Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JD)

Updated

Mangaluru, Apr 12: "If the three ministers from this district cannot solve the drinking water problems of Dakshina Kannada district then they must think about resigning from their respective posts," said former deputy chief minister and leader of opposition BJP Eshwarappa.

He was addressing a protest organised by the city unit of BJP in front of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) over water scarcity in the city.

"The persisting drinking water problem shows the apathy of the three ministers. This is also the neighbouring district of the urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and it is the city corporation that is facing drinking water issues. If the urban development minister cannot solve the issues of his neighbouring district, then how can he solve such issues in the several city corporations and municipal corporations in the state?" Eshwarappa questioned.

"We questioned chief minister Siddaramaiah regarding the drinking water woes in the state but he says that he has sanctioned Rs 50 lac to all the districts. Can we get drinking water with just money? We have formed 12 teams to assess the situation all over the state. It is the duty of the state government to provide drinking water as it is one among people's basic necessities," he added.

MLA of Karkala constituency Sunil Kumar said, "Mangaluru is a growing city which is attracting number of industries. How can such a city face water scarcity? The drinking water issue in the city has gone from bad to worse. The state government has not taken the issue seriously. The drinking water issue could have been tackled if they had planned the solution. How can there be new drinking water projects when the bills of the irrigation projects have not been paid from the last two years? I urge the state government to act immediately in this regard."

Opposition party leader in MCC Roopa D Bangera said, "The city has gone back eight years when a line of vessels next to MCC taps was a common scene. Congress had come to power stating it will provide water round the clock to every household and will complete the new Thumbay vented dam in two years. But none of this has happened. Forget about 24x7 water supplies, let them provide few hours of water to every household every day.

"No one knows where the water pumped from Thumbay dam is heading to. It is evident that the new mayor does not have any hold over any officer. If the mayor cannot solve the drinking water issues then let him resign and hand over his post to some other person," she added.

BJP party members were protesting against the ruling Congress party and the city corporation along with the deputy mayor Sumitra Kariya from BJP joining them. They also demanded resignation of mayor Harinath.

Former MLC Monappa Bhandary, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak, BJP leaders Premananda Shetty, Sudheer Shetty Kannur and others were present.

Earlier:

State government not serious on drinking water, gone bankrupt - Eshwarappa

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Apr 12: Leader of the opposition in the state legislative council, K S Eshwarappa said that the state government, which has become bankrupt, has failed to pay even advance money to contractors to implement drinking water projects and it is not serious at all about the drinking water problems faced by the common people.

Eshwarappa was speaking in a press meet held at district BJP office in city on Tuesday, April 12.

Eshwarappa said “The water scarcity has reached the worst level in the state now. BJP had formed 12 teams to deal with the drinking water scarcity and draught situation in the state. One of those teams visited Dakshina Kannada today and participated in a meeting held at deputy commissioner’s (DC) office. The team took stock of the situation prevailing here. 303 drinking water projects were approved for Dakshina Kannada under the pure drinking water scheme. Zilla panchayat (ZP) gave contract work of 70 units under rural development project to an agency named Dowac. But Dowac has not resumed work at all. Contracts for 233 drinking units were given to different agencies. They too did not start the work. When we ask the DC and ZP CEO, they say the contractors did not turn up, “

“There are around 7,000 drinking water units which have been approved in the state. Rural development minister H K Patil had said that all these units will be completed by March 2016. But that is not the case. The government has to pay 10% advance for the implementation of project as per the tender agreement. But the government does not have that money. Minister says Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned for paying advance. Where is that money? How can the contractors work if they are not paid. This government which has gone bankrupt cannot pay these people. Forget about money part, the government does not even have the willingness and interest to address the drinking water problem of the people of the state” Eshwarappa added.

“We are not demanding the resignation of minister. We are demanding the implementation of approved projects so that people can drink clean water.  The project which was approved in 2009 under Bahu Grama drinking water project in Kinnigoli is yet to be completed. Why the delay? “ Eshwarappa demanded.

"The central government has sanctioned Rs 1,500 crore to the state as compensation for crop damage but the compensation has not reached districts. This shows the irresponsible attitude of the administration in the state." Eshwarappa said. 

No minister has visited the drought hit areas and no proper KDP meetings were held as per the requirement on scarcity of drinking water, Eshwarappa charged. He urged that district in-charge ministers should visit drought hit areas and hold the KDP meeting.

Eshwarappa also said that Congress party MLAs themselves claim that there are inefficient ministers in the government.

Answering the queries of media over Anwar Manippady's report on the irregularities in managing the lands belonging to the Wakf Board, Eshwarappa said “Kharge who raised the voice in favour of Dalit CM now is supporting anti corruption bureau (ACB) formed by the CM. Senior leaders Janardhana Poojary and S M Krishna opposed this ACB. Leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Dharam Singh, Jaffer Sharif, Qamarul Ismail, Roshan Baig and Harris are allegedly involved in these land irregularities.”

Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, former MLA Yogish Bhat MLC Kota Srinivasa Poojary, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, district BJP president Prataph Simha Nayak were present in the press meet among others.