Mangaluru, Nov 1: Members of Bengre unit committee of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged a protest-demonstration in front of the deputy commissioner's office here on Friday, demanding basic facilities to the residents of Bengre and Thannirbavi who were deprived of proper facilities.
Addressing the protestors, SDPI state council member Abdul Jaleel said that although Bengre and Thannirbavi were two prime wards in the limits of Mangaluru City Corporation, the local residents were living without proper basic facilities since years. Over 90 percent of the inhabitants of the areas are fisherfolk. After several demands, a primary health centre was set up in Bengre ten years ago. But thereafter, there has been no development in the area. Despite Bengre being an area prone to malaria and dengue due to lack of cleanliness, so far no vehicle is dispatched to collect the waste, he said.
Condemning the lack of proper response from the local elected representatives, he said that the MLAs, MPs and corporators visited the area only during elections to garner votes. The residents of Bengre still face shortage of electricity and the authorities responsible do not respond to their problems. Close to 25,000 residents in 8,000 houses did not have title deeds, he said, warning of intense protests if the residents were not provided with proper facilities within a stipulated amount of time.
He also warned of dire consequences if the city corporation tried to implement projects involving big companies in the area.
SDPI district secretary Abdul Sadat said that the residents of Bengre and Thannirbavi were deprived of electricity for hours if there was power failure, and the MESCOM failed to resolve this problem. Although the two wards come under MCC limits, they have become backward while lacking developmental activities, he said, adding that there were no proper sewers or storm water drains in the areas.
The protestors blamed the local corporators Ravi and Meera Karkera, local MLA J R Lobo and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel for their problems.
Following the protest, the protestors handed over a memorandum regarding the same to the deputy commissioner.
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