ZP chief flays officials for poor quality of works

 
Presiding over the progress review meeting of Karnataka Development Programme here on Wednesday, she said that complaints have been received on poor quality of work being executed under MGNREGS and the officers concerned should focus more on maintaining the quality of the development works. She disclosed that despite directions to achieve cent per cent utilisation of funds, some departments have registered only 70 per cent progress in the present financial year.

Expressing concern over allegations of shoddy work in MGNREGS, Zilla Panchayat vice-president Chenduru Venkatesh said that the officers concerned were not discharging their duty diligently.

He suggested them to update themselves on the rules governing the Scheme and accordingly educate the Gram Panchayat secretaries and the public.

A workshop will be conducted for Gram Panchayat secretaries and implementing officers to enlighten them on the Scheme. They would be guided on the method of implementation of the Scheme, he said.

Deputy Director of Public Instruction Chandrashekhar said that 70 per cent of the work on repair of school buildings has been completed, and the rest would be finished at the earliest.

District Malaria Eradication Officer Dr Babu Reddy said that an ambulance has been purchased for the Department at a cost of Rs six lakh. The medicines required for all the hospitals in the district have been procured.

Members A D Avalappa, G R Narayanaswamy, Chief Executive Officer N Krishnappa, deputy secretary S M Zulfikarulla and others were present.

Watershed development

The Zilla Panchayat has spent a sum of Rs two crore for watershed development programmes through various departments.

Chairman of the ZP standing committee on Agriculture and Industries G R Narayanaswamy said at a meeting that the sum has been spent through Sericulture, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forest and Animal Husbandry Departments. The break-up of the funds utilisation is as follows: Rs 29.32 lakh for 19 projects in Bagepalli taluk; Rs 23.80 lakh for 18 projects in Chintamani taluk; Rs 20.56 lakh for 10 works in Gudibande taluk and Rs 26.72 lakh for 18 works in Shidlaghatta taluk. A sum of Rs 89.35 lakh has been spent for 20 minor irrigation projects in Chikkaballapur taluk and Rs 1.08 crore in Gauribidanur taluk under Integrated Dry Land Development Scheme.

The drought-hit district is bereft of any irrigation facility and also facing severe power shortage. The officers should therefore come to rescue of the farmers in distress, he said.
Planning Director of DRDA cell Annayyappa, Standing Committee members G V Srinivasa Reddy, A V Pujappa, Mohammed Shafi and others were present.

Caste-based survey

The survey to assess the reach of constitutional benefits to reserved classes would begin in the district in March. The survey is being conducted in pursuance of the directions of Justice A J Sadashiva Commission.

Speaking at a workshop for district-level officers, Deputy Commissioner Anwar Pasha said that the objective of the survey is to gauge the financial, educational and social status of the Scheduled Castes. The task should be completed by June end and hence the officers should take the job in the right earnest, he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner G S Nayak said the survey needs to be conducted objectively and completed within the stipulated time.

Resource person Prof Kodi Rangappa said that while the society has been witnessing economic upsurge, it had not been possible to achieve financial and social equality. Gathering of objective data from the survey goes a long way in ensuring social justice, he opined.

Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer Krishnappa, Public Relation Officer C S Jayaram and others were present.