'Submit report on working of Shuddaganga units'

Chikkamagaluru Taluk Panchayat President Jayanna Nettekerehalli directed officials to carry out spot inspection and to submit a report on the working condition of ‘Shuddaganga’ drinking water units.

Presiding over the taluk panchayat general meeting here, Jayanna said the officials had submitted a report giving a clean chit to ‘Shuddhaganga’ units despite the fact that some water units were defunct.

“The officials are trying to mislead the elected representatives,” Jayanna pointed out and warned of initiating disciplinary action against officials giving false information.

Jayanna’s reactions came in the wake of the allegations made by taluk panchayat member Ramesh.

Raising the issue in the meeting, Ramesh said the ‘Shuddhaganga’ drinking water unit in Sugudavani village was defunct. “But officials concerned had filed a report declaring that the unit was working efficiently.”

Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department Assistant Executive Engineer Shankar maintained that the unit was in working condition but the people were not using it properly.

The reply by the official enraged the member, who challenged to tender resignation if the drinking water unit was found in a working condition.

“Even if a single tumbler of water is produced from the unit, I will step down from the position of taluk panchayat member”, he said. Jayanna directed the official to carry out spot inspections with gram panchayat development officer, taluk panchayat member Ramesh and other staff.

During a discussion on the payment due to private water tankers, Jayanna said that Rs 46 lakh was due for payment to the tanker owners for water supplied in the 2017-18. “Of this Rs 32 lakh has been paid. The rest would be paid from 14 Finance Committee grants.”

Taluk panchayat member Mallegowda said there was an acute water shortage in Lakya and Sadarahalli villages. Gram panchayat has been supplying 200 litres of water to every house, once in a week, but it is inadequate. There is a need to instal a separate electricity transformer to boost the voltage so that water could be lifted from the borewells in Sadarahalli village.

Jayanna told the members that three engineers, on additional charge, had been deputed for works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Chikkamagaluru taluk.

Mescom Assistant Executive Engineer Karthik said that 1,981 beneficiaries had been identified under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya electrification project and power connection had been provided to 1,484 households. He, meanwhile, said that three-phase electricity would be supplied for seven hours and single-phase electricity will be provided for nine hours in rural areas, in three batches. “There will be a load shedding for eight hours daily,” he added.

Horticulture Department Assistant Director Lohith said that farmers who had lost coconut crop due to inadequate rains in the taluk during the year 2016-17, will be compensated Rs 400 per tree. “A survey has already been conducted in this regard and 3,565 beneficiaries have been identified. As many as 3,265 farmers have applied for compensation.”

Taluk Panchayat Social Justice Standing Committee president Bhavya Natesh and Executive Officer H D Revanna were present.

Members Dakshayani, Rekha, Arpita, Mahesh and Suresh took part in the meeting.