Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 25: Deputy commissioner (DC) of the district, Priyanka Mary Francis, warned that the district administration will initiate criminal proceedings against those who leave defunct borewells open, and if lives are lost as a result thereto.

She was speaking at the monthly Karnataka Development Programme meeting held at the zilla panchayat hall. The meeting, which was held on May 24, was presided over by zilla panchayat president, Dinakar Babu.

The DC directed the concerned to properly close all the unused borewells located on private and government lands. She asked all the gram panchayats to furnish a list of defunct borewells within their jurisdictions to the district administration immediately. She said that it is the duty of the owner of the land and the borewell companies to close the holes properly. She stated that those digging borewells have to obtain no objection certificates from local bodies and get the borewells dug through rigs approved by ground water authority.

She said it has been made compulsory for all the departments from this financial year onward to buy items needed for their office through government e-market. She also said that it is the responsibility of officials to deduct provident fund contribution from salaries of outsourced employees without fail. She further asked the health department and taluk panchayat executive officers to submit report on the functioning of eight pure drinking water units established in the district and also about the health benefits derived by the people after their installation.