By K.K.Aiyamma
Madikeri CMC presented its budget yesterday. Kundamestri project, which was launched in 2010 has been allocated 15.70 lakh for constructing sand bunds, in this budget. Kundamestri started in 2010. When will it be completed ? We should better ask the contractor and not CMC. Why ??? . Because of the generosity that CMC has shown him. Lot of funds have been spent on this project, which is touted to satisfy the watery needs of Madikeri denizens. It seems the project should be supplying water – directly to Madikeri by next year. We will see.
Coming to the point – I always wondered why is that project called Kundamestri ?
This CMC seems to be very generous to the contractor. The Project is named after the contractor.
In January, DC Anurag Tewari & District In charge Minister K.J.George put that question to the CMC Commissioner Pushpavathi and pop came the answer:
When the DC and minister asked why the project was named ‘Kundamestri’, the official said that the Kundamestri was the name of a contractor.
The minister immediately directed the official to change the name of the drinking water project.
But it seems that CMC is still in love with the contractor and has not changed the name. Even a road seems to have been named after him.