JOIN USEOs told to focus on renovation of school buildings in Mysuru
President of Zilla Panchayat standing committee for Social Justice Beeri Hundi Basavanna expressed displeasure over the performance of taluk panchayat executive officers (EO) for delay in taking up renovation works at anganwadi centres and primary school buildings in the district.
ZP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) P Shivashankar asked EOs to prepare a list of anganwadis and primary schools that need to be renovated in the year 2017-18.
Basavanna was addressing officials during the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) progress review meeting at the ZP auditorium on Wednesday. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of ZP president Nayeema Sultana.
Shivashankar said that the state government is reluctant to release funds for repair of primary school buildings as officials are not spending the funds released for the same. “Even though an action plan for various schools was approved in June-July 2016, no works have been initiated in many of the schools as the TP executive officers are not showing interest. The EOs and the Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) should take steps to complete the works before March 31,” he said.
Beeri Hundi Basavanna said a majority of the school buildings in the district are in a dilapidated condition and need immediate renovation. “If the officials fail to take up the works, the government will stop realising funds,” he said.
Deputy Director for Public Instructions (DDPI) H R Basappa said the department has already sent a proposal for Rs 10.50 crore to the state government for renovation works. He said, “The department had written a letter to the government seeking permission to hand over works of Gopalpura High School to the Round Table as the NGO was ready to invest an additional Rs 11 lakh and had offered to construct two new toilets. Government, however, issued directives to take up the works through Public Works department or Nirmithi Kendra. The government has also sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for the school,” he said.
The CEO directed the DDPI to transfer funds to PWD so that the Round Table could take up works as per norms.
Open goshalas
Chairman of Agriculture and Industry Standing Committee Dayananda Murthy urged officials of the Animal Husbandry department to take measures to open ‘goshalas’ in parts of the district as only a few farmers are getting fodder for their cattle in the existing fodder banks. The department has opened a few banks but they are unable to meet the demands. An officer said they have distributed 100 tonnes of fodder from December 15, 2016, but it is not possible to meet the demand as many farmers, even though they have stored sufficient fodder, keep seeking fodder from banks.
“We need three tonnes of fodder every day and the department has already distributed 104 tonnes,” he said.
Beeri Hundi Basavanna said though the government and officials are striving to bring all farmers under crop insurance scheme, a few bank managers are not accepting the premium amount from farmers. He urged authorities to take measures in this regard.
No bird flu
Officials of the department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services confirmed that no bird flu cases had been reported in the district. Following bird flu outbreak in Mysuru Zoo, the department had collected samples of poultry and birds, and had sent blood samples to a lab in Bengaluru. Till now no positive case has been reported, confirmed the officials.