BJP and Congress members clash at ZP general meeting

BJP and Congress members clash at ZP general meeting

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 23, 2011: BJP and Congress members had a verbal tiff during the general meeting of the DK Zilla Panchayat, triggered when Congress members accused the ZP of allotting more developmental funds to BJP members.

The meeting began in a proper manner with ZP President Shailaja Bhat congratulating the CM for emerging victorious in the legislative council by-election and the district’s power lifters Akshatha, Supreetha, Neha, Vinutha, and Vincent Prakash Carlo for winning medals for the district.

 

Road repair issues
The above-mentioned verbal battle broke out when the ZP’s failure to implement development projects in the district was being discussed. A number of members began talking at the same time, in spite of the president’s plea for discipline. Mamatha Gatti of Thumbe said that the ZP had promised Rs. 55 lakh for each ZP member to launch development projects in their respective constituencies, but this allotment was pending approval. The Congress also criticized the ZP for its failure to repair and maintain roads.

Recalling that CM D. V. Sadananda Gowda had promised to repair roads by the end of Dec 31 when he came to power, Congress members wanted to know the reasons for the delay. They also pointed out that contractors are unwilling to take up further projects because they are afraid they won’t be paid.

Finally, the PWD executive engineer said that all road repair work will be completed by Jan 31, 2012 instead of Dec 31, 2011. Dr. K. N. Vijayaprakash, the CEO of the ZP, warned that stern action will be taken against the concerned officers if the deadline is not met.

Arecanut loss
During the meeting, it was revealed that arecanut production was suffering because of various diseases and excessive rainfall. Forty-five percent of the total arecanut production in the district was under loss. Speaking about the problem, the deputy director of the horticulture department said that a proposal to compensate affected farmers with Rs. 62,000 per hectare has been accepted. Further, he said that arecanut farmers have been advised to grow crops such as cocoa and pineapple in their farms. In response, MLA U. T. Khader said that, in spite of regular ZP announcements, no farmer was compensated last year.

Dhanalakshmi Janardhan, the vice president of the ZP; Janardhan Gowda, the chairman of the social justice standing committee; and Eshwar Kateel, the chairman of the education standing committee, also participated in the meeting.