Three teams formed to tackle ganja trafficking in Udupi district

The police are all set to take stringent action against ganja sale and trafficking in the district.

Briefing the house at the general body meeting held in zilla panchayat, Additional SP Vishnuvardhan said that three teams have been formed under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act, 1985). Each team would comprise DySP, PSI and DCIB personnel with 10 to 12 members. These personnel will work in civilian attire.

He said that recently, 1.4 kg ganja was seized in Manipal. He said two highway patrolling vehicles are constantly on vigil at highways.

Percolation ponds

Zilla panchayat president Dinaker Babu said that the zilla panchayat would take up water conservation by introducing percolation ponds during monsoon. The zilla panchayat president added  that the zilla panchayat will be role model for the state as all zilla panchayat members will implement rain water harvesting in their houses. Prathap Hegde Marali said that the underground water table has reached 500 meter deep, which is alarming.

Delay in release of fund

The delay in the release of the funds for the beneficiaries of various housing schemes was also discussed. Member Janardhan Thonse said that under Basava Vasati Yojane, the beneficiaries are waiting for funds. The amount is not released even after the GPS uploading of the photos of the houses are done and the bills are sent, he said.

Expressing concern, Thonse said that the house cannot be built after one month as the rains will lash the district. He also demanded the details over the technical snag. He said that the poor people have to repeatedly approach banks and return empty handed, he said.

The official concerned said that for the year 2016-17, the audit process on GPS is being carried out. The procedure is done all over the state, hence the delay in the fund release. The funds would be released shortly. Deputy Commissioner and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Priyanka Mary Francis said that she would try her best for the immediate release of funds.

Replying to a query, the Public Works Department executive engineer said that a notice is served for 40 contractors citing the failure in the responsibility after taking the task through tender. The member said that these contractors will be blacklisted.

Vented dams

The other issue that rocked the house is the low-quality construction at vented dam. Wooden planks put across the vented dam in Kokkrane are damaged and have started leaking, barely two years after they were constructed. Member Marali said that water is not released and by November, the water gets exhausted. The vented dams are contructed, where there is no requirement, he said, citing the example of vented dam in Yelajith area.

The deputy commissioner directed the official concerned to work on cost benefit ratio and submit the report at the earliest. The members also said that the compensation package for the farmers—whose farm lands were destroyed due to leakage at 24th km at left bank canal in Varahi irrigation project in June 2015—has not been released.

The officer assured that the water shortage problems will be sorted out by supplying water through tanker to the areas where there is shortage. The officer also informed that tender for projects worth Rs 20 crore under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) are underway.