Mysuru roads full of potholes, no funds for repair, says MLA

MLA for Krishnaraja T.S. Srivatsa on Tuesday lamented the alleged absence of funds for repair of roads in Karnataka’s Mysuru city.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Srivatsa pointed out that the roads of the city are full of potholes even though the Dasara is scheduled to start in September this year.

He urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is scheduled to launch a series of development works in Mysuru later this month, to ensure that the city is made pothole-free. The condition of “pothole-ridden” roads in Mysuru has worsened due to the monsoon rains, he said, while urging Mr. Siddaramaiah to take up the repair work on “priority”.

“The authorities have funds for cutting roads to carry out Underground Drainage (UGD) works, but funds are not available for repair of roads damaged by the same,” he said.

After much pleading and addressing the problem to the State Chief Secretary, Mr Srivatsa said he managed to secure sanction of funds for repair of five roads.

The BJP MLA also alleged discrimination in the release of funds to the Krishnaraja assembly segment by the Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development for the repair of rural roads.

Though ₹21 crore, each, had been released for the adjoining urban constituencies of Chamaraja and Narasimharaja, both represented by Congress MLAs, the Krishnaraja constituency represented by him, had not been sanctioned any funds, he said.

With the government not releasing funds for development works citing financial pressure of guarantee schemes, Mr. Srivatsa said that the people have started questioning the MLAs about their role.

“The government transfers money to the MLAs through Direct Benefit Transfer. What role do the MLAs play? Have they repaired roads, opened schools, cleared the drainages? These are questions they the MLAs have to face from their constituencies,” he said, while pointing out that a displeasure towards the government among ruling party MLAs, too, was increasing.