Minister expresses ‘displeasure’ over forest officials’ style of functioning

‘ They are not allowing implementation of various schemes’

August 04, 2015 12:00 am | Updated March 29, 2016 01:04 pm IST - Shivamogga:

Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha, Hasiru Sene taking out a tractor rally in Shivamogga on Monday.— Photo: VAIDYA

Members of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha, Hasiru Sene taking out a tractor rally in Shivamogga on Monday.— Photo: VAIDYA

Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Rathnakar on Monday expressed displeasure over the style of functioning of the officials of the Department of Forest in the district.

The forest officials were working with an obstructionist attitude and not allowing implementation of works related to creating basic amenities in villages in the forest fringe areas, he said at the tri-monthly meeting here, organised to review the implementation of Karnataka Development Programmes.

Deputy Conservator of Forest Basavarajaiah told the meeting that Chief Conservator of Forest had been requested to seek permission from the Karnataka Wildlife Board to draw electricity lines through the Shettyhally wildlife sanctuary for providing power connections to Shetyyhalli and Chitrashettyhalli villages.

Mr. Rathnakar said, there was inordinate delay in seeking permission to draw electricity lines. The forest officials had denied permission to draw electricity line through Someshwara sanctuary to provide power connection for the drinking water supply unit at Malandur village, near Agumbe. The forest officials were also delaying the allotment of land for setting up a power distribution sub-station near Konandur and Bejjavalli villages in Tirthahalli taluk, though it had been assured to them that in exchange a revenue land would be transferred to them in exchange, he said.

T.L. Sundaresh, member of the zilla panchayat, alleged that forest officials had barred autorickshaws from going to Malandur village after 6 p.m. Mr. Rathnakar said, as there was no other means of transportation for the people there, they had to rely on autorickshaws.

M.J. Appaji, Bhadravati MLA, alleged that many LPG agencies were indulging in unfair business practices. Mr. Ratnakar directed Sridhar, Deputy Director of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, to conduct spot inspection and initiate stern action against LPG agencies indulging in such unfair practices.

Nagarada Mahadevappa, chairman of Bhadra Command Area Development Authority, said that the officials concerned were rejecting the applications of bagair hukum farmers seeking ownership rights on flimsy grounds. Mr. Rathnakar directed the Assistant Commissioners to address the problem.

Mr. Ratnakar directed officials of urban local bodies in the district to expeditiously complete the work related to the second phase of Nagarothana project.

The meeting gave approval for action plans to undertake drainage works at a cost of Rs 2.7 crore in Bhadravati and Rs. 1 crore each at Shiralakoppa and Sorab. He directed officials to the Department of Municipal Administration to undertake measures to prevent landslide in residential areas in Tirthahalli during monsoon.

The Minister said, the State government would soon release Rs. 78 lakh to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for conducting a fresh technical survey on Shivamogga airport project, as suggested by the latter. The survey is estimated to cost Rs. 78 lakh, he told presspersons after the meeting. The State government was keen on handing over the work to the AAI. Even the possibility of executing it on public-private partnership basis would be contemplated, he said.

Tractor rally

Meanwhile, activists of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) staged a protest here on Monday urging the government to provide subsidy for diesel used by farmers in tractors and tillers.

Addressing the protest meeting here, Y.G. Mallikarjuna, a KRRS functionary, said as farmers play a significant role in providing food security to the nation, it was the obligation of the government to provide subsidy.

He also pressed the government to provide Rs. 2 lakh as assistance to farmers for purchase of tractors.

Farmers rode on their tractors from the Government Science College ground to the Deputy Commissioner’s office as part of the protest. Functionaries of KRRS Vasanth Kumar and H.P. Satish took part in the protest.

They are delaying allotment of land for setting up power sub-station at Konandur and Bejjavalli villages in Tirthahalli taluk.

Kimmane Ratnakar,

Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education

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