PUBLIC PROTEST ENGINEER – CONTRACTOR NEXUS;

Madikeri January 12, 2008

In a major public awareness move, residents around Srimangala held a protest and openly demonstrated that the underhand dealings are reigning high in public works between contractors and engineers.

Executive engineer of Zilla Panchayath, Ashok Reddy and Engineer Srinivas were asked to visit a spot at Srimangala region yesterday. People arrived with tapes and other measurement equipments and measured a newly formed road to which the money was about to be released. Engineer Srinivas had signed the road as measuring 330 meters. Whereas the actual length formed was only 251 meters with a shortage of 79 meters. People took to task the contractors and engineers and said that almost all public works are done this way. They also took the engineers to a school at Kakoor where a compound wall work was half done. Though the work was half done, the bill was fully paid to the contractors. Same engineer Srinivas had passed the bill in both these cases for payment.

EE Reddy responded to the appeal and said that he will transfer the engineer Srinivas from Srimangala.

While rupees seven lakhs was released to the road work by ZP member Balakrishna’s grant money, rupees one lakh was granted from MLC Arun Machaiahs quota to the school compound work.

Planters, members of Sarvajanika Hitarakshana Samity, ZP members and public were present.

ADVICE TO ELECTRIFY ALL VILLAGES IN SOUTH KODAGU;

The Taluk Panchayath meeting yesterday advised the officials to electrify all the villages in South Kodagu by March end.

Meeting chaired by President Saritha Poonacha discussed in detail the villages which have no electrification. CESCOM was advised to undertake electrification under Rajiv Gandhi electrification scheme. Members took objection and said that though the electrification scheme was sanctioned long ago, no progress was found in this regard.

Tackling other issues, members pointed out that the CDPO has drawn more amounts towards changing the jeep tyres. CDPO accepted the fault and sought apology.

Members noted that no progress was achieved in Employment Assurance scheme. Resolution was passed to send a detailed report about the failure from the officials’ side to the government.

The members registered their opposition to the high tension wire project of the Power grid corporation in south Kodagu.

VIRAJPET TO IMPROVE DRINKING WATER AVAILABILITY;

In a meeting held at Virajpet by the elected representatives from the town Panchayath, a decision was taken to improve drinking water facility in the town.

In the informal meeting, members decided to extract sand from Bethri river to get more water. They observed that Virajpet has been experiencing shortage of drinking water even in the beginning of summer which is going to be worse in the coming days.

They decided to seek deputy Commissioners permission to remove sand. Meeting also decided to repair the dead borewells and dig more to provide water in the town.

Chief officer Srinivas, Junior engineer Mohammed Illias, health inspector Krishnaprasad and others were present.