'Pay pending bills for water tankers'

The Zilla Panchayat meeting resolved to initiate measures to pay the pending bills for water tankers that have been engaged in supplying water to the villages.

The ZP members echoed the view that the officials should ensure that the water crisis is tackled effectively in the district.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of ZP president Sujatha Krishnappa.

MLA D S Suresh said, "Water is being supplied to a few villages in tankers for the last several years. An amount of Rs 1.40 crore is pending to be paid for tankers in Tarikere taluk and Rs 2.89 crore is pending to be paid for tanker owners in Kadur taluk. In spite of reminding the same in the last meetings, no action had been initiated to pay the pending bills."

Member Mahesh Odeyar said, "Shuddha Ganga units that are defunct should be rectified immediately."

ZP CEO Satyabhama said, "Audit was carried out in gram panchayats related to the pending bills. There were a few problems with the documents. The DC had convened a meeting recently in this regard. The DC will convene another meeting on January 11."

The CEO said that Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned to Chikkamagaluru district for drinking water supply, of which Rs 5.70 crore has been released.

Member Shamanna Banakal said that rules have been violated while issuing permits for the starting of new schools. Action should be initiated against the three-member committee for violating the rules.

DIET Principal said that 34 applications were received seeking permission for opening new schools. As many as 28 schools have been opened.