Take steps to implement MGNREGS, officers told

The executive officers of three taluks in the district were asked to adopt stringent measures for the proper implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the district.

A resolution in this regard was taken at the zilla panchayat review meet for the year 2010-11 chaired by In-charge President Anitha Kanjithanda at the Halekote Vidhana Sabhangana here on Monday. 

ZP Deputy Secretary Basavarajappa said that a total of Rs 19 crore was sanctioned for the implementation of the MGNREGS in the district. A total of 1,834 works were taken up by spending Rs 10.67 crore where 1,274 works are completed, he added.

Expressing displeasure over the snail pace of development works under the MGNREGS, ZP Education and Health Standing Committee President Manu Muthappa said that officials should strive for the successful implementation of the scheme. “An action plan of Rs 107 crore was prepared wherein the government had already sanctioned Rs 54 crore.

However, it is unfortunate that works worth only Rs 10.67 were taken up so far,” he added.

Funds were not utilised completely in the previous year, he pointed out and questioned as to how the remaining funds of the current year Rs 43.33 can be spent under the scheme within two months.

Answering to the queries of Muthappa, ZP Chief Executive Officer N Krishnappa said that action will be taken to utilise the sanctioned funds completely.

Manu Muthappa and Anitha Kanjithanda pointed out that it is mandatory to reserve 20 per cent of the MGNREGS funds for afforestation. However, officials of the Forest Department failed to produce statistics with regard to the works taken up for afforestation under the scheme in the district.

Misappropriation

Muthappa alleged that misappropriation has been taken place in the distribution of chicks to beneficiaries by the Animal Husbandry department. “The deputy director of the department is responsible for the misappropriation,” he added.

The meet resolved that the beneficiaries should be identified based on the recommendation of elected members only. CEO Krishnappa directed the Animal Husbandry department Deputy Director Dr Krishnamoorthy to produce the list of beneficiaries within two days. Krishnappa blamed that the KMF does not come forward to collect milk in Virajpet, even though there is sufficient boost for dairy farming in the taluk.

Atleast 10 milk socieites should be formed in the taluk, he added.