Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (EP)

Beltangady, Oct 30: Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, A B Ibrahim, promised to provide suitable basic facilities to the area in Navoor village which is predominantly inhabited by people belonging to scheduled communities, noting that it is devoid of even minimum facilities. He gave this assurance in the course of his interaction with people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes during his visit to Pulithadka in Navoor village, which is located within the limits of Kudremukh National Park on Thursday October 29.

Electricity

The DC noted that the most basic needs of the region are road and water, and assured to meet these demands soon. He said that electricity will be provided under the newly introduced Deen Dayal rural electrification scheme and roads will be constructed by pooling funds from various funds made available under SC/ST development programme.

Sanctioning of land

The DC instructed the concerned to make arrangement for distribution of ration items through mobile fair price shop, and to open polling booth in Sulyodi school. The villagers as well as local activist, Shekhar L, explained that the applications for house sites submitted under forest rights act get rejected by officials, who term these lands as revenue sites. When the same applications are brought before the committee for regularization of encroachment, they are rejected by claiming them to be forest land, they pointed out. Ibrahim said that he would see that a special file is prepared on this aspect within a week, and promised to evince keen interest towards getting the land sanctioned to the people.

'Let there be no confusion'

Shekhar and Vasant Nada told the DC that the forest department raises objection for the execution of works sanctioned under naxal package. They alleged that the department also steals materials meant for such projects. Commenting on this issue, district superintendent of police, Dr Sharanappa, noted that confusion arises between department if forest department impounds things without keeping the police informed. He said there is need for coordination between different departments. It was brought to the notice of the people that sites sanctioned under forest rights act can be enjoyed but such land can neither be mortgaged for loans, nor can they be disposed off. The DC promised to hold discussions with the lead district manager of banks and impress upon the banks to at least extend agricultural loans to the concerned.

Grants

"There are 22 houses of Malekudiya community and nine families have moved out of the national park after accepting compensation. One application is pending for disposal. Applicants for land under forest rights act will be provided land before December. Home guards and teachers appointed under Naxal area package are not paid salary for want of grants. Action will be taken in this respect", the DC said.

SP Dr Sharanappa, wildlife division’ assistant conservator of forests, Ramesh Kumar, taluk panchayat member, Ganesh Kanal, Navoor panchayat president Lalitha, vice president Ganesh, member Harish, tahsildar Prasanna Murthy, Taluk panchayat executive officer Mahantesh, zilla panchayat engineering department assistant executive engineer Narendra, assistant engineer Thippeswamy, social welfare department assistant director Mohan Kumar, scheduled caste development department’s Hemalatha, horticulture department's Divya, polie circle inspector B R Lingappa, SI Sandesh, Vinayaka Billava, revenue inspector Ravi, PDO Umesh, secretary Koragappa and others were present.

Citizens and people's representatives complained to the DC that nobody does work in the Beltangady taluk office without payment of bribe. Former zilla panchayat member and member of encroachment regularization committee, Rajshekhar Ajri, complained about problems on behalf of the people. He said that title deeds are issued for the land which is sanctioned in the committee only if money is paid. He felt that the taluk office itself would have turned into a haven of bribery but for the presence of the MLA from here. He said that about 5,000 cases in which people have visited taluk office over 20 times are pending because the concerned did not pay money. The DC asked the assistant commissioner to convene meeting of Akrama Sakrama committee within the next fifteen days.

Ajri also complained about the problems encountered in sanction of sites under section 94C. He was supported by taluk panchayat president, Jayanti Paledu, vice president, Vishnu Marathe, member, Manjunath Salian etc. The DC was informed that out of 9260 applications under 94C, 667 were sanctioned, three were rejected, and 8590 applications are pending. The DC wanted to know why steps were not taken to hold on-the-spot sanction meetings in panchayats by the tahsildar under E-scheme. He instructed the concerned to come out with panchayat-wise list of beneficiaries within three days.

When his attention was drawn towards the fact that disabled pension is not being paid to over 24 specially abled people as computer says they have been suspended, DC asked officials to take action immediately.

Former Taluk panchayat member, Prabhakar Shetty, and Kuvettu panchayat president Ashok Kotian, complained that a lake is encroached upon. DC promised that he will visit the Taluk panchayat next Thursday and listen to all the complaints.

Srikesh Kotian complained that no compensation is paid for shops which were set on fire during communal clashes. The DC obtained information from other departments, and was told that recommendation has been made for payment of eight lac rupees to Srikesh Kotian, Rs 50,000 to Kasim Kudradka and Rs 50,000 to Sumana. and assured that the compensation will be paid within the next two days.

There was a huge crowd of complainants. Assistant commissioner, Satish Kumar, and tahsildar, Prasanna Murty, were present.

Retired soldier, Chandappa, who had participated in Kargil operation, complained that he is being harassed regarding sanction of land under army quota and requested the DC to permit him to sell his kidney for a living, as he has spent all he had in pursuing file of land allotment.

Subraya Malekudiya, an elderly person, said that only 1.5 acres out of the 2.5 acres occupied by him is approved. The DC ordered for providing immediate solution to his problem.