Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Aug 13: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday August 13 criticized the state government over frequent transfers of officers and opined that if SP Annamalai had been retained in Udupi, the Bhaskar Shetty murder case would have been solved within a week.

Addressing reporters after holding a vigilance committee meeting here, Karandlaje said, "If SP Annamalai had been here, the Bhaskar Shetty murder case would have been solved within one week and the culprits punished. The Karnataka government is transferring officers frequently, and thus destabilizing the administration. Both the DC and the SP of Udupi have been changed.

"We are hoping for the best. No one should protect the culprits. This is the most heinous crime in the history of Udupi district. It is a rare crime in the Bunt community. The culprits should get the maximum punishment, and the government and the police should work towards ensuring this. I am ready to extend all possible support in this regard," she said.

"I will be meeting Bhaskar's family. The officers who are alleged to have supported the culprits should be transferred and punished. The government should consider this as a special case and proper investigation should be done. Such things are not new to the police, but how they have been bribed should be examined. Technology like lie detector should be used in this case," she added.

On the Mahadayi water dispute, she said, "It was the Congress government who took the issue to the Supreme Court. Otherwise, the present union government would have solved the issue by convening a meeting of the CMs of the three states. People in the places through which the river flows are facing problems due to water scarcity. Instead of giving first priority to drinking water, the state government has given priority to agricultural and industrial sectors. Our party's delegation has already met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this. It is an inter-state dispute."

Asked why she was not seen in the district for long, she said, "The parliament session ended only yesterday, and I came to Udupi today. I have responsibilities even as BJP state secretary. From 20 years I have been working sincerely without even giving time for personal work."

Shobha upset over not being invited

MP Shobha Karandlaje took officer of WCWD, Gracy Gonsalves to task for not inviting her for foundation laying ceremony of ‘Sakhi Centre’ during a vigilance meet of zilla panchayat held at VS Acharya auditorium hall, Manipal here on Saturday August 13.

"The central government has sanctioned Rs 35 lac fund for 'Sakhi center' and MP expressed her displeasure over not being invited for the foundation laying ceremony. She expressed her ire and warned the official not to repeat this in future.

During the meeting, DHO Rohini briefed about the status of district health and said, "There is no fund in the health department to create awareness and organize programmes on HIV. Nearly 5,000 HIV positive cases have been reported in the district so far. We receive 35 to 40 new cases every month. There is also shortage of staff in health department."

Replying to her, MP Shobha said, "NGOs should come forward to bear the responsibility of catering their service. The increasing number of HIV patients is alarming in the district. The health department should work harder to impart preventive measures."

DHO Rohini added, "Nearly 176 cases of snake bite were reported in the district. There are 350 dengue cases and a person also died due to this ailment.”

"The total balance in directorate of health services is Rs 8.33 crore. The expenditure up to July 2016 was Rs 2.84 crore and the balance amount is Rs 5.49 crore.

"A psychiatric centre has been set up for counselling people. The centre will aim to bring down the suicide rate and educate on mental health issues," she said.

A proposal of Rs 95 crore has been sent to the government for national highway widening from Udupi to Athrady, she added.

Regarding development in harbour and fisheries, MP Shobha said, "A technical bid has been called for Kodi harbour and financial bid will start soon. Another proposal of Rs 3 crore has been sent to the central government for the development of Gangolli port."

Deputy commissioner T Venkatesh, zilla panchayat CEO Priyanka Francis and zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu were present.