Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 7: Parliamentary secretary to the chief minister, Ivan D'Souza, urged the central election commission to relax provisions of the election code of conduct. He said that this is necessary to enable the state to handle severe drought and drinking water shortage faced by Karnataka.

Addressing a press meet held at the office of Dakshina Kannada district Congress Committee here on Monday May 6, Ivan noted that it has been two weeks since polling exercise was held here, and that the election commission had been requested to allow the chief minister and ministers to hold meetings to handle issues like management of drought situation. He said that due to the letter written by the leader of the opposition in the assembly, B S Yeddyurappa, against showing laxity in implementation of the code of conduct, the government is facing a situation in which it cannot respond to the problems faced by the people.

He noted that the election commission has shown some relaxation in the norms and allowed officials to hold meetings. He felt that blocking the government from taking decisions in drought and drinking water issues is improper. He urged the commission to permit the chief minister, ministers and parliamentary secretaries to hold meetings on these issues.

"A sum of Rs 132 crore was released by the revenue department to deputy commissioners for handling drought situation. There is enough fund in the account of the deputy commissioner. Money is also being released by rural development and panchayat raj and other departments," he explained.

Ivan said that the quantum of water getting evaporated from Thumbe dam is increasing everyday and the water level in the dam has slumped to 4.38 metres now as compared to 5.6 metres on may 6, 2018. He said that the deputy commissioner has already set into motion the process of calling tender for removing sediment accumulated at Thumbe dam in order to avoid water shortage hitting the city further.

He also said that implementation of the decision making it mandatory to submit urban property ownership record (property card) for registration of fixed assets in the city has been put off by two months and registration of properties without property card is allowed till July 15 this year.