Water debate at ZP meet leads to chaos

Water debate at ZP meet leads to chaos

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 6, 2012: K. T. Shailaja Bhat, the president of the DK Zilla Panchayat, announced at the ZP meeting held on May 5 Saturday that taluk-level meetings will be held in the next two days with concerned officers and elected representatives to discuss water problems in different parts of DK.

The above announcement was made when members of the opposition threatened to boycott the meeting and went close to the podium, protesting against the apathetic attitude of the authorities regarding the district’s water problems.

Members belonging to different political parties criticized the state government for releasing Rs. 2 crore to the DC instead of the ZP and alleged that these funds were left unutilized while people were forced to deal with their water problems on their own. ZP members were told that Rs. 50 lakh of these funds were used so far through taluk-level task forces under the leadership of local legislators.

M. S. Mohammed of the Congress party said that the drinking water problem was serious and demanded to know why the funds are not being effectively utilized.

Speaking about water problems, Mamatha Gatti of the Congress party said that 500 people in Sajipamuda have been facing water problems for a long time as the pump installed in the borewell does not have power connection.

ZP members expressed anger over their helplessness to use funds released to the DC. K. S. Devaraj of the Congress party said that the decisions taken by the taluk-level task forces simply have to be approved.

Speaking on the occasion, a BJP member said that not even half the city’s drinking water problems have been solved.

A heated debate then took place between Santhoskumar Rai of the BJP and Mamatha Gatti of the Congress, following which Congress members threatened to walk out and came near the podium demanding immediate solutions to the problem. The president then made the above announcement and adjourned house.