Go for multi-village approach: Shettar

ZP CEO urges Minister to release Rs 40 cr for maintenance of roads in Dakshina Kannada

Chairing a review meet of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat here on Tuesday, Shettar said that most of the towns in the State have proper water supply and other facilities. However, those villages in between two towns lack basic facilities including water supply. Hence, Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Gram Panchayats should implement schemes in a multi-village model, he said and pointed out that the method is feasible and will be economical too. Further, Shettar said that the Zilla Panchayats should have separate engineering section for water supply.

ISRO to identify water resources

Shettar said that scientists from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will identify all major water resources in the State through satellite.

“A permanent solution for water crisis can be found through implementing schemes using ISRO’s report. Schemes can be implemented at the right location as per ISRO suggestion,” he said adding that he has already held discussion with the ISRO scientists in this regard.

Talking about the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Shetter said that officials should be transparant with regard to the accounts.

Details on works and payments should be updated on time, he added.   

‘Release Rs 40 cr for roads’

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P Shivashankar urged the Minister to release Rs 40 crore for the maintainance of roads in the district.

He said “there are about 2,000 kilometers of asphalted roads under the Zilla Panchayat  jurisdiction. Since the district receives an average of 4,100 mm rain annually, most of the roads are being damaged every year. Hence, the government should sanction atleast Rs 40 crore for the maintainance roads.”

Briefing about the progress, Shivashankar said that the district has achieved 100 per cent progress in the implementation of development works. However, 50 per cent of the funds are yet to be released from the government, he added.

While a total of Rs 3.95 crore was released under a Special Sanction from the government in 2009-10, funds have been utilised fully to carry out 47 works.
Meanwhile, 18 works were completed utilising Rs 1 crore, Shivashankar said.

A total of Rs 31 crore has been released for the implementation of phase 3 of Suvarna Gramodaya Scheme in 33 villages. An action plan has already been approved for 27 villages and tender has been invited for 10 villages, Shivashankar informed.

Explaining about the drinking water supply during summer, he said that an action plan of Rs 4.99 crore has been prepared to implement emergency works.

While the Zilla Panchayat had made a demand to release of Rs 2.5 crore, the government has released Rs 1.59 crore, he added.

A total of 19,507 works were taken up by spending Rs 22.02 crore under the MGNREGS. While 82,011 families registered under the scheme, identity cards were distributed to 81,802 families, Shivashankar explained.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, District-in-Charge Minister J Krishna Palemar, Zilla Panchayat President Santhosh Kumar Bhandary, Vice President Jagannath Salian, Standing Committee Chairmen Sadanand Malli, Rajashri Hegde, MLAs U T Khader, Ramanath Rai and Abhaychandra Jain were present.