Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jun 2: Retired Supreme Court judge and former Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice Santosh Hegde, praised A G Kodgi for developing Amasebail village in the taluk by undertaking many people-friendly initiatives. He also congratulated the concerned on Amasebail becoming the first ever fully solar village in Karnataka by providing solar lamps to all1497 houses there.

Justice Hegde was speaking after inaugurating the programme of dedicating solar lamps and various other works held at Amasebail high school premises under the joint aegis of Amasebail gram panchayat, Amasebail Charitable Trust, Karnataka Bank Ltd, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd, office of deputy commissioner Udupi district, zilla panchayat, taluk panchayat, and Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd.

"In any democracy, politics is a necessity. But people should take care not to elect those who use politics for selfish ends. Democracy does not envisage protecting and supporting party, community, or relatives. It aims at providing justice to common people and striving for development. At present, three pillars of democracy, legislature, executive, and judiciary, are tainted by corruption. It has become almost impossible to find out organizations and institutions without corruption. We now see a society where riches and power are worshipped. The youth should take up cudgels to replace corrupt people and build a healthy society," he felt.

In his introductory address, A G Kodgi said that the plan of providing solar power to every house in Amasebail gram panchayat was the first ever plan in Karnataka to have been conceived on these lines. He said that this plan was executed by using 20 percent contribution from Karnataka Renwable Energy Development Ltd, Rs 25 lac from Naxal Area Development Fund, and contributions from beneficiaries. As per tender conditions, Selco Solar Company, which has got contract of this project through e-tender, is providing five years guarantee for the same. Gram panchayat contributes for the project depending on the number of solar lamps used by houses, he explained.

Exaecutive director of SKDRDP, Dr L H Manjunath, presided over the programme. Kundapur MLA, Haladi Srinivas Shetty, inaugurated the newly built fish market. Udupi zilla panchayat president, Dinkar, inaugurated agricultural market and drinking water unit. President of Bharatiya Vikasa Trust, K M Udupa, distributed the late Krihnaraya Kodgi memorial note books and scholarships. Karnataka Bank managing director, Jayaram Bhat, inaugurated the boys toilet of high school.

Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation chairman Hiriyanna, executive director, V K Shetty, president of taluk panchayat, Jayashree Mogaveera, vice president, Praveenkumar Shetty, taluk panchayat member, Jyoti Poojary, headmaster of Amasebail government high school, Thimmappa, president of Ullur-Machchattu agricultural service cooperative bank, T Chandrahekhar Shetty, president of Amasebail Agricultural Service Cooperative Bank, Navinchandra Shetty, and a number of other dignitaries participated as chief guests.

President of Amasebail Charitable Trust, A G Kodgi, welcomed. Satyanarayana Rao presented the programme. President of Amasebail gram panchayat, Jayalaxmi Shedthi, proposed vote of thanks.