TP, GP officials to face case for non-utilisation of funds

Zilla Panchayat has resolved to file criminal case against those taluk panchayat EOs and Gram panchayat PDOs, for failing to utilise 22.75 per cent funds earmarked for the welfare of SC/ST communities.

The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of ZP President Chodumada Shareen Subbaiah on Monday.

Raising the issue, member H M Kaveri accused the PDO and EOs of showing negligent attitude in utilising the funds earmarked for the SC/ST communities. Stringent action should be initiated against the erring officials. Supporting her, Indiramma demanded action against the officials.

Member Kechamada Saritha Poonaccha demanded utilisation of funds in each gram panchayat. The gram panchayats that failed to utilise the funds should be made known in the meeting.

Member Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa said that the government has passed Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources), Act, 2013 to check the misuse of funds. There is a need to conduct a probe into the utilisation of funds.

ZP CEO M Kurma Rao said that utilisation of funds in each gram panchayat will be verified.
ZP President Shareen Subbaiah said that the funds should be utilised by month end.

Hike honorarium
ZP standing committee on social justice Bond Ganapathy and member S N Raja Rao urged the authorities to hike the honorarium paid to the teachers of residential schools. Anganwadi workers are getting Rs 4,500 per month while the teachers who have completed BA, BSc are getting only Rs 5,000.

The ZP flayed the move of the  State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for failing to issue NOC to sand blocks identified at Kothooru and Bekkesodlooru.

Claiming that the two identified blocks come within five km radius of Nagarahole National Park, the SEIAA had denied NOC. In a resolution condemning the denial, the ZP President said “people in the district are facing shortage of sand. No sand blocks have been identified in Virajpet taluk. Without the availability of sand, poor can not construct houses.”

Special meeting
The ZP decided to convene a special meeting of the forest department officials, in Madikeri on March 24. Member Bond Ganapathy urged the ZP chief to convene a meeting to discuss on the stalling of work inside the forest, row over forest land, felling of trees, wild elephant menace, construction of fence, and sand mining.