Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 10: Speaking at the district-level awareness and monitoring committee meeting convened at the zilla panchayat auditorium on Wednesday July 9, which he presided, MP and state BJP president D V Sadanand Gowda (DVS) instructed the Mescom officials to resort to load-shedding for not more than an hour every day in Dakshina Kannada district, during the six month period from June to November, 2008.

Dwelling on the subject further, DVS asked the Mescom to try to ensure that there is no power cut for people using electricity for domestic purpose, from  April to November. The Mescom should place demand for additional power required with the government, he said.

Expressing his displeasure over the functioning of Mescom, he asked Mescom to compulsorily ensure that the telephone number meant for registering complaints is functional always. The officials should lend an ear to the grievances of the people and try to solve them. There are days on which I get tired of trying to contact Mescom to register a complaint, he revealed.  "I have heard rumours that the officials have opted to be lethargic in an effort to defame to the current state government regime. The officials should prove these rumours wrong by working sincerely," he advised.

Mescom officials, reacting to Gowda's suggestion, informed that they would be able to solve the power problems of the district if the state supplies additional 40 to 50 mw of power. DVS asked the officials to review the power cuts and the timings of the load-shedding till their demand is considered. There have been also complaints, that chikungunya prolifieration was also caused by power cuts, he commented in a lighter vein.

DVS asked the Mescom to get rid of their sluggish way of working as in the past, and show speed in the functioning within the next three months. "You are working in a new arrangement. You have to show results within six months by adopting to changed circumstances," he warned. DVS also asked the officials to attend to the works related with the laying of the 110 kv power line between Beltangady, Sullia and Keyyur.

"I have observed, that lack of coordination between departments has been leading to delay in execution of works. If I come to know of any delays on this count hereafter, strict action will be taken against the erring officials," he said.

Zilla panchayath executive engineer (CEO) A M Kunjappa raised the problem of shortage of ballast the road works are facing in the district. Deputy commissioner Maheshwar Rao felt, that the shortage is temporarily created as railway, port and national highway works are undertaken simultaneously. The MP advised the concerned to take steps to get crushed stone from quarries that are not located in forest regions, duly taking local people into confidence.

Beltangady taluk panchayath president Sundar Salian took up the matter of alleged irregularities in the works executed under the naxal project and Indira Awaz project in his taluk and also in the selection process of beneficiaries.  The MP asked the zilla panchayath CEO to look into the problems and investigate into the complaint.

Puttur MLA Mallika Prasad, presidents of Puttur, Sullia and Beltangady taluks and heads of various government departments were present.