Action to be taken against officials not attending Gram Sabha

Executive officers of the respective Taluk Panchayats should initiate action against taluk-level officials who do not attend Gram Sabhas, urged the Zilla Panchayat members.

The members spoke irrespective of party barriers at the continued Zilla Panchayat general meeting held in Netravati Hall on Saturday.

Vinod Kumar, Dhanalakshmi, Janardhan Gowda and others alleged that many taluk-level officials are not attending gram sabhas, where the problems of villagers are discussed. Even though the issue has been conveyed to the taluk panchayat executive officers, no action has been initiated other than serving notices to the absentees, they said.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr M R Ravi told the taluk panchayat executive officers to send him a report on the officials who do not attend gram sabhas.

'Physically challenged harassed'

Zilla Panchayat member and former president Koragappa Naik said that the physically challenged are made to submit a certificate issued by the district-level health officers to KSRTC, to obtain concessional bus passes." This will be a huge inconvenience to those from remote areas. They have to come to the district centre to get the certificate, which has to be submitted every year," he said. He also asked why the KSRTC needs the certificate when the beneficiaries already own identity cards issued by the authorised department. "Is there no value for the department's identity cards, which is issued after proper medical tests," he asked.

The members urged to pass a resolution to direct the taluk-level officials to issue medical certificates to the beneficiaries in their area, towards KSRTC bus passes.

'Repair vented dams'

Members Vinod Kumar Bollur, Harish Kanjipili, M SMuhammed and others said that the purpose of vented dams in the district is not being fulfilled, as many dams are defunct.

The Minor Irrigation Department official said that an action plan has been prepared for the maintenance of vented dams and installing new slides. Also, Rs 100 crore has been earmarked in the district for work on vented dams.

MP Nalin Kumar told the Minor Irrigation Department officer to fix the slides of the vented dams before December so that water could be stored for the next agricultural season.

'Stop illegal sale of liquor'

Members also raised the issue of illegal sale of liquor and said that liquor is being sold in petty shops in interior areas. M S Muhammed accused officials of informing shopkeepers prior to raid. "This shows that the officials are in nexus with the wrongdoers," he said.

Zilla Panchayat vice president Kasturi Panja said that liquor is being sold illegally in a shop near the Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple in Kateel. Even though a complaint has been submitted to the concerned, no action has been taken, he complained.

Agriculture and Industries Standing Committee president Sarvottam Gowda, Education and Health Standing Committee president Shahul Hamid and Social Justice Standing Committee president Asha Timmappa Gowda were present.