Villagers to protest against poor quality of work

The villagers of Shanthalli hobli in Somwarpet taluk have decided to stage a protest in front of Madikeri Zilla Panchayat on March 31, opposing the authorities apathy towards the villages and for the poor quality of development work carried out in several villages in the taluk.

Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Shanthalli Gram Panchayat former president Baggana Anil Kumar said that the roads, bridges and community halls constructed in Shanthalli hobli as well as in other parts of the taluk are of poor quality. In some places payments have been made twice for the same work. 

Despite submitting a complaint on this to the Lokayukta, the villages have not received any positive response. Therefore, the villagers have decided to stage a protest, Anil Kumar said. He accused the ZP engineers for entering into hand in glove with the contractors. 

Under TSP programme, Rs 6.5 lakh was sanctioned for the construction of a bridge near Jarana Mane in Shanthalli in 2011-12. A bill of Rs three lakh has been generated for the same work in 2012-13. 

Amidst this, the work on the bridge has remained incomplete. Rs one lakh was sanctioned for the construction of community hall in Haraga village in 2011-12 and the money was paid despite the work remaining incomplete, he complained.

Further, the former GP member pointed that Rs one lakh was sanctioned for the construction of Bettadakoppa community hall under MP fund, Rs two lakh was sanctioned for the same project under the MLA fund, yet the work has not been completed.

Bills have been cleared for the construction of the same bridge at Garvale gram panchayat. 

“Though Rs 35 lakh was sanctioned for the construction of Yadur-Mavinakatte-Thalthareshettalli-Haraga-Kikkaralli road, the work is incomplete and same is the case with Kannallikatte-Beedalli-Hanchinalli-Kundalli road. The Lokayukta should probe into these development works,” he said.