JOIN USMLA seeks plan to tackle water crisis
MLA C T Ravi on Saturday directed the officials to submit a proposal to the state government to tackle drinking water crisis in the taluk.
Presiding over the taluk-level quarterly progress review meeting of development works, Ravi asked the officials to conduct a detailed study into existing water problem before preparing a proposal.
He said chalking out solutions to ensure proper water supply should be the priority. It can be taken care of, only if preventive measures are taken by initiating action against private parties drawing water from lakes and other water bodies. At Magadi lake, it has come to notice that water is being pumped from the lake for ginger crops, leaving birds, acquatic creatures and also cattle high and dry. The officials should identify such places of and take measures to supply water to the needy, he stated.
The MLA directed Tahsildar Shivanna to instruct revenue officials and village accountants to take action against misuse of lake water.
Assistant Executive Engineer Anand said drinking water is being supplied through tankers to seven villages. There is a cry for water at Lakya, Kasaba, Ambale and Vastare hoblis. The condition is no different at K R Pet, Malalur, Kelagur and Sattihalli, he added.
Ravi, accompanied by another MLA B B Ningaiah. took the officials to task for poor response to weather-based crop insurance scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. What had irked them was a measly 2,500 to 3,000 farmers had been collectively enrolled under the schemes against 46,000 farmers eligible to avail the benefit.
The MLAs directed the officials to enroll all the farmers as there is no rain.
Assistant Director of Agriculture Department Chandrashekar informed the meeting that a total of 6,985 farmers availed of relief under agriculture crop loss and 13,800 farmers for horticultural crop loss in last fiscal. Most of the crops in the taluk this time have already gone kaput, glaring at pathetic situation of total damage, if it does not rain in another two days. Paddy sown in Malnad area lacks adequate water, he added.
Ningaiah, who sought to know about the progress of drinking water-related works, took the assistant executive engineer to task for failing to complete works within the deadline. The works have to be completed at the earliest and water supplied to people, he told the offficer.
Ravi sought a spot inspection report within August 29 from Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Dhananjay Kumar over the charges of clearing bills of anganwadi building at Ukkuda Bhuvanahalli, without constructing the building.
Prior to that, he took the executive officer to task and sought a detailed report within Monday on Shuddhaganga water units works in the taluk.
Taluk Panchayat President Eshwarahalli Mahesh, Vice-president Y G Suresh and others were present.