MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has directed Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayaprakash to suspend the PDO of Neermarga Gram Panchayat, for indulging in irregularities while implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Speaking at the district vigilance and monitoring committee review meeting here on Tuesday, he also directed Project Director Seethamma to probe into the self cheque withdrawal by the PDO.

Raising the issue of self-cheque withdrawal, Member Rajeev Shetty said that lakhs of rupees has been withdrawn by the PDO. Disciplinary action should be initiated against the erring official. Seethamma said that there was no scope for self cheque withdrawal in any of the schemes.

The MP directed the Project Director and CEO to convene a review meeting once in three months, on the implementation of MGNREGA in all the taluks, by involving the gram panchayat presidents and PDOs.

Such review meetings will help to solve the problems created by the officials while implementing the schemes. When official from Puttur taluk said that the progress is poor in the implementation of MGNREGA in the taluk, MP directed the officials to convene a meeting of the GP presidents and PDOs immediately, under his chairmanship.

The Zilla Panchayat CEO said that there is a need to include paddy cultivation under the scheme. There is a demand for clearing the roots of coconut and arecanut trees. However, the work is not included in the MGNREGS. The CEO urged the MP to impress upon the Central government, to include the work.

He said that the Nodal officers will pay surprise visits to all the gram panchayats, to look into the implementation of the scheme.

Shiradi Ghat road

The official from National Highways said that the work on asphaltation of Shiradi Ghat road stretch covering 22 kms will be completed by January.

When the MP asked on digging of road from B C Road to Dharmasthala, the official said that the road will be repaired at the earliest.

PWD engineer said that State Highways will be repaired by the end of December and district main roads by February end.

Drinking water scheme

When the MP asked on multi-village drinking water scheme, Zilla Panchayat Executive Engineer Sathyanarayana said that six schemes were cleared last year by the State government and 14 schemes have been okayed this year by the government.

The survey for Neriya, Pajeer, Ullal multi-village drinking water projects is in progress. The second phase work related to Malavoor vented dam is in progress, he added.

To a query on rejuvenation of tanks, the Executive Engineer said that the engineering division had identified 122 tanks in the district. Tender was invited for rejuvenating 75 tanks and 31 work have been completed. However, none had come forward to take up the work on 47 tanks.

Zilla Panchayat President Koragappa Naik, Vice-President Rithesh Shetty, Additional DC Dayanand was present.

Steps to tackle water woes

Zilla Panchayat CEO said that 42 villages suffer from acute shortage of drinking water during summer. Hence, a comprehensive action plan by converging funds available under Task Force and Contingency action plan will be prepared by the end of December, to tackle water woes.

Zilla Panchayat Executive Engineer said that 125 schools have been included in the action plan of 2012-13, to provide permanent drinking water facility. The work at 36 schools have been completed.