Mangaluru: The cabinet is likely to approve a Rs 350-crore grant for upgrading the underground drainage (UGD) network within Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits at its meeting chaired by chief minister DK Shivakumar in Mangaluru on Friday.Urban development minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who chaired a review meeting at the MCC office on Thursday, said a proposal seeking funds had been submitted to the cabinet.“I am optimistic that it will be cleared by the cabinet tomorrow,” he told reporters.The minister said Mangaluru’s UGD network was in a poor condition and required complete reconstruction in several areas. Much of the existing network was built using laterite stones, many sections of which have collapsed. In addition, around 35% of the city does not have UGD coverage, he said.Officials have estimated that approximately Rs 1,200 crore will be required to comprehensively upgrade and expand the network. A proposal seeking the full amount has been forwarded to the finance department. As the work needs to begin immediately, the department has requested an initial release of funds.Accordingly, a proposal seeking cabinet approval for the release of Rs 350 crore will be placed before the meeting. If approved, the funds will be used to initiate work on the city’s underground drainage network.Rs 167 crore proposal for drinking water projectsThe minister said officials had sought around Rs 60 crore for drinking water projects covering Kundapura, Udupi, Puttur, Mangaluru and neighbouring areas.However, the govt has placed a proposal seeking Rs 167 crore before the cabinet. The proposal also seeks relaxation of certain conditions imposed by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), which, according to the minister, would help utilise the available funds more effectively.“We have placed the proposal before the cabinet to ease those norms, and we expect that to go through as well,” he said.A master plan for Mangaluru city has already been submitted to the govt. Yathindra said that he will follow up on the proposal and ensure its early approval.MCC asked to digitise civic worksDuring the review meeting, the minister directed MCC officials to undertake complete digitisation of the civic body’s operations. He said details of all works being implemented by the corporation should be made available on its official portal to improve transparency and public access to information.Regarding the delay in the ADB-funded Jalasiri 24×7 drinking water project, which was launched in 2019, the minister said all pending works should be completed by the extended deadline of March 2027.
