JOIN USThree-day deadline to produce report on tanker water supply
The Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, on Monday, demanded that taluk panchayat executive officers submit a full-fledged report on the supply of tanker water to villages in three days.
The report will be submitted within the time limit and to the Deputy Commissioner, or else officers will “face suspension,” Ashok said. “A trip-sheet, log books and certificates are necessary parts of the report. The DC cannot release any funds for drought relief if he is given merely description of the condition, without any records.”
The minister, who had addressed a meeting related to drought relief at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium, ridiculed taluk panchayat officers for their alleged inability to prepare reports. He also threatened to transfer them to districts in northern Karnataka if they continued to be lapse in their duties.
“Strict action will be taken against any officer who is slothful in handling the drought relief work,” he warned.
Auditing issue
Deputy Commissioner D S Vishwanath explained that problems in auditing had occurred because funds had been released without proper attestation by executive officers and tahsildars. This may create problems for the district when it attempts to request relief funds.
“Get all accounts to my office and I will get funds released for drought relief work,” he said.
“I had clarified in my first meeting as DC that panchayats would not be reimbursed for their expenditure in water tankers — if they did not provide complete records. But officers continue to only give lists of villages and of problems. Every taluk has still been given Rs 10-15 lakh,” he added.
Vishwanath also expressed displeasure in the delays of taluk officers to utilise funds. “What use can the money be if motors are connected next year to borewells sunk now, when residents of villages continue to complain about shortage of water?” he asked.
The officers were given a week’s time to install pumps and motors to all borewells sunk in the district and were asked to cooperate with elected representatives in handling the drought successfully.
Zilla Panchayat member Chowdeshwari, M S Anand, S B Munivenkatappa, Narayana Reddy, Mutyalamma, and A Mu Lakshminarayana requested a faster implementation of the permanent irrigation project in the district.
District In-charge Minister Varthur Prakash, Secretary In-charge P N Srinivasachari, ZP president Manjula, vice-president D V Harish, former legislator B P Venkatamuniyappa were present for the meeting.