Mangalore: MP Kateel cracks the whip on officials over incomplete road work

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Feb 8: At a meeting of Dakshina Kannada district vigilance and monitoring committee held on Thursday February 7 at Netravati Hall of the zilla panchayat, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who presided over the meeting, said that about 72 km of the scheduled road work of Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) from Mani to Sampanje was incomplete.

“Only 35 km of the road work has been completed. I have personally witnessed in 5 to 6 places that the road has been dug and left incomplete. There are many spots which are not filled,” he said. He also ordered the officials to complete the pending work by mid-May 2013.

In addition, deputy commissioner (DC) N Prakash, who was at the meeting also said that the work should be completed before the monsoon. About the work on Puttur road, the DC said engineers must work without any misgivings for the progress of the state.
 
MP Kateel also enquired about the National Highway Authority road project and urged completion of the work on Shiradi road before March 15, 2013. In response, the officers concerned said that it would be completed at the earliest.

While discussing the matter of  Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), he said that from the past four years, the state has not received a single plan. The officials replied that even the central government  has not sanctioned it.
 
Meanwhile, discussing the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Kateel took to task Bantwal taluk officer for not following protocol. He said that some officers on purpose do not include the name of the MP in the invitations while organizing inaugurals of central government schemes. 

“Though it is clearly mentioned in the protocol that the MP should be invited for the inauguration of central government schemes sanctioned in the district, officers have dropped my name on purpose. If you are not interested in writing my name as Nalin Kumar Kateel please don’t. But respect the position and mention the designation as MP,” said Kateel.
 
He cautioned, “If you play politics, even I know how to reply, but you are executive officers who are here to perform a duty. In future, if it continues, I know what to do.”
 
CEO of ZP KN Vijayaprakash suggested that the department officers of horticulture, agriculture, and sericulture meet their targets failing which he would write to the principal secretary recommending stringent action.

ZP president Koragappa Naika and vice-president Rithesh Shetty were present on the occasion.