Call for proper use of funds for water projects in Ch'nagar

21 complaints received at phone-in-prog chaired by DC

Deputy commissioner K R Sundar directed the officials in the district to make proper use of funds available for providing drinking water to the people.

Responding to calls at a phone-in programme held at DC’s office hall here on Saturday, he called upon the officials to utilise all funds available to mitigate drinking water woes under various heads — including drought relief funds.

Convene meetings

Sundar said assistant commissioners and tahsildars should convene meetings of taluk task force committees, hold discussion and take action immediately as there has been no rainfall as expected before Ugadi.

Expressing concern over depleting groundwater in the district, he said alternative measures should be taken on a war-footing. 

“The officials made in-charge of taluks and hoblis should direct other officials to listen to people’s problems during their tour and try to find out solutions. If all work with coordination and cooperation, better results can be obtained,” he said.

Zilla panchayat in-charge chief executive officer A P Shankararaju said a meeting of nodal officers has been convened to take stock of the problems pertaining to drinking water and spread of diseases during summer season. 

Take action

“The 21 complaints received from 19 persons in this programme would serve as a reference point for the meeting. Officials would be directed to take adequate action,” he said.

Nefarious activities

One Raju complained that even though sand extraction was streamlined to put a check on illegal extraction, illegal activities have begun again at Kerehalli. 

The deputy commissioner said he would direct the police and mines and geology department officials and the tahsildar to visit the spot and take action.

Mahadevanayak of Kotekere complained that machines were being used instead of manpower under his grama panchayat limits for implementation of projects under employment guarantee schemes, grama sabhas were not being held to select beneficiaries for housing schemes and the quality of the concrete road laid under special unit project was sub-standard. ZP CEO Shankararaju said the issues would be looked into. 

Use of machines

“We would see if the use of machines has been mentioned in the action plan and report would be sought about the selection process for the housing schemes,” he said.

Other complaints were about encroachment of land belonging to various water bodies and lack of public transport facilities for their respective villages.

Superintendent of police P Rajendraprasad, assistant commissioner Basavaraju, tahsildar Rangaswamaiah, municipal commissioner H Krishnamurthy, PWD executive engineer Ramesh, assistant executive engineer of engineering division of ZP Raju and other district level officers were present at the programme.