Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Mar 2: With water sources drying up fast as the summer sizzles, the district administrations of Dakshina Kannada have geared up to meet drinking water requirements in the district.

Chairing a meeting at Nethravathi Hall in Zilla Panchayat, Karnataka Minister for Energy, Kannada, and Culture and District In-Charge Minister, V Sunil Kumar on Thursday, March 2, directed Tahsildars, EOs, and PDOs to address water issues and take necessary steps to ensure proactive measures to ensure people do not face any water shortage during the summer.

He also asked the Revenue Department and Rural Development to be alert to tackle the water crisis issue, and no area in the district should be deprived of drinking water.

"If any area is facing water scarcity, make sure that it is addressed. Not a single house in the district should be deprived of water. So, arrange alternate ways to provide water through pipes, borewells and, if necessary, through water tankers," he added.

"Make sure that people are not deprived of drinking water during the monsoon due to the lethargy of the officials," he added.

Deputy commissioner Ravi Kumar MR said that as the district is facing scorching heat in the month of March, the people are likely to face water shortages in April, May, and June. So, all district and taluk officials should draw an outline to solve the water shortage by making alternate arrangements to provide drinking water.

He also said that the officials should give proposals on the essential water requirement for streets and wards necessary.

"The Mangaluru City Corporation should do the same," he added.

Convention of govt programme beneficiaries on March 16

Minister V Sunil Kumar said that the district administration has organized a convention of beneficiaries of the state and union's various pro-people programmes on March 16 at Karavali Ground in the city.

"The convention is organized to make sure that various development programs of the state and union government have reached the doorsteps of beneficiaries. Almost 70% of development programs of the government of the union or the state government have reached the beneficiaries," he added.

He also asked the officials to prepare a list of the beneficiaries of government programmes and invite them to the convention. "The officials should make a list of beneficiaries and identify beneficiaries of the recent development program," he said.

The officials should give more priority to invite the beneficiaries from the taluks of Moodbidri, Mulki, MCC limits, Ullal, and Bantwal, he added.

There are over 6 lakh beneficiaries in the district, out of which 75% have availed benefits through Direct Benefit Transfer. As many as 25,000 beneficiaries will take part in the convention, and the complete expenses will be borne by the government, said the minister.

ZP CEO Dr Kumar said that the administration has held seven days of meetings with officials to identify beneficiaries of government programmes. Officials should set a target for the number of beneficiaries from each department and ensure their attendance at the programme. The action plan should be submitted within two days to the administration.

If any beneficiaries are facing transportation problems, vehicular arrangements will be made to ferry them from various parts of the district.

Present at the meeting were MLA Vedvyas Kamath, MCC commissioner Chenabasappa K, and deputy mayor Poornima.