New project to tackle water crisis

Cauvery-Bhadra Yojana to meet the demands of both Kolar and CB Pur dists

Addressing a progress review meeting at the Zilla  Panchayat auditorium here on Tuesday, he said the legislators of both the districts have agreed to the project and the ZP members will be sensitised on the project soon. “However, the government is yet to take Irrigation and Law departments’ advice to check possible law hurdles that may come in the way of implementation of the project,” he added. The project will be tabled before the project for approval. Once the project is implemented, it is sure the drinking water crisis in both the districts will be solved permanently, he said.

Expressing dissatisfaction over apathy of engineers in implementing drinking water projects, the minister directed the engineers to complete the water supply project from Markandeya reservoir to Malur by August.

He further remarked that the ZP has not spent even 50 per cent of the amount released by the government. “It is not appropriate to seek funds when this being the case,” he said and asked the members to utilise the funds judiciously.

The minister said Rs 40 lakh has been released to the Task Force formed under the leadeship of legislators to check drinking water crisis in each Asse mbly constituencies.

Apart from it, Rs 8.5 crore has been released under various projects. He further said that Rs 35 lakh will be provided from the Chief Minister’s Special Funds package.

The district’s performance in terms of implementing sanitation campaign is up to the mark, the minister observed and said that only five villages have been awarded the ‘Nairmalya Puraskar’.

ZP Chief Executive Officer N Shantappa, legislators A Narayanswami, R Varthur Prakash, ZP president Manjula, vice-president Somashekhar and Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena were present.

Complaints galore

ZP members S B Munivenkatappa and M S Anand complained that it’s been six months since their election but the villages coming under their jurisdiction have not received potable water. Even those provided water through tankers have not been paid, they said.

Taluk Panchayat president N Ramadevi and ZP member Choudeshwari told the minister that engineers don’t receive their calls and they do not consult us while carrying out the projects.

No commission

The minister asserted that no officers approving the bills of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme can be paid commissions. If violated, ZP CEO can be complained and stringent action will be taken against such officers, he warned. He also warned engineers for not  consulting the members while working.GP members and officers meeting

Bureaucratic differences

In order to address administrative differences between Gram Panchayat officers and members, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department will hold an interaction meeting, said Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar.

He was talking to mediapersons Affer convening a review meeting at the Kolar Zilla Panchayat on Tuesday.

At many Gram Panchayats, the differences between the  officers and GP members have hampered the developmental work.

“Officers and GP members must work in co-ordination. Hence, members and officers of select gram panchayat will be brought to one place to be sensitised over new administrative policies and programmes,” he added.

On lack of staff in the department, the minister said a separate recruitment policy has been framed for the department and recruitment process will begin in various departments. As many as 600 engineers and 1,300 Panchayat Development Officers will be recruited, he said.

Later speaking at a programme organised to award ‘Nairmalya Puraskar’, the minister called upon the gathering not to send their daughters to homes which do  not have toilets. While Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have attained total sanitation, Uttara Karnataka including Kolar districts are still lagging behind, he observed.

Highlights

* Funds lies unused
* More grants for drinking waterunds lies unused
*Funds lies unused
* Water crisis in 250 villagesunds lies unused
* Rs 40 lakh to Taluk Task Force