Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR) 

Mangalore, Dec 18: In view of the adverse impact on the human resources and flora and fauna in the region, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat (DKZP) members on Monday, Dec 17 decided to oppose the proposed Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ). At its regular monthly meeting some members led by Krishna Shetty, chairman of the Standing Committee on Education (SCE) demanded that the House pass a resolution opposing the setting-up of the Rs. 35,000 MSEZ. They lamented the fact that due to MSEZ many villagers were constrained to give up their fertile lands.
 
Sucharita Shetty, president of the zilla panchayat urged that a resolution on the issue may be passed only after discussing the matter with deputy commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao. He opined it would not be correct to take a decision in the absence of details on the project. The House had already approved a Rs. 154-crore draft plan for 2008-09, which included a regular grant of Rs. 93.56 crore expected from the State and Union Government and an additional grant of Rs. 60.46 crore. The latter is needed for completion of ongoing works, meeting additional expenditure, paying salary arrears and so on.
 
If allocations under the two categories are put together, the zilla panchayat plans to spend Re. 1 out of every Rs. 5 on education (20 per cent or Rs. 30.65 crore) and a little less on housing (18.65 per cent of Rs. 28.73 crore), followed by health (12 per cent or Rs. 18.61 crore), rural roads (8.69 per cent or Rs. 13.38 crore), women and child welfare (6.71 per cent or Rs. 10.33 crore), rural employment (4.41 per cent or Rs. 6.79 crore) and the welfare of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes (2.33 per cent or Rs. 3.59 crore).
 
The allocations are nearly 80% more than last year’s allocations which stood at Rs. 86.06 crore. This is mainly because the zilla panchayat has sought grants of Rs. 23.7 crore for building houses under the Ashraya scheme in gram panchayat areas and Rs. 9.67 crore for construction of 51 kitchens for supplying midday meals. Funds of Rs. 1.25 crore have also been requested for additional salaries for staff working for the Sarva Shiksh Abhiyan.
 
Forest Department had objected to cut down trees for road widening purpose in the district and when the members brought this to the attention of Kunjappa, he promised to hold a high level meeting after receiving detailed proposals on the matter. He also assured members that a task force on drinking water in the district would be reconstituted in summer, as the tenure of the previous task force had already come to an end in September.