Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Oct 12: "There has been sea erosion in the district every year. A unique pilot project of erecting a seawall was undertaken for the 3.5-kilometre shoreline from Trasi to Maravanthe at the cost of Rs 92.23 crore with the help of Asian Development Bank. The project will be extended by another 300 kilometre in the state if the current project is successful," said district-in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the project at Varaha Swami Temple premises here on Thursday, October 12.

"Through the department of fisheries, projects worth Rs 300 crore are in progress in Byndoor constituency. Other elected representatives in the constituency are not bothered about the constituency. They should mingle with the people of the constituency instead of worrying about work in the rest of the state. These developments leave a mark in the history of Byndoor, as among the first to get such projects. These developments in the constituency have been taking place because of the initiative and farsightedness of MLA Gopala Poojary."

Byndoor MLA K Gopala Poojary presided over the programme. Taluk panchayat member Jagadish Poojary, Maravanthe gram panchayat president Anitha R K, Trasi grama panchayat president Venkata Poojary, district KDP member Raju Poojary, vice-president of the contract company Raja Amar, CEO Vivek Bansal, DGM Kishore Kumar and others were present. Retired teacher Shanker Billava welcomed and compered the programme.

Uninvited local representatives

A volley of words ensued about the transparency of the scheme and the launch of the project in particular by uninvited local representatives. Their claims of not having received an invitation to the programme were confronted with counterclaims from the other invitees.

"The panchayat did not know of the developments taking place in Maravanthe. The groundbreaking ceremony today, was held in haste. The gram panchayat has not hung the flex by the road about the programme. The local lok sabha member did not know the groundbreaking ceremony of the programme. The grama panchayat and president feel humiliated," said Anitha R K, president of Maravanthe gram panchayat.

Gopal Poojary however clarified, "The local MP's office was informed about the groundbreaking ceremony by the officials concerned and the programme was held on the day scheduled by the district-in-charge minister. The permission of MP is not needed for the programme. The confusion is unnecessary."

Funds

"ADB provided the loan as Karnataka government gave surety for the funds which the union government could not. The funds are being used for constructing the breakwater. There are no efforts by the MP (Yeddyurappa) towards the project. The sea wall at Trasi-Maravanthe shoreline is being constructed because of the efforts of the MLA here," Pramod Madhwaraj, Udupi district in-charge minister.

BJP lambasts Congress for not inviting MP Yeddyurappa

Meanwhile, the BJP hit out at the Congress for sidelining its MP Yeddyurappa and not inviting him to the event, saying that the event seemed more like a party programme than a government one.

"The work on proposed breakwater project worth Rs 92.23 crore at Maravanthe-Trasi shoreline is taking place with help from Asian Development Bank because the union government provided surety for ADB loan for the proposal of state government. But the MP (Yeddyurappa) has no information about the groundbreaking ceremony. The name of the MP also does not feature in the flex banner. The MP has been insulted. Maravanthe gram panchayat and panchayat president also have no information about the programme. The MLA is conducting government programmes as party programmes and indulging in cheap politics. Byndoor BJP condemns it," said Byndoor BJP president Sadananda Uppinakudru.

Addressing a press meet at Kundapur here on October 12, he said, "The events at Maravanthe did not look like a government programme. It looked like a party programme. Local zilla panchayat members have been insulted and Congress party leaders are given platform. There is enough assistance from MPs funds for this project. Rs 12.19 crores have been received as Tsunami assistance. Funds are released from the union government for Sauda bridge, Alooru Ragihaklu bridge, Hallihole bridge and Tarapathi bridge. Funds are also released for Keradi, adopted village of MP. But the MLA is misleading people without mentioning about the funds," he said.

"The government programme Janaspandana that has not been conducted for the last four years is being conducted now as the elections are approaching. Local taluk panchayat members are not allowed to speak in the programmes and taluk panchayat members from elsewhere speak in them," he alleged.

Backward class morcha leader Anand Kharvi said, "Subsidized kerosene oil is still not provided to fishermen. The concerned people are not providing information about it. The project of the union government for the fishermen is not reaching the beneficiaries properly for the last three to four years. The project is about to go astray. Local MLA does not speak about it," he said.

Maravanthe gram panchayat president Anitha R said, "Panchayat does not know about the programme that is taking place in Maravanthe gram panchayat. Gram panchayat approval is not obtained for the flex on the roadside. Local Lok Sabha member also does not know about the ground breaking ceremony. No invitations have been printed. Local gram panchayat and president are insulted. The programme is conducted in haste. The MLA is neglecting Maravanthe panchayat. 94C title deeds are not issued for Maravanthe in the recent Janaspandana programme," he said.

Taluk panchayat members Surendra Kharvi Gangolli, backward class morcha chief secretary Ravi Ganiga were present.