Udupi phone-in programme, March 27, hectic response from people seen

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Mar 28, 2017: Phone-in complaints ranging from drinking water shortage to illegal sand extraction came in a regular stream at the first direct phone-in programme organised by the Udupi district DC at the District Offices Complex on March 27, Monday. Most of the queries centered around revenue department.

A lady from Bijoor village said that they were not getting tap water for the last two months and had to walk about 1.5 km to get water from a well. “Help us,” she pleaded. DC  Francis said that she would direct the Executive Officer of Kundapur Taluk Panchayat to take immediate action. A person from Ulloor village said that the people were facing problems from a crusher unit operating nearby and he also complained about sand extraction in the nearby river. DC  Francis directed Shilpa Nag, Assistant Commissioner, to inspect the spot.

Secretary of Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Katapady, said that the school had 1,400 students. The well at the school which used to provide water to the Katapady Gram Panchayat during summer had gone dry this time. Water was now required for midday meals, he said. Ms. Francis said that she would ask the Panchayat Development Officer and try to find a solution.

Dalit Sangharsh Samiti leader, said that the students in the government hostel at Bannanje in Udupi were facing water shortage. Though he had brought the matter to the notice of the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), no action had been taken.  Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis directed municipal Commissioner D. Manjunathaiah to supply water through tanker to the hostel daily. She also directed the District Social Welfare Officer to submit a report on the action taken in the matter.

A call from Airody said that water was overflowing at the Primary Health Centre at Sasthan. Ms. Francis directed the Assistant Executive Engineer to immediately call the medical officer of the health centre and take steps to stop the overflow of water.

One caller said that the headlights of many vehicles were too bright and this caused problems for people driving in the opposite direction. Hence, the top half of the headlights of vehicles should be blackened, he said.

A caller from Kundapur complained that there was a lot of gambling going on at Koteshwar, Byndoor, Tallur, Hattiangady, Hemmady and Trasi villages. DC  Francis said that she would ask the police to take action on it.

G. Anuradha, Additional Deputy Commissioner, was present.

All calls were received by Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis at the phone-in programme. The phone-in programme was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.  But calls started coming in early and DC  Francis began receiving calls from 9.50 a.m. and she concluded at 11.10 a.m. In all, 44 calls were received.

Some calls, however, got cut midway.  A caller said that there should be a follow-up of the complaints lodged at the phone-in programme next month.

Since the calls kept coming even after 11.10 a.m., DC Mary Francis directed other officers to attend to them and make a note of the problems.