Silvester D' Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Byndoor (EP)
Byndoor, Jun 23: “Gram panchayat officers should always keep their mobile phones switched on. They should receive calls from ordinary people and respond to their problems. I respect sincere officials who solve the problems of people. Serving people is sacred,” said Byndoor MLA B M Sukumar Shetty.
He was speaking after presiding the meeting of Byndoor gram panchayat development officers held at Kundapur taluk panchayat auditorium on Friday, June 22.
“Scarcity of water is felt here even though five rivers flow in the constituency. Water is supplied through tankers during summer incurring annual expenditure amounting to crores of rupees. There should be a permanent solution to the problem. PDOs should think of improving ground water levels. An estimate for the construction of Kindi dam should be prepared this time.”
He went through the statements of amount spent by every gram panchayat in the constituency for supply of drinking water during 2017 and 2018 and expressed his dissatisfaction about Rs 15 lac spent by each gram panchayat for supply of water through tankers. “Are the panchayats on the banks of rivers Varahi and Kubja spending such huge amount for the tankers?” He asked in astonishment. He said that the tanker water bills of panchayats which have spent enormous amounts will be investigated.
“Students have to cross water-course by footbridge in Kalthodu and Hosadu villages. Panchayats have failed to take action. Act on it immediately. PDOs should go to villages and inform the concerned officials about the problems faced by villagers. As PDOs are close to people, it is their duty to respond to their problems,” he said.
“Which schools in panchayat level are facing problems? Their structures have become weak. Are the panchayat funds and 25% subsidy getting distributed properly?” he asked.
“A portion of the amount set aside for backward class and backward tribe students by the government remain in the panchayats. The MLA should draw the attention of the government about it. The amount will not remain if the scholarship amount to the students is increased,” opined Shirur and Hakladi PDOs.
Taluk panchayat president Jayashree Mogaveera, taluk panchayat executive officer Kiran Padnekar, social justice committee president Narayana Gujjady and tahsildar Ravi were present.