Govt open to positive criticism for betterment of society: Manju

 District in-charge Minister A Manju has said that 101 lakes have been identified in the district under ‘Kere Sanjeevini’ project and desilting works have already been taken up in 52 lakes.

After inaugurating a seminar on the government’s programmes and media reactions on Tuesday, the minister said that the elected representatives and media should review the government implemented programmes in a qualitative manner. “The media should highlight the pros and cons of the schemes and provide necessary suggestions to the government. The officials should read newspapers not only to gather news but also to gain information about the reports published so as to implement them for the betterment of society,” the minister said.

MLA H S Prakash said that media has been successful in exposing corruption, scandals and has alerted the government whenever the administrative machinery was on the verge of collapse. Criticism about new schemes is common, but it should be in a positive manner, he said.

Fodder banks

With regard to the drought situation in the district, Manju said that the government has opened 402 fodder banks across the state to tackle the problem. “Fodder is distributed at Rs 2 per kg for farmers. The government will also take steps to fill the vacant posts in the department of Animal Husbandry and other departments,” he assured.

Manju said he would hold discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the rise in human-animal conflict in Sakleshpur and Alur regions. The authorities have been directed to submit a report after surveying the damage to coconut trees in the district. The government is ready to provide all types of saplings to encourage growth of trees, he said.

The minister said that a sericulture training college would be opened at Ramanathapura for the benefit of silk farmers and promised to allot sites for Press Clubs in all taluks.

Swachh Bharat mission

Speaking about the Swachh Bharat Mission, Manju said that the district would be made open defecation-free by October 2017. Around 1,66,501 toilets have been constructed at a cost of Rs 106.16 crore and the remaining 83,511 toilets would be completed by October, he said.

Problems related to railway over bridge, certified seed potatoes, illegal sand mining, construction of toilets and drinking water were brought to his notice.