Mangalore: Venkat Dambekodi Takes over as In-charge President of ZP

The Hindu

Mangalore, May 29: The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has fully utilised the funds released by the Government during 2008-09 and 2007-08 for development works, according to K.P. Sucharitha Shetty, who completed his 20-month term as its president on Wednesday.

Addressing presspersons after handing over charge to Venkat Dambekodi, chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Justice of the panchayat here on Thursday, Mr. Shetty said that he was satisfied with the progress achieved during his term.

Mr. Shetty handed over charge to Mr. Dambekodi under Section 179 (6) of Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, which empowers the chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Justice to take charge of the panchayat in the absence of president and vice-president, according to P. Shivashankar, Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat. Mr. Shivashankar said that Karnataka High Court had recently stayed the notification of the Government on the reservations for the posts of presidents and vice-presidents of zilla panchayats in the State. Consequently, the election to the posts of president and vice-president of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat could not be held. Mr. Dambekodi would be in-charge president till elections for the two posts were held. The 20-month term of Jayashree Kodandoor, vice-president of the panchayat, also ended on Wednesday, he said.

Houses built

Mr. Shetty said that the panchayat constructed 535 houses for the poor under the Indira Awaz Yojana during 2008-09 and 606 houses under the same scheme during 2007-08.