Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 21: District in-charge secretary, Maheshwar Rao, asked the deputy commissioner (DC) of the district to serve summons on higher officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and conduct hearing.

He was responding to the complaint about non-completion of highway works by NHAI within the time frame, which has given rise to multifarious problems.

Rao was speaking after heading progress review meeting of district level officers organized at the auditorium of the office of the deputy commissioner here on Friday July 20.

DC Priyanka Mary Francis, drew the attention of the district in-charge secretary about the repeated extension of time sought by highway authorities for completion of works, and that they have failed to complete the work entrusted to them on time. She said that because of this, lot of traffic problems are being encountered and that people are also protesting against this problem. She added that local officials of the authority have not been properly responding to this issue.

Maheshwar Rao, who reviewed department-wise progress, wanted all the wooden footbridges in the district to be converted into concrete ones. He wanted the chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat to attend to the issue.

He also wanted all the farmers availing of crop loans to cover their crops under insurance. He said that district cooperative banks cannot pass resolution against availing of crop insurance facility, as there is clear directive from the government to cover crops under insurance. At the same time, he assured that the farmers, to whom disbursement of crop insurance is pending, will get their dues shortly.