Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Feb 19: Plastic ban not being strictly implemented was the main issue of contention at the 15th Udupi zilla panchayat (ZP) general body meeting held at V S Acharya auditorium on Tuesday, February 19.
Even though Udupi is a plastic free district, people and merchants are using plastic everywhere, complained ZP member Sumith.
Responding to the issue, project officer Srinivas Rao said, “According to the 2016 Plastic Ban Act, it should be implemented in both urban and rural areas. There is a need to create awareness about it. A cloth bag manufacturing unit has started in Vandse which has employed around 45 people. They are getting good response and support from the public. We will give directions to all local bodies to issue certificates for ‘Green marriage’ to promote eco-friendly and clean environment. We the citizens of Udupi need to be work effectively in this regard.”
Jyothi Harish, a member of Karkala said, “We were happy that a long time demand on the formation of Hebri taluk was declared last year. A new tasildhar was appointed and Rs 10 crore of grants was also sanctioned from the government. However, the functioning has not yet stared and applications are not being received from the public,” she alleged.
Answering to the above question, tasildhar said, “A proposal has been sent to government to start Atalji Seva Kendra in taluk office soon and the taluk administration is looking forward for the response.”
Another member alleged that the Kundapur tasildhar is denying approval of RTC under 94C, but the very next survey number got RTC without any dispute. “A person named Ravi Devadiga is residing in that land since 50 years. But the tasildhar claims that the land comes under partial deemed forest,” he said.
Dinakar Babu, president, zilla panchayat said, “there is problem of partial deemed forest complaints in Kaup, Alevoor, Bommarabettu panchayat areas.”
Janaradhan Thonse complained, “Beneficiaries are not getting money on time. The allowance for the aged, widow allowance, Sandhya Suraksha and other benefits from the government is being delayed. The amount has been increased but it is not enforced by the concerned departments. The officials have failed to rectify the problems even after months.”
He also complained that deer are roaming in the reserve forest region which comes under Havanje village panchayat. Two have died after being attacked by their sharp horns. Villagers also complained that the deer destroys crops. Hence the public have demanded a fence to be constructed around the forest, but the same plea was rejected by the PWD engineer, he said.
“Instead of making fence, the PWD officials prepared a proposal of constructing humps to slow down the vehicle’s speed. The cost estimated is Rs 20,000,” he added.
Objecting this proposal Thonse said, “Humps are unscientific. We can control speed of vehicle but not the deer. The animal has put lives of villagers in danger. This issue has to be taken seriously by the concerned department.”
Janardhan also claimed that he is not getting meeting notices on time and as a result he missed his 100% attendance at zilla panchayat meeting.
Official Kiran Kumar said, “Around 2,621 BPL cards are pending for disposal even today. Every day we receive applications and these days’ people prefer applying online.”
ZP members expressed their anger towards NHAI officials, who have not yet answered to their queries. No representative attending the general body meeting angered them further.
Sindhu Roopesh, CEO of Udupi Zilla panchayat, Uday S Kotian, chairman of Agriculture and Industry Standing Committee, Babu Shetty, chairman of Education and Health Standing Committee, Shashikanth Padubidri, chairman of Social Justice Standing Committee, MLA Raghupati Bhat, MLA Kundapur Halady Srinivas Shetty and MLA Byndoor
Sukumar Shetty were present.