Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Feb 8: At its general session convened here on Tuesday February 7, sand scarcity and shortage of teachers in government schools dominated the proceeding of the general body meeting of the Udupi zilla panchayat at V S Acharya auditorium here on Tuesday, February 7.

Raising the issue of sand shortage, Pratap Hegde Marali said, “Coastal people are facing severe sand crisis. CEZ issue is at the court now. The district administrative authority has failed to control illegal supply of sand.”

“There are no set rules made for people in Mangaluru. They are free to lift sand from the block. But the same rule is not applicable for people in Udupi. This is a double standard from the administrative authorities.”

Other members also joined in the discussion and said, “Sand has become expensive in Udupi. People have to pay Rs 19,000 per load which is coming from Mangaluru.”

Four non CRZ block is vacated now and according to the government circulation reserved sand block should be used only for government construction works. ZP members asked clarification on this matter.

Clarifying, A C Shilpa Nagh from Kundapur said, “There are 16 marked blocks under non CRZ by the mining department. A proposal has been sent under taskforce and NITK will certify the sand blocks by taking time.”

“We have collected Rs 35 lac of fine through illegal transport of sand and seized 600 cubic metres of sand. It is difficult to differentiate between traditional and non-traditional sand block holders.”

“According to the norms, the collected sand is being used for PWD, Nemmadi Kendra, Varahi project and other works. CCTV cameras have been set up at the sand blocks to keep an eye on sand transport. We also have GPS facility.”

Aggrieved by minority department, Janardhan Thonse said that the department officer has given wrong information about distribution of funds.

Sumith Shetty, ZP member said, “Ganja and drug menace is spreading its net on school campus. Students are now easily getting drugs and becoming addicted. It is going in a huge and systematic way. It was seen publicly at a PU College in Padubidre.”

A member of education department said that they did not have any clue on the issue.

Supporting the issue, ZP CEO Priyanka Francis said, “A joint committee, specifically of health, police and education, should conduct awareness camps at schools against the menace of drugs.”

DDPI received many complaints from ZP members who also complained that there was a shortage of teachers at government and aided schools.

Regarding toll fee collection, A C Shilpa Nagh said, “Exemption of toll fee for KA 20 vehicles is not in the hands of officials. If a service road is provided, then people do not have to pay the toll fee. The land acquisition process from Padubidri to Hejamdi and 3D notification is also completed. NHAI will begin the work soon.”

Majority of the ZP members demanded form uniform norms for sand and stone mining.

Zilla panchayat also recommended the dissolution of Shiriyara gram panchayat.

It was observed that the said gram panchayat has not been functioning as per the intentions of Panchayat Raj Act and it had failed to convene gram sabha, ward meetings etc. The taluk panchayat had discussed the issue in its entirety at its general session held in November and obtained opinions of individual members of Shiriyara gram panchayat.

After Jyothi, a candidate from scheduled caste, became president of Shiriyara gram panchayat two years back, lack of coordination between the president, vice president and members has been hampering the functioning of the gram panchayat. There has been confusion in the gram panchayat and development initiatives have suffered.

Shiriyara gram panchayat has membership strength of 13, out of whom six are supported by BJP. Five are supported by Congress, while the remaining two are independents. Jyothi, who is supported by Congress, had filed a caste abuse case against the panchayat development officer and gram panchayat members. In this backdrop, the villagers had sought dissolution of the panchayat thrice. Jyoti had also held a protest in front of zilla panchayat office as well as the residence of MLA, Haladi Srinivas Shetty, seeking justice.

The meeting was chaired by Dinakar Babu.

The zilla panchayat president, Sheela K Shetty, vice president , K Babu Shetty, president, Social justice and Standing committee, Udaya S Kotian and Shashikant Padubidri were present.