The projects announced by the State government under Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana – 2 in the city have made no headway since their launch in this April, Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath alleged on Wednesday.
Addressing presspersons, the MLA said that the then minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada Dinesh Gundu Rao and the then Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh had laid the foundation stones for the projects.
According to Mangaluru City Corporation, the 180 projects estimated to cost ₹165 crore and launched in April covered 49.48 km of building roads, 28.12 km of constructing storm water drains, 6.312 km of building footpaths, 3.7 km of constructing retaining walls, and 49.8 km of laying utility ducts and 1.54 km of constructing UGD network.
Mr. Kamath alleged that nowhere the progress of the projects launched is seen in the city. The MLA said that it appears the government has no funds to take up the projects.
As Urban Development Minister Mr. Suresh had announced a special grant of ₹25 crore for the MCC. “Not even a single paisa out of it has been released to the civic body,” the MLA alleged.
Mr. Kamath said that MCC did not get 15th and 16th Finance Commission grants for not holding election to its council. It has prevented the civic body from taking up development projects.
On the other hand, Mr. Kamath said, the government has stopped State Finance Commission grants to the MCC. It has increased the burden of the corporation forcing it to spend for projects from its own funds.
“The Congress government has forced the corporation to pay salary to its employees from its own funds. The civic body was never pushed to such a condition by any government earlier,” he alleged.
Mr. Kamath said that now the government has forced the MCC to spend entire amount from its own fund to manage Indira Canteens in the city. Earlier the government shared 70% of the management cost of the canteens while the share of MCC stood at 30 %.
Referring to pending payment to contractors in the city he said: “The government is yet to pay ₹300 crore to contractors since past three years.”
Published – September 30, 2026 07:28 pm IST
