A crucial pre-budget consultation meeting organized by the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on Monday witnessed an alarmingly low turnout from the public, raising concerns about civic engagement in urban planning. The meeting, part of preparations for the civic body's 2026-27 budget, was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV, who also serves as the MCC administrator.
Disappointing Turnout and Official Concern
The event, intended to gather suggestions from registered resident welfare associations, NGOs, commercial bodies, and citizens, saw only about a dozen attendees, including social activists. DC Darshan HV expressed clear unhappiness with the poor response. He emphasized that public participation is vital for the urban local body, especially during the annual budget formulation process.
"I expected participation from a large number of citizens for this meeting," the DC stated. He urged greater involvement in the next consultation, which is scheduled to be held soon. In a move to improve accessibility, Darshan announced that he would be present at the MCC office at least two days every week to facilitate direct interaction with residents.
Citizens Voice Frustration Over Past Consultations
A significant reason for the low attendance emerged from the participants' dissatisfaction with the corporation's past record. Attendees pointed out that suggestions provided in previous years' consultation meetings were routinely ignored when the final budgets were prepared.
Activist GK Bhat revealed that none of the recommendations he had made in earlier meetings were ever considered by the MCC. Another participant, Alwyn D'Souza, suggested that the MCC should organize regular Janaspandana programmes to give people consistent opportunities to voice their grievances and interact with officials.
Key Suggestions for Revenue and Civic Management
Despite the low numbers, the attendees who were present put forth several concrete suggestions for the upcoming budget, with a strong focus on improving the city's revenue streams.
Activist MP Shenoy highlighted major revenue pilferage issues. He pointed out that nearly 5,000 houses in the city lack water meters, leading to significant losses. He urged the corporation to prioritize SAS property tax collection and fees for road-cutting permissions. He also stressed the need to collect pending rent dues from all MCC-owned commercial complexes.
Suresh Nayak recommended that all shops and commercial premises in city market complexes should be rented out promptly to boost revenue. On civic issues, Ashiwini Bhat proposed levying penalties on those who fail to segregate waste at source. Furthermore, Rajendra Kumar sought strict action and penalties against political parties that illegally erect flex banners across the city. MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik and other officials were present at the meeting.
The event underscored a growing disconnect between Mangaluru's citizens and its civic body. While officials call for greater participation, residents demand tangible proof that their inputs will shape the final budget, creating a cycle that hinders effective collaborative governance.
