mangalore today

MP Shobha asks government to speed-up response to Kasturirangan Report


Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal, Mar 31, 2015  :   Briefing the media, MP Shobha Karandlaje urged the State government to speed-up the process of preparing final report over the proposed recommendations of Kasturirangan Report on conservation of Western Ghats to be submitted to Supreme Court by April 15.  

MP Shobha KarandlajeShe said the State government is as usual adopting an easy going and least bothered approach over the  over Kasturirangan recommendations.   The government had taken a decision following the resentment from villagers in the affected areas, to initiate gram sabhas to collect public opinion at the grass root level.

As many as 1,576 villages would be affected by proposed recommendations. However, the government has failed to take up gram sabhas and other formalities that were assured in at least half of the affected villages, the submission date is fast approaching and sufficient action is lacking. She added government should be serious over the issue, as the deadline to submit the report to the Supreme Court green bench is near.

Urging the government to introduce bye-laws to gram panchayats enabling licensing authority to as many as 5,629 gram panchayats, MP Shobha said near 2 lakh applications are pending before the gram panchayats pertaining to permission to build houses and other structures. The gram panchayats barely has two months, for the dates for polls would be announced. She demanded that the government immediately  arrange for by-laws by organizing the meet of CEOs from across State and other officials.

Anthyodaya cards :   Criticising the government for applying the High Court order for Narikombu panchayat in Bantwal with regard to Gowramma case issued November 11, 2014, to all gram panchayats in State, she alleged that the State government has put public in trouble. She said the State government has failed to provide Anthyodaya cards to BPL card holders as assured, the supply of rice and wheat is stopped to those BPL cards.

Censuring the State government for showing 55 per cent progress in the various development works that were initiated, she questioned the government’s inability to collect the commercial tax and stamp duties adequately. She also questioned over the unaccounted 3000 crore Excise duty. She alleged that the law and order mechanism in State has collapsed with Home Minister completely loosing control over police system. She alleged that the Rs 4000 crore funds to be collected through sand mining in State to the Stat’s treasury is false. The reason is sand mining is owned by most ruling party MLAs and the minister’s kith and kin.

Toll gate : MP Shobha demanded that the toll gate should operate across national highway only after 95 per cent completion of the work. Of the total 65 kilometers covering Kundapur-Hejmadi area, 56 kilometers are already completed. The remaining works will be completed by May end.

However, the nine kilometers stretch including Padubidri junction needs time for completion, due to complications. There are nine big bridges, of which the works of seven are completed. Six bridges would be opened for vehicles shortly. The bridge at Kalyanapur needs time, however the Udyavara bridge would be over by April end. The works of 34 small bridges in the district is completed, she added.

The MP urged the State government to furnish the list with the details of laborers working in organised and unorganised sector to central government.  She said the central government would allot funds for ESI facilitated hospitals in district only with required number of workers. The central government would also consider her request for the tunnel in Augumbe in the national highway covering Malpe to Theerthalli, in order to save  wildlife natural resources and related considerations.