Minister instructs KRIDL to complete works within deadline

Minister for Planning and Statistics M R Seetharam warned of withdrawing funds and development projects, if the works handed over to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd (KRIDL) are not completed within the deadline.

At a review meeting on MLAs’ and Coastal Development Authority Fund utilisation at the DC’s office here on Monday, he said several legislators and other elected representatives have been expressing dissatisfaction over the delay of works taken up by the KRIDL.

The funds are underutilised due to inordinate delays. Hence, the works will be implemented by public works department or the Zilla Panchayat engineering department, he said.

Seetharam directed the officials to complete the works related to Coastal Development Authority (CDA), which have been taken up by KRIDL, before September 1.

MLA B A Mohiyuddin Bava said Rs 50 lakh has been handed over to KRIDL to construct toilets at government college, Muttur. But the work has not yet been started and this has posed a problem to students, he said.

MLA J R Lobo urged to start the work on the skywalk near Town Hall as soon as possible. The minister said a separate account will be maintained in the name of the CDA to deposit the funds.

Earlier, the non-utilised funds went back to the government. Last year, Rs 15 crore was released and 12.6 crore was utilised. The remaining amount was returned to the government. A new account for the CDA will be opened in two to three days, he said.

This year, Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned to the CDA in the budget for various development works. The drafting of the action plan for the implementation of programmes is in progress, he said.

In 2015-16, the CDA constructed a footbridge, two suspending bridges, seven fish markets and two parks. In 2016-17, 82 footbridges, two suspending bridges, eight fish markets, two parks, two skywalk and roads, one drinking water supply programme and five anganwadis have been constructed. CDA chairperson Sharada Mohan Shetty was present.