HASSAN: It appears that a spate of tragedies, which began with the Dyapalapura violence in October last year, has affected the execution of development works worth Rs. 1,000 crores in the district. The death of 22 people in a hooch tragedy and an explosion in a house, which claimed eight lives, have, to an extent, eclipsed development works in the district.

Dyapalapura

The Dyapalapura violence, which was sparked off by the murder of a Congress leader, is considered a blot in the history of the district. The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda tried to minimise the damage by announcing the construction of a model village.

But a Janata Dal (Secular) leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the villagers of Dayapalapura are on the streets as the construction of houses is yet to begin.

Elephant menace

The deaths owing to the elephant menace in Sakleshpur taluk angered the people, which forced the local MLA, Vishwanath, to stage a dharna in front of the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) seeking permission to capture and relocate the elephants.

Two villagers died after consuming illicit liquor in Hettur village of Sakleshpur taluk, which was followed by the Tubinkaere incident in Channarayapatna taluk, which claimed five lives.

By the time police arrested the accused, 13 people had died in hooch tragedies at Bage, Belagodu and Golaganda villages in Sakleshpur taluk.

Though the district administration said it had taken steps to contain the procurement and supply of methyl alcohol, two persons died at Satenahalli after consuming illicit liquor recently.

Even as the district administration was coping up with the spate of hooch tragedies, an explosion at Chippinakatte area in Hassan city owing to illegal storage of firecrackers claimed eight lives and left 10 seriously injured. Also, accidents on National Highway 48 have become a daily affair and several people have lost their lives in recent days.

G. Puttaswamy Gowda, former MP, recently alleged that the district administration has failed in its duty to maintain law and order.

Though the Public Works Minister and district in-charge, H.D. Revanna, has warned that action will be initiated against erring officials, there has been no let up in such incidents.

Official held responsible

The Minister of Information, B. Shivaram, held the Deputy Commissioner responsible for the deaths in the hooch tragedies.

Mr. Vishwanath alleged that despite reminders, the Excise Department officials have failed to turn up for the Karnataka Development Programme review meeting, which, he said, showed scant respect for the district administration.

People say that timely action by the district administration against bootleggers and those who are in the business of supplying methyl alcohol could have saved many lives.

Show-cause notice

Reacting to growing pressure, the Government on Wednesday issued show-cause notices to the Deputy Commissioner, K.H. Ashwathanarayana Gowda, and the Superintendent of Police, Panduranga H. Rane.

However, Mr. Revanna has taken exception to the Government's move.

He said that instead of taking action against the Excise Department officials who are responsible for the deaths, the Government has chosen to target the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police.

Development works

Leaders of the Janata Dal (S) in the district refuse to accept that the tragedies have shadowed the image of their party and that of Mr. Revanna. It is because of Mr. Revanna and Mr. Deve Gowda that development works worth Rs. 500 crores were taken up in November in Belur, Holenarsipur and Hassan taluks, they say.

The setting up of a government medical college, the Rs. 70-crore milk powder manufacturing unit at Shettihalli in Channarayapatna taluk, the railway line between Hassan-Shravanabelagola, the airstrip at Bhuvanahalli, a bedspread linen factory and a food processing unit at Somenahallikavalu are their contribution, they say.

They feel that Hassan is only going through a rough patch.

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