Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/EP)

Udupi, Jan 30: “Work on national highway should gain momentum and all works should be completed before the March 31 deadline. This deadline has been set to complete Padubidri road construction and Shastri circle flyover at Kundapur. If the work is not completed by then, toll collection will not be allowed to be collected thereafter,” said Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje. She was speaking after presiding over Disha meeting held at V S Acharya auditorium on Wednesday January 29.

“Land acquisition process is hindering Malpe-Thirthahalli highway work. The process should be hastened and the work should be completed on a war footing before the onset of monsoon season,” she directed national highway officials. The officials in response said that Padubidri and Shastri circle works will be completed by April end. The MP asked the officials to blacklist the companies that are found to be lagging behind in the road work execution.

“As approval from the forest department has not been obtained for the construction of central school building at Alevoor, the school does not have its own building. Besides that, several projects sanctioned for Alevoor have been stopped and have reached the stage of getting cancelled. Therefore, hold discussions with department officials and obtain necessary approvals,” she instructed the officials.

“Issue show cause notices to department officials who remain absent from meetings on a regular basis,” she directed to the deputy commissioner.

“The cashless service under pilot project in Kadoor gram panchayat is 100% successful and the service is extended to 15 gram panchayats. All the gram panchayats will provide cashless service in the days to come,” said zilla panchayat deputy secretary, Srinivas Rao.

“The problems being faced by pregnant women and mothers of new born children in availing benefits under Matrapoorna scheme have been brought to the notice of the chief minister. We have recommended for changing the scheme itself so that cash or grains may be delivered to the residences of beneficiaries,” she said. The deputy director of the department of women and child development, R Sheshappa, reacting to it, said that the matter has been brought to the notice of the minister and a proposal has already been sent to the department.

“The routes and timings of KSRTC buses running in the district should be changed. A meeting of RTO officials should be called for detailed discussions,” she directed the deputy commissioner.

“As many as 7,31,453 Ayushman cards have been distributed in the district and 6,816 beneficiaries have been provided medical treatment,” district health officer stated. “Nobody may construct hospital or building in the district in violation of law. A team of government doctors should be formed in women’s and children’s hospital and poor people also should be able to get treatment there,” said the MP.

“A total of 1,40,371 farmers have registered in Prime minister’s Krishi Samman Scheme. First installment has been disbursed to 1,28,899 beneficiaries among them, 1,25,437 beneficiaries have got second installment, 72,317 beneficiaries are paid third instalment and 3,542 beneficiaries are paid fourth installment. All the installments of the state government are paid once. Rs 17,39,000 are paid to 1,192 farmers towards loss to crop due to rain-related loss,” said joint director of the department of agriculture Kempe Gowda.

Zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu, Udupi taluk panchayat president Neeta Gururaj Poojary, district deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha, zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Preeti Gehlot and officials of various departments were present.