×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Kolar DC besieged by protesting groups

Accepts demands, warns them of action against fake complaints about officers
Last Updated 15 February 2012, 18:42 IST

Activists of different organisations with various demands staged protests on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner's office in the City on Wednesday. 

The protesters, among other things, demanded giving priority to farmers in the upcoming budget, repair of the hostels run by the Social Welfare Department and improvement of law and order in the district. One common demand, however, was the implementation of a permanent irrigation project in the district.

In response, the Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena, who approached the protesters, accepted their memoranda and promised to help solve the problems in exchange for cooperation from the protesters.

Requesting the protesters for complete and proper information on the matters represented by them, Meena joked with them and even warned some of them of strict action if they gave false complaints against government officers.

Impressed by the DC's decent and friendly behaviour, the protesters withdrew crying slogans in praise of Meena.

No action against crime

Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) complained that although a fortnight had passed since a Vedike activist was stabbed in Garudapalya in the taluk, no action had been taken against the guilty. Fake accounts are being opened in the tahsildar's office. Residents of Lakshmisagar in Begli Hosahalli Gram Panchayat had not been given wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for two months. No action had been taken in spite of the activists complaining, they added.

In response, the DC assured the protesters of action if definite information on the false accounts was provided to him. He also promised action against unlicensed mining of sand and towards arrest of the accused in the stabbing case and payment of wages.

Farmers’ voice

Leaders of the Communist Party of India district unit staged a protest demanding priority to implementation of permanent irrigation in the next budget. They also demanded Rs 2,000 pension to farmers who have crossed 60 years of age. 

“Women's empowerment and self help groups should be given loans up to Rs 10 lakh without interest,” they demanded of both the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. “Industrial projects that require acquisition of agricultural land should be abandoned.

 Foreign Direct Investment should not be permitted in retail business.”

Speaking to them, the DC said a hike in MGNREGS labourers' wages will affect farmers first of all. He promised, however, to put across the demands to the government.

‘Transfer officers’

The DC was given a memorandum by the leaders of the Dalita Sangharsha Samiti, who demanded population-based reservation for Dalits. 

They also demanded a transfer of the taluk officer of the Revenue Department as well as police staff in rural areas, who are not people-friendly. Irregularities in the office of the deputy census officer should be stopped. Hooch trade in villages should be halted. 

The protesters demanded that teachers should be given greater training and better teaching opportunities. The district hospital should be given better facilities. The condition of the hostel run by the Social Welfare Department should be improved.

While he agreed that the problems in the Social Welfare Department hostel could be solved, Meena requested cooperation from all citizens. He said bribery in the hostels should be stopped before any action is taken.

Sand mining

Meena spoke to mediapersons after receiving memoranda.

Referring to unlicensed transport of sand from tanks, he said the gram panchayats concerned should register cases. “The police have been instructed to take immediate action if cases of unlicensed transport are registered.”

Meena said the most instances of such transport have been found in Mulbagal. Transport around Nangali has been controlled by setting up two check posts. “It is difficult to check unlicensed transport completely. But the district administration is working in this direction,” he explained and quoted the recent raid in Nangali as an example of attempts to check such transport.

Ettinahole will give enough water: DC

Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena said on Wednesday that Kolar district would certainly get enough water if the Ettinahole project was implemented.

Speaking to mediapersons after receiving memoranda from various protesters in the city, Meena said the technical reports assured enough water supply to the district to solve the problem of drinking water shortage.

He added that implementation of the Yaragol water project is likely to begin in March.
ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 15 February 2012, 18:42 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT