Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Sep 9: Because of the functioning style of the revenue department, the general session of the taluk panchayat (TP) held here was cancelled for the second time in a row on Friday September 8.
The taluk panchayat members mentioned that several decisions taken at the taluk panchayat meeting to settle issues pertaining to revenue department are not implemented as the department does not give any weightage to the TP decisions. They wanted to raise a number of issues pertaining to the revenue department with the tahsildar. But, as the tahsildar remained absent for the second such meeting, the meeting was cancelled again.
When the meeting was convened on August 30, president of the taluk panchayat, Divyajyoti, had adjourned the meeting as the members stayed away from the meeting, alleging total disregard to their decisions by the revenue department. But on Friday, the tahisldar failed to take part in the meeting as he had to attend the Chief Minister's programme. The members got angry, pointing out that the tahsildalr was in his office till afternoon, but opted not to participate in the meeting.
As soon as the session met, member, Vijaya Gowda, said that various issues pertaining to revenue department are pending and that the department is unrepresented at the meeting. He said issues like land ownership under section 94C, demanding bribe for regularization of illegally acquired government land, files being handled at homes of officials instead of offices, failure of tahsildar to act against staff found guilty even after original copy of irregularities were provided etc. He urged the tahsildar to be present at the meeting.
Members, Joel Mendonca, Sudhakar, Dhanalaxmi, Shashidhar, Laxminarayan, Sudheer Suvarna, Korappa etc supported Vijaya Gowda. They said that the tahsildar, in the caste certificate, had meddled with the religion of the person concerned, and to set the mistake right, the person has been running from pillar to post since the last several months. They said that a taluk office staff member has been demanding money for issuing certificate under section 94 C. They alleged that the employee concerned makes people including women to wait till evening and then send them away if they fail to pay money.
When the TP president contacted the tahsildar, he said that he was unable to come as he has to take part in Chief Minister's programme, and assured to send revenue officer. Although the revenue officer came, he did not have requisite information about several issues. Therefore, several members urged for the meeting to be postponed. A few members present however held discussions on various issues.
Taluk panchayat vice president, Vedavati, standing committee chairman, V T Sebastian etc were present. Before the meeting began, portrait of former Prime Minister, the late Atall Bihari Vajpayee, was garlanded and tributes were paid to Vajpayee and those who lost their lives on account of recent floods.