Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Apr 13: Leader of the opposition in the state legislative council and former deputy chief minister of the state, K S Eshwarappa, visited a few areas hit by water scarcity in the district on Wednesday April 13.
In Kunjarugiri in Kurkalu gram panchayat, he observed the plight of 32 migrant labour families, many of whom belong to Andhra Pradesh, in getting access to drinking water. These families have to walk a kilometre to collect drinking water. He also visited Girinagar and JN Nagar in Katapady, apart from holding discussions on the issue in DC's office.
He was accompanied by local zilla panchayat member, Geetanjali Suvarna, district BJP president, Tingale Vikramarjun Hegde, leader, Gurme Suresh Shetty, and zilla panchayat member from Yellur, Shilpa Suvarna.
Speaking to media persons, Eshwarappa urged the state government to release white paper on execution of drinking water schemes, funds released for them, and the current financial condition of the state government.
"The chief minister has announced that he would be visiting drought-hit districts after April 15 to check relief measures undertaken there. What are other MLAs and ministers of Congress doing? They are busy organizing meetings of caste-wise factions of the party and going to New Delhi. Why do they make frequent trips to New Delhi? To have fun? Instead of finding a solution to the problem of water shortage that has been turning into a crisis for commoners of the state, they find time to convene meetings and have discussions. I welcome the chief minister's decision to visit the districts. Others in the government also should follow suit," he said.
Eshwarappa claimed that when BJP was in power, 29 multi-village drinking water supply projects had been sanctioned for this district. He said that these projects have not been completed thereafter. "This shows the lack of concern the local MLA and ministers representing this district have towards the plight of the citizens. If they do not have time, the least they could do is to ask deputy commissioner of the district and other officials to address the problems of the people," he felt.
When he was questioned about the information that another case is being registered against BJP state president, B S Yeddyurappa, Eshwarappa said that Congress and JD(S) leaders have become jittery over the elevation of Yeddyurappa as BJP state president. He observed that many of the cases earlier hoisted against Yeddyurappa stand dismissed. "Let them get engaged in making conspiracies and ulterior politics in a bid to tackle Yeddyurappa. Let them repeatedly sent Yeddyurappa to jail. Yeddyurappa will rise to power again notwithstanding efforts being made to stop him," he asserted.
Eshwarappa said that the chief minister of the state has been acting like a BJP agent. "The measures he has been undertaking and fiascoes he has been involved with are actually proving beneficial to BJP. They are bringing more popularity to BJP, which will convert into votes in the election without we having to make any efforts to get them," he commented.
He pointed to series of changes in stand like formation of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), then announcing that the decision would be reviewed and reconsidered, and always remaining infirm over the issue in the face of criticism. Eshwarappa said that ACB has been set up by the government at the whims of its chief minister and others to cover up their involvement with corruption. "When BJP was in power, the same leaders organized Padayatra making a hue and cry over the issue of corruption. Now they have gone back and taking exactly the opposite stance by forming ACB," he stated.
Eshwarappa pointed out that the government had claimed that they had completed and dedicated 1,200 drinking water units in the state to mitigate thirst of the people. "I have written to them four letters seeking details of the projects completed and dedicated, where they stand etc. I have not so far got any reply or details. If all the details sought are not furnished before May 1, a protest demonstration will be organized with the coming together of BJP leaders, MLAs, activists etc in front of the office of the rural development minsister," he warned.
Locals unhappy
However, the locals who were hopeful of expressing their grievances to Eshwarappa were disappointed, as the leader spent only a few minutes with them and rest of the time he spoke to the media. The locals said that they wanted to explain to him their problems about water scarcity, absence of electricity and problems related to construction of houses.
"We had been given sites and funds to construct houses, but the funds were taken back stating that we had failed to construct the houses on time. How can we construct houses on time when we do not have enough water? We wanted to explain all this to Eshwarappa but he did not have time," they said.
They also said that they had been forced by the officials to take leave from their daily work on account of Eshwarappa's visit and hence lost a day's wages.