Pics-Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)
Udupi, Jun 23: The seventh general session of the zilla panchayat convened on Thursday June 22 here began by making a reference to chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah’s decision to waive farm loans. The session was held at Dr V S Acharya hall at Rajathadri here.
Municipal councillor, Prathap Hegde Marali, termed the farm loan waiver announcement as a welcome step taken by state government, "Farmers from the district have not benefitted much from this measure as the waiver is applicable to only farm loans up to Rs 50,000," he noted. Noting that nearly 97 percent farmers have already cleared their loans in banks and cooperative societies, he felt that it would have benefitted more farmers if the decision was taken a few weeks earlier.
Janardhan Thonse explained about difficulties experienced in getting bill payments under Basava Vasati housing scheme because of certain confusion in spite of having GPS.
Zilla panchayat president, Dinakar Babu, noted that gram panchayats have so far collected only 40 percent of tax dues. He stressed the need to convene a separate meeting to bring pressure on the local bodies to improve their revenue collections.
District deputy commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis, said that sand blocks for extraction after rainy season within CRZ limits have been identified. She clarified that court judgement is being awaited before a decision to extract sand in non-CRZ zone can be taken.
MLA, Gopal Poojary, said that the demand for long term sand policiy is pending for the three districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts. Raising the topic of complaint of negligence against the personnel of the government hospital at Kundapur, he blamed health department and district administration for failing to act against the lethargic employees. He demanded for the suspension of people found guilty of dereliction of duty.
Along with the Reshma Uday Kumar Shetty, Pratap Hegde and Babu Shetty strongly put forth a demand for bringing a halt to illegal sand transportation. The police department should bring control over illegal sand mining by taking stricter measures against culprits. If not the district administration should find an alternative solution to this problem, they demanded.
Geethanjali said, "it is better to organize awareness programme in the outside of the school than in the school campus. The police beat system should improved in remote areas".
If a poor quality of works are done through government officials, in that case the engineer and contractor both are the responsible, said deputy commissioner (DC).
Kokkarne poor vented dam
Sudhakar Shetty Mairmady complained about poor quality of vented dam constructed in Kokkarne panchayat. It was built at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore in 2013-14.
DC Priyanka announced her decision to form a team for investigating the lapses, quality of the dam construction work.
Varahi project
Regarding Varahi project, MLC, Pratapchandra Shetty, brought to the notice of the concerned that Varahi canal breaches have damaged farmers’ crops extensively, but noted with regret that neither farmers get compensation amount from the department nor has the mud that has accumulate din their fields been cleared. He blamed faulty functioning and negligence of the Varahi project officials for this situation.
"An official of the project has been repeatedly telling us that he will discuss about compensation with higher authorities," he stated, adding that there is no progress in the matter whatsoever.
Angered by this revelation, DC took that Varahi project officials to task. "Their department always shows less interest towards hearing public grievances. Within a week they should give compliance report," she said. She further instructed t he concerned to serve notice to its executive engineer, who was absent for the meeting. If the same attitude is continued, she said she will take serious action him.
Kundapur Taluk hospital
DC also took DHO to task in the matter of Vishalakshi from Kundapur having died after snakebite at the government hospital recently. It is alleged that the doctors and staff were had shown negligence towards patient and their behaviour with the patient and her family was rude. District health officer, Rohini, tried to convince the DC about investigation being undertaken into the issue.
There were many issues like fencing for reserve forest , drainage, compensation for damage of crops, Jnnurm buses etc were discussed at the meeting. Kundapur government taluk hospital issue consumed lot of meeting time.
Sakshi, daughter of Ganesh Koraga, was felicitated at the meeting for securing 1148th rank in 2017-18 IIT examination.
Dinakar Babu, president of ZP, Sheela K Shetty, vice president, Uday S Kotian, president, education and health standing committee chairman, Babu Shetty, social standing committee chairman, Shashikanth Padubidri, president, agriculture and industry standing committee, were present.