Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Aug 8: State minister for municipalities and local bodies and department of public enterprises Eshwara Khandre on Tuesday August 8 said that Dakshina Kannada will be declared open defecation-free in a month's time, and once it is declared so, it will be the first district in Karnataka to have achieved this tag.

Addressing a press meet here after a meeting with the district administration and officials of local bodies, Khandre said, "The local bodies of Dakshina Kannada have succeeded in making the district open defecation-free. Within a month, after the verification of the reports submitted by each local body in the district, the government will declare Dakshina Kannada as the first open defecation-free district in Karnataka.

"Under the phase II of the 'Nagarothana Yojane', the government has provided Rs 35 crore to local bodies for various developmental works. After verification, we have come to know that 95 percent works have been done, and by end of August, the remaining five percent will be complete. The government has now approved a grant of Rs 81 crore for local bodies under the 'Nagarothana Yojane' phase III. Once the plan is ready, my department will give them permission to start the process of tenders. I am fully satisfied with the local bodies of this district. They have used the funds properly for developmental works and they have finished almost all the works on time," he said.

On the issue of solid waste management (SWM), Khandre said, "We have already instructed the local bodies to submit report on solid waste management. Once we receive the report, we will approve technology-based SWM. We are facing shortage of land in Kotekar and Vittal panchayats. I requested the deputy commissioner to provide additional land for SWM in these panchayats," he added.

"Local bodies in Karnataka are facing shortage of staff and officials. This is a serious matter and I have discussed the same with the chief minister. We are now trying to fill 2,500 vacancies in local bodies. We have instructed KPSC who will start the appointment process soon," informed the minister.

"We have introduced a mobile app called ‘Janahitha’. People using the app can submit complaints and suggestions. This app will also give the information on local bodies and their programmes and projects," he concluded.