A day after inspecting KRS dam, Regional Commissioner A M Kunjappa on Thursday directed the officials to expedite drinking water-related works.
Presiding over the progress review meeting on drought relief works and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Kunjappa cautioned the officials against water-related woes that may emerge with the onset of summer. In view of this, the officials should take precautionary measures and complete the works underway at the earliest.
Reminding the officials about Rs 50 lakh released for each of the drought-hit taluks in the district, the officer said, utilising the same amount, a highest of 110 works had been taken up at HD Kote taluk, followed by Hunsur-55, Periyapatna- 33, T Narispur-26 and Nanjangud-25.
After taking stock of the situation in every taluk, the officer said, “Control rooms should be set up at every taluk centre, and tahsildars, executive officers and engineers should remain in the headquarters and conduct regular tours in their jurisdiction. In case of any complaints, the grievances should be redressed and weekly reports should be given to the deputy commissioner.
The officer, however, advised the officers to focus on creating permanent drinking water facilities, and rely on water tankers only during inevitable situations.
Reviewing the Centre’s MGNREGA works, the officer bemoaned about the State lagging behind in creating jobs under the scheme when compared to other States.
On the distribution of drought relief, the officer said, as many as 88,508 beneficiaries (85.79 pc) have been distributed relief amount in current fiscal.
In HD Kote taluk, 20,283 beneficiaries have been distributed with Rs 557.47 lakh, followed by Hunsur-15,852 beneficiaries with Rs 456.06 lakh, Nanjangud- 20,878 beneficiaries with Rs 574.72 lakh, Periyapatna-29,117 beneficiaries with Rs 524.52 lakh and T Narsipur-2,378 beneficiaries with Rs 72.15 lakh.
Additional Deputy Commissioner T Venkatesh, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P A Gopal, Deputy Secretary Mahesh, Joint Director for Agriculture M Mahanteshappa and other officials were present.
Published 24 March 2016, 17:40 IST