Silvester D’Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Sep 22: The ordinary meeting of the taluk panchayat here was chaired by taluk panchayat president Indira Shetty Harkooru on September 21.

Discriminatory policy in appointments in Koteshwara Vidyarthi Nilaya on a contract basis, urge to begin traditional sand mining, anguish over delay in highway works and confusion over payment of social pension were heard at the meeting.

Members alleged that private agencies are involved in the irregularities in appointments in the Vidyarthi Nilaya. Member Jyothi Putran urged for detailed investigations over the appointment of staff. Members urged that the matter should be discussed in a social justice committee meeting.

There were complaints over non-payment of social pension Sandhya Suraksha and widow pension. Tahsildar Anandappa blamed it on technical issues. “The details will be updated if beneficiaries hand over copies of Aadhaar card and bank passbook,” he said.

Vasudev Pai objected to this and suggested that village accountants collect the documents on village level and hand them over to the taluk office as there are no bus services.

Karun Poojary said that several accidents have occurred on the highway during the last five years due to inferior quality work by IRB company. “Why are no cases registered against the company? Rainwater enters agricultural land,” he said.

Surendra Kharvi questioned about the reasons for acquiring Cholanakere and Madiwala lake. Members urged traditional sand mining.

Schools are pressurising students to pay school fees even though the schools are not started. Action should be taken against such schools, said Karun Poojary.

Taluk panchayat vice president, Ramkishan Hegde, social justice committee president, Roopa Pai, taluk panchayat executive officer, Keshava Shettigar and tahsildar, Anandappa Nayak were present.