MEMBERS BOYCOT THALUK PANCHAYATH MEETING

Madikei Jan.18 Somwarpet thaluk panchayath members today boycotted thaluk panchayath meeting. They noticed the absence of PWD,SC St corporation,Harangi fisheries, reservoir project officers. Even lead bank, sericulture,Food and civil supplies, land army officers were absent. Without their presence the discussion will become void according to the opinions of Z.P.member. They boycotted the meeting and went away from the hall. Geetha Basappa, the T.P. president who presided over today’s meeting instructed the Chief Executive officer to sent notice to the absentees and ask their written clarifications.

BJP CONTESTS INDEPENDENTLY

Madikeri Jan. 18 BJP will contest elections independently-disclosed D.V.Sadanada Gowda, the party state president and M.P. here. He was speaking with the press during his visit to Madikeri.

The party will feed the candidates for all the 224 assembly segments without support from any other parties- he clarified. The party is in full swing immediately after Yediyrappa srepped down from the Chief Minister post. We already considered Yediyurappa as the chief ministerial candidate like L.K.Advani’s name for the prime minister post-he confirmed. When asked about M.P.prakash’s stand he said we will not invite him with beetle leaf welcoming. If any leaders show interest to join BJP the doors open- he said. The congress is unnecessary provoking our party with continuous allegations. When they were sitting in the opposition benches in the assembly why they kept quiet? Now they want political gain through created allegations. We will just ignore their charges he opined. Out of 224 assembly constituencies the party leaders have already conducted meetings in 68 constituencies he disclosed. In Kodagu district 146 booth committees are formed Gowda explained.

MORE BUSSES TO PLY IN RURAL AREA;

Madikeri January 18, 2008

More government busses will ply in rural areas to provide better service to villagers, according to Deputy Commissioner Niranjan.

He was addressing the district Road Transport Authority meeting at his chamber yesterday. Niranjan said that 77 busses will be provided with new permit to ply in rural areas.

The private bus owners who were present in the meeting took strong objection to it and said that permitting government service will hamper their income and they may not be able to operate anywhere. They insisted that the permits should be given only after holding discussion with them. They also said that only twenty routes can be permitted and others will become illegal. The deputy commissioner said that bus timings could be decided after discussing with the private operators so as not to clash and the permit has to be given to improve service to rural areas.

Private bus owners explained the difficulties they are facing and cautioned that they may have to think of blocking service to many places. They said that auto rikshaws and jeeps are illegally carrying people to many places causing loss to busses. Superintendent of police Sandip Patil and RTO Gayatri Devi assured to control such menace.

Public who were present in the meeting pointed out that the private busses are erratic and they are not running the busses regularly to certain routes and even the timing s are not maintained. The deputy commissioner also informed that he has also received complaints from public and advised the private operators to improve their service. He has also cautioned to cancel the permit if they fail to operate according to the guidelines or agreements.

Meanwhile, few private bus owners walked out of the meeting as the RTA decided to provide permit to government busses to operate in rural areas.

RESIGANTION URGED;

General Secretary of jatyatita Janata Dal, Satish Joyappa has urged the resignation of taluk Panchayath member Addanda Cariappa.

Addressing scribes here he said that Cariappa won the elction from JDs and has submitted resignation to the party. Since the resignation is accepted, he has no right to stay in power, he explained.

Meanwhile, he disclosed that former Prime Minister H.D.Devegowda would be visiting Kodagu on this 29th and former Chief Minister Kumar Swamy will be visiting in the month of March to strengthen the party. Party will be strengthened by forming new committees, he said. Office bearer’s Kanda Bhimaiah, Surendra Shetty and Suresh were present.

VOTERS LIST VERIFICATION ON WAR FOOTING;

The dputy commissioner K.R.Niranjan has said that verification of voters list is going on in a war footing in the district and officials are cautioned to deliver service responsibly.

Addressing scribes here, he said that according to the rough copy of census there are 4, 13,783 voters in the district. 6467 names are included in the district and 869 are yet to be included. Some names are dropped for various reasons and about 3,92,456 voters may remain in the list, according to him.

He disclosed that the work of voters identification card is also in progress. Madikeri has achieved 56.32% success, Virajpet 50.17% and Somwarpet 58.76%.

He appealed to public and political leaders to co operate in streamlining voters list and cards.

Meanwhile, answering a query about the much opposed high tension wire scheme in South Kodagu he clarified that the high tension wire scheme will not harm any one. He also said that they need not take permission of the people to erect structures in their properties. The company will also provide compensation to those who incur loss, he said.

He also disclosed that the survey work to identify Jamma lands is over and a report is submitted to government.The reply is awaited, he said.