Karnataka
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Bantwal: No Threat to Fields because of Tumbe Dam: Minister Krishna Palemar
- Wed, Aug 05 2009 07:52:29 AM
Report by Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (RD/SP)
Bantwal, Aug 5: “The residents living in the vicinity of Tumbe need not worry about the possibility of their agricultural fields getting inundated because of the new vented dam at Tumbe,” assured Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister Krishna J Palemar.
The minister was replying to the query raised MLA B Ramanat Rai, during the taluk progress review meeting, held at SJSRY Auditorium, B C Road, here on Tuesday August 4.
“The department officials have provided wrong information about the ongoing construction of the vented-dam, which is meant to supply drinking water to Mangalore City. It would only cause water-logging on government land. Meanwhile, a fresh survey was undertaken, taking into account the pleas made by the agriculturists residing in the surrounding villages, he said. However, minister Palemar assured that he would take active interest in the issue to insure that the project does not to cause any major losses to the neighbouring farmers.
MLA B Ramanat Rai drew the attention of Palemar that the residents of taluk have no row with Mangalore City Corporation over drinking water sourced from Netravati River in the taluk. However, if the execution of the new vented-dam causes losses to agriculturists, then, the farmers will not have any other choice but to launch a stir, he warned.
Minister Palemar and four MLAs took the officials of the zilla panchayat sub division and MESCOM to task, during the discussion on the problems relating to the issue of supply of drinking water in the taluk.
“The officials of the concerned departments have failed to take precautionary measures to drill bore wells sanctioned by the state, before the drinking water problem aggravated. Because of their inaction, the elected are facing humiliation in the hands of the general public” rued MLA U T Khader.
Puttur MLA Mallika Prasad also joined MLA Khader, in pointing to the incomplete works in the areas under her assembly constituency. The department officials present on the occasion failed to properly reply the queries of the MLAs. Minister Palemar, then instructed the officials of MESCOM, zilla panchayat, taluk panchayat chief executive officer and the tahsildar, to provide all related information at the earliest.
Meanwhile, MESCOM, departments of agriculture, health, horticulture, education and others, drew the attention of minister Palemar and MLAs, on losses caused by incessant rains in the taluk. It was decided to award Rs 1,000 each to farmers, for every coconut tree lost due to heavy rains that lashed the undivided Dakshina Kannada district recently, and also Rs 300 each for every areca nut tree.
Health officers also provided statistics on dengue fever victims and also the measures taken to curb the contagious diseases by health department.
Minister Palemar directed the DK district deputy director of public instruction, to take action against the head master of Kadeshivalya government school near here, for his prolonged absence, as per a complaint made by the office bearers of school development committee.
MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary and former MLA Padmanabha Kottari were also involved in the discussions.
Zilla panchayat standing committee president Sadanand Malli, members Santhosh Kumar Bhandary and Thungappa Bangera, taluk panchayat vice president Chandrahas Karkera and steering committee president Flossy D’Souza were present at the occasion.
Tahsildar C N Manjunat welcomed the gathering. Taluk panchayat chief executive officer Vasant Raj Shetty proposed vote of thanks.