Kolar ZP takes a green step

Saplings should necessarily be planted on the premises of and around all government buildings in the district under the social forestry scheme, said Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer N Shantappa.

Addressing the progress review meeting at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium on Saturday, Shantappa said, “We need not wait for Vanamahotsava to plant saplings.”

He explained that the district has already had showers. Utilising this, plants should be grown on the premises of schools, temples, hostels and hospitals and even beside roads.

Head teachers and gram panchayat development officers should come forward to implement the scheme, he added.

Shantappa instructed the deputy director of the Department of Public Education Govindaiah that a circular be sent to heads of all schools in this regard.

‘Give saplings’

“Do not refuse anybody who come to you asking for plants- whether it be a department or a person,” Shantappa said.

He advised that every means to plant saplings be utilised instead of leaving the responsibility of growing greenery to the Department.

Referring to a complaint by Youth Service and Sports Department officer K Umalakshmi, he responded, “The social forestry department has not responded to letters requesting increasing the green cover around the sports hostel. It is speaking about the expenses of such a venture.”

Agriculture

The pre-monsoon showers being just round the corner, measures should be taken to distribute seeds and manure necessary for agricultural activity, he said.

Shantappa reminded that farmers are staging protests in other districts, demanding seeds and manure. “Measures should be taken quickly, to avoid such protests in Kolar district,” he told the Agricultural Department joint director Chikkanna.

He also called for a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner regarding prevention of any discrepancy in distribution and injustice to farmers.

In response, Chikkanna said the government has instructed that manure be distributed only through cooperative societies.

“But Bangarpet and Malur will have problems as no cooperative society in either taluk has volunteered to take up this responsibility,” he said.

Employment work

Shantappa explained that a lot of development work on tank beds has been carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. “This time, however, tank beds have received second preference. Maintenance of the environment around villages and growing trees and plants have been given top priority as this is also a way to tackle encroachment problem,” he added.

Market development

Shantappa expressed regret over the quality of mega markets for sale of mangoes. Referring to the data provided by the APMC officer, he questioned the failure in providing proper facilities to farmers despite the fees collected from the farmers and the funds given by government running upto crores of rupees.

The officer clarified that work could be undertaken only after receiving approval, although a workplan has already been prepared.

Shantappa, however, instructed the officer to visit the markets in Srinivaspur and submit a report.

He also instructed the KOMUL officer to see to the establishment of women’s cooperative milk societies with the help of Stree Shakti organisations. The deputy director of the Animal Husbandry was instructed to help the organisations develop animal farms and enable women to become self-sufficient.

Officers Lakshminarayana, Venkataramana and Sanjappa were present at the meeting.