Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jul 28: District-in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj chaired the Karnataka development meeting at V S Acharya auditorium hall, zilla panchayat, Rajatadri Manipal on Wednesday July 27 and called for new sand policy to tackle sand scarcity in the district.

During the meeting, it was proposed to open new fair price shops in the district, but as per the DR, the number of applications received from the public in this regard was less. Thus, the proposal was dropped. DR tried to convince the minister and said, "We have many co-operative societies in the area. If we install fair price shop, it would be a burden to people."

Not satisfied with this answer, the Minister instructed them to re-examine the Malpe-Padukere place and confirm the number of shops which at present is more than current BPL card holders.

BPL card distribution:

In total 23633 APL and BPL cards have been distributed (4262 APL and 19371 BPL cards). Out of the total cards, 18221 cards have been cleared and 5403 applications are pending which will be cleared at the earliest, informed civil and food supply department officer.

Distribution of land for six Koraga families at Vandse gram panchayat has been done. They have been given forest land as there is no other land available to construct houses at Vandse.

Minister Pramod Madhwaraj said, "Assistant commissioner and tahsildar of Kundapur should not show any negligence to Koraga community in providing facilities."

He instructed to keep two acres of land and to send a proposal to increase Rs four lac of unit cost per house.

MLC Pratapchandra Shetty alleged that the work was progressing very slowly and quality of work was also very poor.

Maintenance of vented dams:

As per the state government guidelines, a 'Consumers' committee has been formed at the gram panchayat to look after vented dams. The government has also released Rs 1.20 lac for maintenance of these vented dams. So far these dams are maintained by small irrigation departments. Nearly 45 vented dams are yet to finish their maintenance work.

Problem of sand mining in district:

Minister took V Kodandayya, mining and geology department officer to task on illegal transportation of sand and said, "The previous DC made agreement on supplying sand that is 50:50, but most of the sand is being transported to other districts."

Outraged by officer's response, the Minister said, "A proposal has to be sent immediately on traditional sand mining. Locals should get first priority in getting the sand. They should also get it at an affordable price. Considering the convenience of coastal district, a new sand policy has to be formed as soon as possible and the work should be transparent."

94C and 94CC form:

"District authority has to issue RTC for people who come under 94 C. AC will be in-charge to monitor clearance of form 94C. But in the case of form 94CC, I have sent recommendations to simplify its norms," the minister said.

Multi-village drinking water supply

The working engineer said, "From 2012 the Union government has been releasing less amount of fund for drinking water supply. Action plan for drinking water has been done, but we have not got funds so far. At present 40% of fund is released from centre whereas 60% from the state government."

"We need to take preventive measures to protect from dengue. Nearly 155 dengue cases have been reported in the district in May, 299 in June out of that 186 were confirmed positive and 51 in July," said district DHO Rohini.

Basava Vasati Yojane, road development and other issues were discussed in the meeting.

Priyanka Mary Francis, Zilla panchayat CEO and in-charge DC also spoke during the meeting and suggested many things to tackle various issues.

MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLA Sunil Kumar, Karkala, MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, MLA Gopal Poojary, Dinesh Babu, president and Sheela K Shetty, vice-president of zilla panchayat were present.