ENS

Mangalore, Mar 1: An issue of a letter written to the gram panchayats of Delanthabettu and Ekkaru by the officials instructing them not to take-up any development works came in for a sharp criticism at a Zilla Panchayat meeting here on Thursday.

As soon as the meeting was started, ZP member Shaila Sequira asked the officials how could they sent such a letter to the gram pachayats. This letter by ZP CEO has created resentment among villagers, she said demanding proper reply from the officials on this. It was known fact that the majority of villagers in and around Kateel were opposing the acquisition of land for Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) project. But none of the ZP members except Congress member Mamatha Gatti had raised their voice to support Shaila.

Shaila said that the ZP officials who drafted and sent letter to the gram panchayats did not inform the ZP members concerned. Villagers opposed the letter and urged the officials to withdraw it, Shaila said adding that officials should clarify it. Villagers also have decided not to pay tax and were ready to face the action, she said adding that villagers would not hand over their land for MSEZ even if their names were deleted from the voters’ list.

Meanwhile, ZP CEO A M Kunjappa was not present at the meet. Deputy secretary Shivashankar clarified that letter would not have gone to all gram panchayats. Instead it would have been sent to stop development works on the lands which have already been acquired by Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) for MSEZ, he said and suggested that the villagers could approach the court if they have any objection regarding the issue.

Responding on the issue, ZP president K P Sucharitha Shetty said that the ZP does not aware of such letter. “A debate on this issue will not be fruitful without the consultation of the CEO and the Deputy Commissioner,” he nodded. Drinking Water: Member A C Bhandari lamented that the district has been facing severe shortage of drinking water. “None of the officials are conducting survey regarding the issue,” he added.

Shivashankar, responding to Bhandari’s question, said that the the Assistant Executive Engineer has been assigned to conduct spot inspections. A total of Rs 24 crore has been reserved for drinking water schemes for the year and Rs 9 crore has already been released, he said and added that all the defunct borewells and wells will be restored to proper condition.

Sub-standard work of Ujire Koraga Colony ZP member from Ujire, Sundara Gowda complained that the Koraga Colony constructed by the Nirmithi Kendra is of sub-standard and not fit for occupancy. Koragas who were allotted houses in the colony are forced to sleep outside, he adds.

The concrete of the seven-feet height house has only two-inch thickness, he said urging that schemes should not be handed over to the Nirmithi Kendra if they do not meet the standards. Answering to Gowda’s allegations Nirmithi Kendra director Rajendra Kalbavi said that the buildings were constructed as per the ZP norms. If required, the Kendra would repair the buildings, he added. But members who opposed Kalbavi’s suggestions asked him to provide new houses for Koragas.