Kagodu wonders whether minister's head is stuffed with dung

Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)

Shivamogga, May 16: State assembly speaker, Kagodu Thimmappa, who is known to often throw barbs normally filled with sarcasm at the improper functioning government departments and cause discomfiture for them, took a dig at the forest minister for the umpteenth time on Sunday May 15.

In his address delivered after handing over title deeds to 82 landless families in respect of four acres of Grama Thana site in Baruve village near Ripponpet in the district to 82 families, he took to task the state government and specifically forest minister. "The state government has become directionless. It looks like head of forest minister is stuffed with dung," he remarked.

He expressed anger at the hesitation owned by the forest department relating to issuance of title deeds to families undertaking farming in forest land. He criticized the government for failing to speed up the functioning of its departments. "There is no clarity about the government's stand on the issuance of title deeds to people engaged in agriculture in forest region. Therefore, often I keep wondering whether there is dung in forest minister's head," he explained.

He pointed out that the assembly had taken a decision to allow people to file applications under section 94c with the specific purpose of issuing allotment letters to people who eke out a living by building their houses in forest region, grazing land, and revenue sites. He vented his anger at officials, who he said, have been biding time in implementing this decision under the guise of various lame reasons.

"Siddaramaiah-led state government had promised to issue title deeds first in Shivamogga district under the above provision. At the first legislature meeting after the Congress government rose to power, the government declared that it would provide stability to the people not having stability in life, shelter for the homeless, clean drinking water, and health care. All these promises have remained on paper, as they were not properly implemented. This shows how our government is functioning," he stated, without trying to hide his disappointment.