Government must take steps to tackle water woes, urges BJ

Dakshina Kannada BJP President Pratap Simha Nayak has demanded the district administration to check the drinking water scarcity in the district at the earliest. He also wanted the government to compensate the farmers who have suffered huge lose by the stormy rains in several parts of the district recently.

Addressing a press conference in the district BJP office, here on Thursday, Pratap Simha Nayak said that last year around 26 Gram Panchayats were affected by the water scarcity, but this year already more than 42 Gram Panchayats including Ullala, Kudu, Konaje and in Bantwal area have been facing the crisis. Borewells have been dried up in many places.

Though the government is giving statements, the problem continues in the base-level. The Election Code of Conduct has been relaxed already. So, the administration should not make further delay in providing drinking water to people using tankers, Dakshina Kannada BJP President said.

Compensation

“In several places including Indabettu, Kadirudyavara, Kanyadi and Kokkada, farmers have lost hundreds of rubber and arecanut trees because of winds. One farmer has lost around 800 banana plants within a day. Many houses have been damaged heavily. The government should compensate the victims before monsoon,” he said.

Nayak strongly opposed the proposal of MESCOM to raise the power tariff. “Common man is in trouble because of incessant power-cut. The government should think of correcting the system than raising the price,” he added.

'Government or shanty?’

Pratap Simha Nayak alleged that the ministers and Congressmen are acting irresponsible pertaining to the death of Kabeer, in Thanikode forest check post shootout incident. “They are giving judgement before the investigation. Organisations may look into the incident in their own point of view, but as a part of the government, the ministers and MLAs should sit together and discuss before taking up a decision. Home Minister K G George has declared Rs 5 lakh compensation to the victim, the District-in-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai demands Rs 10 lakh and another Congress leader demands more.

Meanwhile, some of them have asked Criminal Investigation Department (CID) enquiry, some other for judicial probe and few others demand CBI enquiry. They differ with their own government. “I doubt whether they are running a government or a shanty,” Pratap Simha Nayak  sought to know.

“Many incidents of cattle theft from cow sheds were reported from Surathkal and we had asked the state government to act against illegitimate cattle transportation, but they didn’t.

The reason for the Sringeri shoot out may be different. So, first let the investigation take place and the government should take a decision,” the BJP leader said.
MLC Ganesh Karnik, BJP leaders Devdas Shetty, Divakar Samani and others were also present on the occasion.