Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Jun 8: Rainwater harvesting will be essential on houses built on an area of 2,000 square feet and above as per resolution passed in the Zilla panchayat meeting on Tuesday, June 7.
N R Umesh, Deputy Secretary of Zilla panchayat also said that construction of toilets also will be mandatory in order to make Dakshina Kannada free from open defecation. Building licenses will be issued to houses and commercial complexes only after the two preconditions are met.
There are 1,589 households without toilets in the district though the district has won several awards for sanitation. Member Asha Thimmappa Gowda supporting his views said that recharge of bore wells should also be mandatory. “The grama panchayat should make arrangements to collect plastic waste from the houses”, she added.
Zilla panchayat CEO Shreevidya said 300 recharge structures were built last year and the work will be taken up under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The Zilla Panchayat also approved purchase of anti rabies vaccine at a cost of Rs 1.58 lacs by the department of Health and Family Welfare. While the members approved budget outlay of Rs 232.53 crore for 2016-17, they resolved that 50% of the Rs 13 crore under planned grant should be set aside for the action plan related to drinking water project and the remaining amount can be used in other projects.
The members held lengthy discussion on revenue division of Zilla Panchayat and its jurisdiction. The term of the standing committee will be twenty months. The panchayat nominated Sucharitha Shetty and Harish Kanjipili to Central Library Committee. Zilla Panchayat President Meenakshi Shanthigodu and Vice President Kasturi Panja were present.