claims that the three plots of land has been reserved for a market for Kadri area. The land, situated behind Kanara Club, has an extent of 20m cents on which the MESCOM proposes to build a sub-station.

Corporators of the three wards in the area — Naveen D'Souza, Gilbert Pinto (both of Congress) and Ganesh Rao (of BJP) told The Hindu that the area did not have a full-fledged market despite being one of the best residential and commercial areas in Mangalore. The plan for setting up a market had been prepared and the MCC had passed a resolution to this effect in the past, they said.

`Prime location'

Mr. D'Souza said that the survey number 339/a1b2b(P) was to the extent of two cents, 339/a1b1(P) was to the extent of one cent and 339/a1b2b(P) was to the extent of 17 cents.

Since the land was situated in a prime location, it was best suited for market, he said. The MESCOM could have its sub-station in the interiors, he said.

He said that there was a plot belonging to the Public Works Department near one of the lands in dispute. The MESCOM could opt for it, he added.

Mr. D'Souza said he and his colleagues had brought the issue to the notice of the Mayor and the Commissioner. They had promised to seek a clarification from the district authorities, he said.

Inspection

Mayor Vijaya Arun said that there were no doubts over the MESCOM's need for land, but as Mr. D'Souza, Mr. Pinto and Mr. Rao have pointed out the land appeared to be appropriate for a market.

Ms. Arun said that she would inspect the land and discuss the issue with the district officials.

`Work to begin soon'

Sources in the MESCOM said that the land had been allotted to the company. The company had taken its possession, and plans were on to set up the sub-station. The sources said that the location was appropriate for the sub-station and the company would begin work on its shortly. The MESCOM had recently given up its plans to set up a sub-station in Shantinagar playground following opposition from the residents of the area.

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