Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Aug 9: Acrimonious discussion on numerous issues marked the ninth general session of Kundapur taluk panchayat on Tuesday, August 8.

Karun Poojary, taluk panchayat member from Tallur, in the meeting, asked the panchayat president about the action taken for preparing an RTC for a government school and requested an appropriate answer. Karun Poojary expressed his anger that the report about it has not been received. This led to altercations between the president, vice president and Karun Poojary.

Shankernarayana taluk panchayat member Umesh Shetty Kalgadde, said that CDPI department held a meeting at Haladi cluster but the taluk panchayat members do not know about it. "Why do you ignore members like this?" he asked.

President Jayashree Mogaveera answered, saying, it was the responsibility of the department to inform elected representatives. "Officials should clarify it," she said.

Pushparaja Shetty said that the taluk and district level officials had arrived for the meeting and asked for a meeting to be conducted. To which, member Raju Devadiga said, "It is the duty of officials to come for taluk panchayat meetings. Let answer the questions raised by members come out," he said. Member Jyothi Putran joined his argument.

Aadhaar process to Panchayat

Karun Poojary said, "The staff clicking photographs for Aadhaar, do not work properly. Arrangements must be made to take photos for three days in a month." In the regard, the Tahsildar said that the concerned staff has been asked to cooperate with the people. Member Vasudev Pai asked for the work to be assigned to gram panchayat to avoid middlemen. The Tahsildar said that he would bring the opinions and decisions of taluk panchayat members regarding taking over charge of taking photos of Aadhaar applicants in Shiroor and Siddapur, to the attention of the deputy commissioner.

Injustice in the list of Endosulfan victims

“Those from Kullunje, Keradi and Bellala areas are left out from the list of Endosulfan victims. There were seven physically challenged victims from Keradi in 1981. Their number has gone up to 68 now. There are cashew farms here and Endosulfan was sprinkled here from 1981 to 1990. However those villages were not included in the list of victims," said member Umesh Shetty. The health officer Dr Nagabhooshan Udupa said that villages of Keradi, Bellala and Kulunje were not mentioned in the list of aerial spray of Endosulfan.

Lack of staff in Gujjadi high school

Member Raju Devadiga said that there was a need of staff in Gujjadi High School as the staff from there was transfered elsewhere. The education officer said that the staff was asked to work in the school only for three days, and work in Byndoor education officer's office for the remaining three days in the week. In the regard, Raju Devadiga said that the staff never came to the school, and challenged the education officer to telephone the headmaster and verify.

Dissatisfaction regarding Abbimakki bridge

Member Vasudeva Pai asked for details of funds and estimate for slab and filler work for Siddapur gram Abbimakki bridge. He said that no work was performed and wrong information was provided. He urged suitable action in connection with the works.

Lapses in duty, medical staff suspension

Jyothi Putran said that there were allegations about lapse in duty, and complaints against nurses, from women who come to Kundapur Taluk Hospital for their deliveries. He asked what action was taken in the regard. Medical officer Dr Robert Rebello answered that the staff was  warned by means of notice and two nurses were suspended by the deputy commissioner.

'Varahi department did not attend to urgent work'

"The pathway near Kalavara was ruined while preparing a canal. Ordinary people have been facing hardships thus. The minister in Varahi review meeting had asked for the matter to be attend to urgently, but no work was done. Pregnant women and the unwell people especially face problems as no auto rickshaw plies there," said member Shailashree. The gram panchayat president asked where the was mud taken to. Udaya G Poojary, asked for the estimate and blue print of Gundooru dam work.

Step motherly attitude towards sand mining

"Sand mining is allowed in Mangaluru. Sand is scarce in the district. Therefore sand mining should be allowed in the district," said Jyothi Putran. Karun Poojary joined the argument. They complained that some members were not informed prior to the visit of deputy commissioner.

Kulanje Anganwadi locked

"Anganwadi in Shankernarayana Kulanje is functioning in a rented building. The building owner has asked for its shift. The problem is going on for the last six years. The concerned department could not solve the problem. CDPI officers should go to the site and give an explaination to the parents of the children," said member Umesh Shetty Kalgadde. Vice president Pravinkumar expressed dissatisfaction on the delay, despite sufficient funds.

The president said that a KSRTC-related meeting will be held in the taluk panchayat auditorium on August 11 at 3.30 pm.

President Jayashree Mogaveera presided over the meeting. Vice president Pravin Kumar Shetty, social justice committee president Mahendra Poojary, executive officer Dr Nagabhooshan Udupa and Tahsildar were present.