Testing fertiliser, insecticide samples mandatory: MP Simha

MP Prathap Simha directed the officials to compulsorily test the samples of fertilisers and insecticides, as a few companies are engaged in supplying poor quality of fertilisers and insecticides to farmers.

He was speaking after chairing district Development, Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting in Madikeri on Tuesday. He said that by supplying poor quality of fertilisers, farmers are being cheated. There is a need to check such practices. The fertiliser samples should be sent to laboratory for testing from this year, he said.

When zilla panchayat deputy secretary Siddalingamurthy was furnishing details on Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, the parliamentarian took him to task.

Siddalingamurthy said that under Swaccha Bharath Mission, the target of construction of 2,910 toilets have been reached in the district. To which, the MP asked him not to furnish wrong information and directed him to provide details on construction of toilets in the next meeting.

Supporting his view, MLA Appachu Ranjan said that without getting information from taluk panchayat executive officers (EO), the zilla panchayat officials have declared open defecation-free villages. Several villages and colonies in Sowarapet taluk still lack toilet facilities, he said.

Simha said that electricity connections should be given for 36 habitations identified in the district. All the Union Government-assisted programmes should be completed before the onset of monsoon.

Chamundeswari Electricity Supply Company (Chescom) executive engineer clarified that there is no load shedding in Kodagu district. The power supply is disrupted only during the repair works.

The MP said that railway scrap needs to be used to stop straying jumbos. A proposal submitted by the officials in Mysuru has received approval from the government. The forest officials in Kodagu district should also initiate measures in this regard.

Appacchu Ranjan urged the officials to chase herd of elephants camping in coffee estates of Meroor in Somwarpet.

Demanding to check extraction of granite on a forest land at Heroor in Somwarpet taluk, he directed the officials from Mines and Geology to arrest the extraction of granite. “If the officials fail to check the extraction of granite, I will file a criminal case against the officials from Mines and Geology and Forest department,” the MLA warned. 

Lokayukta probe
Virajpet EO Phadnekar said that Lokayukta is probing into the alleged misappropriation of funds in the works initiated under MGNREGA scheme from 2008 to 2012. As a result, the panchayat development officers (PDOs) are not keen on taking up works under the scheme. Responding to it, The MLA said that fake bills have been created for a works taken up in Kiragunda. The creation of fake bills can not be justified.

Appacchu Ranjan sought complete details on land at Diddalli to ascertain whether it was a paisari or forest land.