Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Feb 22: Deputy commissioner (DC) Dr K V Rajendra said that the district administration will initiate action to vacate the encroached land allotted for the Coast Guard Training Academy in Kenjar, in the coming week.

He was speaking during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held at Netravati auditorium in zilla panchayat.

"Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) had acquired the land for the construction of Coast Guard Training Academy. But unfortunately the landowner had sold the land, even though the land was acquired by KIADB. This cannot be done without the knowledge of officials in the revenue department. Hence, disciplinary action will be taken against the revenue department officials who have involved in registering the land and plotting the land. This has been done with criminal intent. But, the administration will not lose the government land. In this regard, an action plan has been prepared and the encroached part will be cleared," the DC said.

Meanwhile, Mulki-Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian said that the locals are complaining him that a person is running a Goshala after encroaching the government land. "Locals believe that if a training centre is set up there, several local youths will find employment," Kotian said.

The DC said that the administration will take the necessary measures to vacate the Goshala from the government land that has been allotted for the academy. If necessary, the administration will provide separate land to run the Goshala at another place, he said.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel who chaired the meeting said, "We are the people who are always in favour of cattle. We cannot ask to vacate the Goshala. If the Goshala is an illegal one, action can be taken against this."

After Nalin slammed national highway officials for not installing signage boards and traffic signals, the DC warned that officials will be held responsible if road accidents take place in future. "Representatives and we will be answerable to the public. Immediately, take measures to install traffic signals and signage boards on the national highway before the monsoon,” he said. The DC also asked the officials to attend the Road Safety Committee meeting without fail. “If failed to implement the same, the officials will be held responsible. There is also provision to book them under Motor Vehicle Act in case of road accidents,” he added.

As the progress of housing schemes is lagging in the district, Nalin asked the DC to form a committee including tahsildars and revenue officials to review the progress of the work once in every ten days.

Talking a dig at Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) officials for not completing the Smart City works in Bunder before the court stayed the works, MLA Vedavyasa Kamath said, "Though I had asked the officials to complete drainage pipeline laying works 8 months before the court stayed the work, the officials have failed to complete the same. People in that area are facing inconvenience due to this.”

Nalin also suggested the DC and MCC commissioner to transfer such lethargic officials from MCC. In his reply MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar, "Let us wait for three to four months after the court's order. If the condition is still the same, we will initiate action against such officials."

After MLA Vedavyasa complained about several works of KUIDFC undertaken by Simplex Infrastructure Pvt Ltd in the city are pending, Nalin asked the KUIDFC officials to call the MD of the company on February 24. “If failed to call the MD of the firm, action will be taken against the officials,” Nalin said. Adding to this, the DC said that the work can be handed over to another firm after a tri-party agreement. “If the firm does not agree for the condition, necessary action will be taken against them,” he said.