Blacklist borewell agencies if found fleecing beneficiaries, MLA to TP

A few agencies are collecting Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000, farmers complain

MLA B Sureshgowda has instructed the officials concerned to blacklist the borewell agencies and initiate criminal proceedings if found exacting Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 from the beneficieries.

The legislator told this to the officials at the tri-monthly KDP meeting held at the taluk panchayat auditorium here on Saturday.

The MLA said, “Ambedkar Development Corporation, Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation and Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation have to identify the beneficiaries from SC/ST and backward classes and drill borewells for them. The corporations are supposed to sink borewells, instal motor pump and provide power connection to the same at a cost of Rs 2 lakh. But there are several complaints about the borewell agencies fleecing the beneficiaries of Rs 30,000 to 40,000. The officials should initiate criminal proceedings against such agencies, he said.

Taking the officials concerened to task for not utilising a grant of Rs 32 lakh for the development work, the MLA said it is a shame that the grant was returned to the government coffers for not utilising it in a stipulated time. It is a huge setback for the taluk. Blaming it on the laxity of the taluk panchayat staff, Sureshgowda instructed the taluk panchayat executive officer to issue show cause notice to the offcials concerned.

The doctors should provide effective health service in rural areas. The Helath department should take strict action against the quacks who keep playing with lives of the innocent in the villages. The department should issue notice to the government doctors who do not report to duty regularly, the MLA said.

Sureshgowda told the meeting that a grant of Rs 21 crore has been sanctioned for road laying works. He suggested the AEE of PWD to complete the tender process and start the work soon.

He told the Swachch Bharat mission officials to create awareness among 45,342 familes, who do not have access to toilets, about the importance of sanitation and hygiene.

The MLA made his displeasure known over a paltry Rs 1.5 crore grant sanctioned to Agriculture and Horticulture departments. He told the Forest department officials to plant at least 3 lakh saplings.

Koratagere MLA K Sudhakar Lal suggested that the Kora hobli officials should be invited for the next meeting.

Taluk Panchayat preisdent Neelkantappa, vice-president Gowramma, ZP member Saakamma Nagaraju, TP member Umesh, Siddappa, Krishnappa, Veerendrakumar, TP EO Mahalingappa, AEE Channaveeraswamy and others were present.