Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Dec 27: Karnataka minor irrigation, law and parliamentary affairs minister J C Madhuswamy said that the irrigation department has taken up vented dam construction work worth Rs 180 crore.
Addressing a press meet at Udupi circuit house, Bannanje on Friday, December 27, he said that the government has taken up construction of vented dams under Paschimavahini scheme, with an intention of raising the underground water level.
“We have received complaints on irregularities in dam construction. The complaints will be investigated and such contractors will be blacklisted. One contractor can get a maximum of five contracts. We will examine the certificate of contractors and check on the number of projects they have obtained from different departments,” he said.
He also said that a retaining wall will be constructed, to stop river water joining the sea. “We can preserve the river water for use in months from January to March. The water can also be used for prawn farming. We are giving more priority to preserve and restore water,” he said.
Responding to a question on the lack of public prosecutors in the state, Madhuswamy said, “There is no lack of judges in judicial department. Seven judges are already recruited. Necessary facilities will be provided for the district level courts and we will construct courts in required taluk centers.”
“Judicial department is committed in providing facilities and necessary measures will be taken for immediate disposal of the pending cases. If there is a shortage in government public prosecutors, the law department will appoint government prosecutors and assistant government prosecutors. If there is a necessity, we will outsource them to work in court,” he said.
He said that there are over 16 lac civil cases pending in the civil courts. “We will resolve the cases in phases, under the authority of the district officers, ACs and tahsildars.”
Dinakar Babu, president, zilla panchayat, Halady Srinivas Shetty, MLA Kundapur, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, president, district BJP, Kuylady Suresh Naik and other officials of the minor irrigation department, were present at the press conference.