Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Sep 19: "Our focus is not on delivering high sounding speeches. We believe in implementing development works," said Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, in response to certain remarks passed by members of the opposition at the special session of taluk panchayat held here on Monday September 18.
Rai was responding to a question raised by opposition member, Ramesh Kudmer, at the session. "I never have transgressed law and will never do it. When people raise objections, execution of work gets delayed," he stated. He gave the example of the proposed construction of the office of the district deputy commissioner at Padil which would have benefitted the general public. "All preparations had been made. But some people opposed the plan and approached court. Therefore, this project, which would have materialized, is facing undue delay," he told the participants of the meeting.
At the same time, Rai asserted that the bus stand being built here will conform to the legal framework and it will benefit the taluk panchayat. "The proposed bus stand-cum-commercial complex will be constructed in public-private partnership basis. I can assure you that care will be taken to see that no one faces injustice, and preference will be given to people who already have been functioning in the old building," he clarified.
As soon as the session began, opposition members, Ramesh Kudmer and Yashwant Poojary Polali, said that they do not have objection over the construction of bus stand and promised full cooperation. But being people's representatives, they said they have certain image in the eyes of the public. Being people's representatives, they said they need to be given information about the blue pint of the bus stand, who will build lit etc. They said that they had raised this issue in the general session of the taluk panchayat and standing committee, but regretted that they have not been provided with any details so far.
Taluk panchayat executive officer, Cyprian Miranda, said that the zilla panchayat has already given permission for evacuating the old building and that a tender will be called for the purpose soon. He said that some people have filed court cases against the move.
Member, Usman Karopady, who intervened in the discussion, flashed a petition in front of the meeting, adding that this has created doubts in the minds of the members. He said that if proper reply is given for the questions, everything will fall in line. He wanted to know what will be the future of people already occupying the old building. The minister confirmed that they will get first preference in the new building. He said that 70 percent of the land where the construction will take place belongs to revenue department and the balance to taluk panchayat. He said a proposal to transfer the land to taluk panchayat has already been placed before the deputy commissioner and that the taluk panchayat will get double the current income due to bus stand and commercial complex.
The minister revealed that the chief minister will soon inaugurate Mini Vidhan Soudha at B C Road, KSRTC bus stand, Mescom office building, travellers bungalow, second phase drinking water project and other development works during the first week of next month. He said his desire is to demolish old taluk panchayat building and have a new building at a time when this municipality is set to be upgraded as city municipality, and requested members to help him in this regard.
Assistant executive engineer, Narendra Babu, informed the meeting that the government has passed orders making it compulsory to give 25 percent of contracts in all cases to contractors belonging to scheduled castes and tribes. To question raised by Prabhakar Prabhu, he said that some conditions have to be complied with for the same, and contracts are being awarded only after satisfying these conditions.
In the last meeting, BJP members had alleged that old taluk panchayat building was being cleared and bus stand was being built in a devious way without keeping the taluk panchayat members informed, and expressed involvement of corruption in this plan. But neither the president nor members of the ruling party had given any response. Executive officer, Cyprian Miranda, had promised to convene special session to convey information as soon as the zill apanchayat permits clearance of the building. Accordingly, the current special session was convened.
The district in-charge minster himself handled the meeting. Zilla panchayat member, Chandraprakash Shetty, was present. Taluk panchayat president, Chandrahas Karkera, presided. Vice president, Abbas Ali, standing committee chairperson, Dhanalaxmi Bangera, Mangaluru assistant commissioner, Renuka Prasad, and tahsildar, Purandar Hegde , were at the dais. Executive officer, Cyprian Miranda, welcomed the participants and proposed vote of thanks.