Submit report on status, quality of RMSA buildings, says ZP CEO

Zilla panchayat chief executive officer M R Ravi directed the Panchayat Raj Engineering Division executive engineer to submit a report on the status and quality of the buildings constructed under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) in Dakshina Kannada district within 20 days.

He was speaking at general meeting of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat held on Monday. The members complained on the poor quality of work initiated by the contractor under RMSA in the district.

The members had urged the executive enfineer to conduct a quality test on the classrooms, toilets and drinking water system developed under RMSA in the last meeting. However, the officials have failed to conduct the quality test and submit a report. Irked over the lethargic attitude of the officials, zilla panchayat chief executive officer gave a deadline of 20 days to submit the report.

Out of 65 works under RMSA in Dakshina Kannada, 55 works have been completed. Ten works are in progress and will be completed by December end, said an official. The members also urged the zilla panchayat president to write to the state government not to call for state-wise tender for the works to be undertaken under RMSA in the future. Tender should be invited at the district-level, so that the district officials and members can monitor the work effectively.

Members pointed that the zilla panchayat has not received any fund for the repair and construction of primary school classrooms. There is a need to write to the Union government to release funds to take up school building repair works. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan project coordinator Geetha said that no funds have been released to Dakshina Kannada district in the last two years to take up repair works. In 2015-16, though repair works in 15 schools were sanctioned, funds have not been released so far. Even last year, a proposal to repair 175 schools were submitted to the government.

Restriction on borewells

The members in the last zilla panchayat meeting on October 26, 2016, had resolved to urge the state government to relax its order on ban on sinking borewells. However, the officials had sent the resolution copy to the state government seeking relaxation only on December 9, which irked the zilla panchayat members.

Members said the district faces acute shortage of water during peak summer. In addition, the farmers are in distress being unable to sink borewells for irrigation. However, a few individuals are sinking borewells without any hassle. The state government should review its order on ban on sinking of borewells.

Deputy secretary Umesh said that to check the depleting ground water table, the state government banned sinking of borewells. However, it has relaxed its order for initiating government projects.

Mescom MD

Zilla panchayat member M Thungappa Bangera urged Mescom managing director to attend the meeting and give a clarification on alleged irregularities worth several crores of rupees.

He said that rates towards the purchase of equipment like transformers have been fixed in excess of government rate according to the package tenders invited by the Mescom. As the Mescom MD was in Bengaluru, he had deputed other officers to the meeting. Not satisfied with the answers from the Mescom officials, at one stage of meeting, Bangera got ready to boycott the meeting.

Denying the charges of irregularities in the purchase of equipment, the Mescom official clarified that  any purchase of equipment is through e-tender only in a transparent manner. The zilla panchayat member had sought information up to seven years under Right to Information Act.

Following this, Thungappa was asked to visit the Mescom office with an ID card and collect the required documents. The Mescom has not hidden any details. Finally, the zilla panchayat president Meenakshi Shanthigodu promised the members to direct Mescom MD to attend next general meeting.