Officer's visit exposes lapses at cocoon market in Shidlaghatta

Sericulture Department Commissioner Dr Nagalambika Devi has expressed anger over substandard work and poor management of the cocoon market at Shidlaghatta during a surprise visit on Tuesday.

After seeing dirt strewn over the market premises, she offered to clean the place by doing ‘shramadana,’ and took the Deputy Director of the market Hanumantharayappa and other officers to task.

The concrete road running from the fourth godown to the gate was also observed to be sub-standard and Devi ordered  officers to blacklist contractors who had laid the road. She ordered that a toilet be built at the market and that a drinking water facility be installed, fed by two water purifiers.

Requests

Farmers, who were present, requested that the commissioner build a hall for farmers within the premisis. They also asked for the market staff be increased and that the bid amount be raised from 10 paisa to 50 paisa or even one rupee.

Devi requested reelers and farmers to submit a list of demands to the Market Committee. She assured them that all necessary steps would be taken after the committee made its recommendations following the submission of the demands.

“The government has released Rs 70 crore for various development works and assured that incentives will be distributed to the reelers in a short time,” she added.

Joint Director  of the Sericulture Department V Boraiah, Zilla Panchayat Sericulture Department Deputy Director Chandru and others were present during the visit.