KODAGU TOWARDS PROGRESS;

Madikeri January 3

Kodagu is marching towards progress and the Chief Minister has done enough to see that it thrives, said the deputy speaker K.G.Bopaiah.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating a veterinary hospital at Makkandur near Madikeri yesterday, K.G.Bopaiah listed out the projects which took shape in Kodagu.

Stating that development is the only goal of BJP government, he informed that the BJP government has dedicated Sainik School, engineering school, degree and first grade colleges to Kodagu. He listed out the grants released for various projects and mocked at the opposition parties which criticize them by alleging that they have not done anything for the development of Kodagu. Ridiculing the erstwhile government he said that they had promised a package of rupees hundred crore and never released a pie. Whereas, yediyurappa has released a package of rupees twenty five crores and it will be spent on development, he said.

Meanwhile, Bopaiah passed sarcastic remarks against the so called environmentalists blocking road and other projects. He said that they are doing it to plunder foreign fund and are not genuine in their act. He said that they have threatened to send him to jail in the recent road forming issue to Subramanya from madikeri and challenged them to do so. “ I have seen the prison life and I have bought a new set of cloths to go to court. Let them send me” he said.

MLA Appachu ranjan spoke on the occasion and said that survey work is on to convert Virajpet – Madikeri – Somwarpet road into two lanes. The cost of one kilometer will cost rupees one crore, he explained. He promised that all houses will have road approaches and light in the next five years.

Foermer president of DCC bank, K.A.Uthappa spoke on the occasion and remarked that the function looks like a BJP party function. He took strong objection not to have invited MLC M.C.Nanaiah to the function. He said that the project of veterinary hospital was mooted by him.

BJP president Sunil Subramani, secretary A.K.Palaksha, CMC president Ponnappa, president of the Makkandur gram Panchayath Madhu Gopal and others were present.

UNION CONDEMNS ATTEMPT TO MODIFY PANCHAYATH RAJ ACT

The Union of Gram Panchayath members has condemned the attempt to modify Panchayath Raj act and feared that the Panchayaths will further loose power.

Addressing a press conference, president of the Union, Sara Chengappa said here that the Chief Minister has issued a statement to this effect and it is meaningless to bring change to the existing system.

He said that the amendment will give more power to the secretary and the taluk Panchayath presidents will lose power. This is going to encourage misappropriation, he opined. A resolution was passed in the Taluk Panchayath meeting of Ponnampet and the copies were forwarded to the deputy commissioner, CEO of Zilla Panchayath to register their protest.

President of the Kannangala Gram Panchayath, K.S.Gopala Krishna told press that trimming the power of the presidents is anti constitutional act. The speakers demanded more grants and urged not to bring any change.

OFFICIALS HOLD MARATHAN MEETING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS

In a bid to solve the problems rocking Kodagu, particularly about the Forest lands and roads running through them, the district officials held a marathon meeting at the Deputy Commissioners office yesterday and decided to arrive at consolidated decisions.

The four and a half hour meeting which crossed 9 p.m yesterday night dealt in detail the two issues of road and bridge at Kadamakal and Kootiyala.

Talking to press after the meeting the DC Baladeva Krishna told that the Kadamakal – Subramanya road was a foot path earlier and the PWD has considered it as a high way. The forest department was also asked to verify the record to substantiate its claim and a final decision would be arrived at after the verification of records. He said that even the Kootiyala bridge in South Kodagu is also facing the same kind of controversy and it will also be attended to in the next sitting.

The officers decided not to indulge in blame game and work in unison.

Assistant Commissoner Akram Pasha, HQA Chikka Thammaiah, CEO ramachandrappa, SP Suresh, DFO Mallesh, Anil rattan Singh and Range Gowda and others were present.