Mangalore: 'Minister suspends health officer'

Manaluru, Oct 22: The Minister for City Corporations, Law, Justice and Human Rights, S Suresh Kumar, said here on Tuesday, Oct 21 that he had directed the authorities concerned to keep Manjaiah Shetty, Health Officer of Mangalore City Corporation, under suspension.

The Minister has also ordered to conduct a departmental enquiry against Linge Gowda, assistant executive engineer of the corporation.

Addressing presspersons here he said that he had received several complaints from people against the health officer. The official had failed to maintain cleanliness in the city. Hospital wastes had been found in the solid waste dumping yard at Pachhanady, he said.

Mr. Suresh Kumar said that there were many complaints of dereliction of duty against Mr. Linge Gowda. The complaints related to implementation of development projects, preparation of bills and so on. A senior official from the Department of Urban Development would conduct an inquiry into these allegations. The official had to submit a report to this effect within 45 days. The Minister said that the corporation had purchased some equipment worth about Rs. 3 crore under the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUDCEMP). But, it was found that they were not being used. “It is necessary to know why they were purchased, at what price and why they were not being used. Director of Municipal Administration will conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the Government," he said. Earlier, the Minister participated in a “janaspandana" programme at the office of Deputy Commissioner and listened to the grievances of people. The Minister visited Thumbay vented dam and inspected the progress of work for laying an additional pipeline to the city.

The Minister inspected the central market and the old bus-stand at Hampankatta. In central market, it was found that there was no water in public toilets. Mr. Suresh Kumar inaugurated the newly laid concrete stretch between Tagore Park and Ambedkar Circle on the Light House Hill Road. While inspecting the road, he found some cracks at a spot. However, an official told the Minister that the particular spot would be repaired.

OneIndia News