Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Dec 9: A special general meeting was held on the subject of rural drinking water supply and sanitation on Thursday December 8 at Dr V S Acharya auditorium, Udupi Zilla Panchayat, Rajathadri, Manipal, chaired by ZP president Dinakar Babu.

Dinakar Babu and zilla panchayat members took the water supply department officer Satish to task for completing the action plan without taking them into confidence. "He has undertaken new works without prior notice." The president alleged that officer Satish had taken up new works, despite shortage of funds.

ZP president taking up the issue said, "There are two wells sanctioned in Alevoor, but the bill is paid by the water department without consulting the respective zilla panchayat members of Alevoor. He visited the place to analyse their function.

Soon after, ZP members expressed their displeasure against the officer and a heated discussion was held based on the action plan.

According to the proposal, Rs 20 lac was project cost for 2013-14, but now it has crossed its proposed budget. They have dug 45 feet deeper instead of 30 feet as proposed at Alevoor, Pragatinagar and kept Rs 4 lac as reserve fund.

In another case at Kadekaru grama panchayat, the water department has built a tank without checking the well point. In another case at Shiroor, the
department has kept Rs 7 lac as it reserve fund. The total budget for the project is Rs 47 lac, but the spillover is Rs 44 lac.

Raghavendra Kanchan raised the issue of illegal sand lifting from sandbar near Balkudru. Though there are evidences, the mining department has not taken any action and no vehicles have been seized. They have not mentioned four names in the FIR.

Jyothi Harish from Kavrady grama panchayat complained saying, "An illegal stone crusher has been in operation at Molavalli, though the license date had expired, last year. A school is also located within 500 meter of the stone crusher. The panchayat president also gets assaulted badly by a few people. There is no NOC given for run mining."

ZP CEO Priyanka Mary Francis explaining the norms on sand mining connected to water supply said, "Illegal mining should be stopped and guilty should get punishment with penalty’.

Prathap Hegde Marali said, "The entire law and order system has failed in Udupi after SP Annamalai's transfer. Illegal activities such as Matka, jugari, gambling have
begun as before."

ZP CEO in reply to that statement said, "An appeal letter will be sent to the SP immediately."

Vice president Sheela K Shetty was present.