mangalore today

Mangaluru: Vented dams needed for better groundwater level - ZP Gen body meet


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 30, 2015: The DK Zilla Panchayat unanimously passed a resolution against the ongoing Yettinahole project, during its 24th general body meeting at Nethravathi auditorium Mangaluru on Oct 29. Zilla Panchayat president Asha Timmappa Gowda expressed concern over the plight of people in the district, who were now dependent on rainwater as groundwater had depleted. The government cannot tap 24 TMC of water from the Yettinahole as there is just two TMC of water. Moreover, it should consider of increasing groundwater level in the Dakshina Kannada district by constructing vented dams on the rivers.

 zilla panchaya..ZP member Eshwar Kateel said that Kinnigoli multi-village drinking water scheme was another Yettinahole project, a money-making plan. The plastering work of water tanks is defective  and there is constant leakage. Already around Rs 10.73 crore has been spent but people have not benefited in these five years.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P Sreevidya said that she had spoken to the chief engineer and work would be finish in next two weeks. Work on 54 tanks out of 56 has been completed and leakage will be stopped at the earliest, she added. But Eshwar Kateel claimed that in reality things were different.

The CEO said that she had provided complete details to the government and had even requested the government to submit the project to Lokayukta enquiry as per the resolution of the Zilla Panchayat. "We are not protecting anyone," she said. However, panchayat once again passed a resolution demanding Lokayukta investigation at the earliest.

Mescom :  Congress member M S Mohammed and others were furious at Mescom for failing to provide electricity connections to completed water projects under Rural Drinking Water Scheme.  Many drinking water schemes are pending without power supply for the past one and half years, he said. Devaraj said that without the power supply one can not utilise water sources.  The CEO said that the government had passed a circular to provide connection to water pumps. In DK district, the Mescom has to supply power to at least 42 pumps. The Mescom officials said that they had received the circular on October 20 and would finish the work at the earliest. ZP president Asha Timmappa Gowda ordered to finish the electricity connection work by November 30.

Waste management : Santhosh Kumar Rai is frustrated about the incomplete work on liquid waste management plant at Kurnadu Grama Panchayat of Bantwal taluk.  "The KRDL has failed to finish the work even after two years. Dirty water is flowing on the roads. In spite of several requests, people have got only promises and nothing else. If the Zilla Panchayat fails to do this, I would complete it with my own expense," he said.

Nirmal Bharath Abhiyan District Co-ordinator Manjula G said that the project had been transferred from the KRDL to Panchayat Raj department. Though KRDL has submitted its valuation report, a joint valuation will be done in one or two days. ZP president Asha Timmappa Gowda ordered the officials to commence the work within one week and finish it at the earliest.

Koragappa Gowda said that as the polluted water and waste was left in open drains, drinking water sources were being polluted at Ujire and people had to put up with unbearable stench. CEO Sreevidya said that strict instruction had been given to Ujire Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) to take action against those who dispose liquid waste in the open drain.  More scientific plans are needed for developing areas like Ujire, she said.

Form 9/11 : Janardhan Gowda alleged that because of the form 9/11 problem, gram panchayats had turned as corruption centers and a den for the nefarious activities of middlemen and touts. The Zilla Panchayat had taken a decision on displaying notice boards on October 13 itself, but it is not being followed. The CEO said that the issue had been discussed and the notice board format was also sent to all the gram panchayats. "Within one week all 230 gram panchayats of the district should display notice boards on form 9/11," she ordered.  Vice President Satish Kumpala, presidents of various standing committees were present among others.

Special Olympian Rebeka felicitated :  Zilla Panchayat felicitated Rebeka, who had won bronze medal in Basketball competition in Special Olympics held at Los Angeles in USA from July 24 to August 7.

Around 7,000 specially abled from 148 countries participated in this tournament. Rebeka, daughter of Siji- Rosamma couple, hails from Puttur. Being a student of Bethany Jeevan Jyothi Special School Mardhala, Kadaba, she has achieved many feats. ZP president also announced Rs 10,000 cash prize to the achiever.