'Taluk-tag for Hebri' issue dominates ZP meet

The demand to give taluk status to Hebri was the major issue that was discussed at the Zilla Panchayat general body meeting.

Raising the issue, member Jyothi Harish alleged that the assurance given by the Congress-led state government is being sidelined as the proposal for the formation of Hebri as a taluk is being dropped. She insisted that Hebri should be formed as a taluk because the residents of the villages in the surrounding areas have major problems of connectivity for administrative purpose as they have to travel all the way to Karkala.

"Villages like Megadde, Kabbinale and Kudlu are too backward. The formation of a taluk is very essential and a special tahsildar should be appointed immediately. The area lacks basic infrastructure," she demanded.

Guidelines

Kundapur Assistant Commissioner Shilpa said that the guideline for attaining taluk status is either one-lakh population or 50 villages in any given area.

"The main purpose is the administrative feasibility. When surveyed, it was found that the area comprised of 16 villages with 46,666 population. Hence, following the district in-charge minister's instructions, a proposal to reconsider providing taluk status for Hebri is being sent to the government. The proposal recommends looking into the geographical expansion of the area which is the fourth highest in the district. The proposal would be kept before the gram sabha also and the response from the state government is awaited," she explained.

National highway

The other issue that was discussed on the occasion was the irregularities in the national highway. The national highway authorities are lackadaisical and least bothered about discharging the duties, alleged the members.

The language problems is major hurdle to communicate with the NHAI officials, and the house insisted on Kannada-speaking officials to accompany the NHAI officials.

Member Geethanjali Suvarna said that at Katpadi the national highway is incomplete. If there is a downpour, the water starts gushing into the houses on both sides.

The national highway engineer Mallikarjuna said the proposal for a flyover at Padubidri for the cost of Rs 18 crore has been sent to the regional office but the office is yet to take a decision.

Responding to a query over Santhekatte, the officer said that service roads are made available in the area.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Shivanand Kapashi said that the national highway authorities should attend the meeting to be held on December 27. "Henceforth, in any meeting, the NHAI official should be accompanied by a person who can speak Kannada, said the CEO.

He ordered that the PWD executive engineer should be kept informed about the developments taking place on the national highway. The review meet held by the NHAI should, in turn, extend the invitation to the PWD executive engineer.

Replying to a query over 94C and 94CC, the assistant commissioner said that nine cents under 94C and 2.75 cents under 94CC would be offered to the applicants. "The illegal encroachments are being legalised. It is not mandatory that nine cents would be given to all applicants. The land would be legalised to the extent of encroachment," she said.

When asked on the issue of deemed forest area at Nittur, the assistant commissioner replied that she had a spot visit along with the deputy commissioner. "A comprehensive review was held. There are partial and full deemed forest areas at Nittur. The deputy commissioner has ordered for a joint survey by Revenue and Forest departments," she added.