The Hindu : Karnataka / Belgaum News : People's plight moves Kharge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Belgaum

People's plight moves Kharge

Staff Correspondent

Chides officials for lack of facilities

BELGAUM: "Cover these drains with stone slabs to provide safe passage... shift this old woman to a hut immediately... do not await Government Orders in such small matters."

This was how the Minister for Water Resources and Transport, M. Mallikarjun Kharge, responded to the problems of those living in Waghwedhe and Santibastwad during his visit to the two rehabilitation centres near here on Wednesday.

The two settlements house families displaced by the Markandeya irrigation project.

The Government has provided land and constructed houses under the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana and other housing schemes. Primary schools have also been opened for children.

But many lapses were noticed by the Minister such as the absence of pathways from houses to the roads and how people had to cross a two-ft-wide drain.

He asked the officials to take steps to cover the drain in front of three houses with stone slabs to help the aged.

He also took some time to listen to the old lady, who said she lost nothing because of the project as "she had nothing to lose." Her only requests were that doors be provided for the tin sheds and she be allowed to use one.

An official on the spot said the woman was asking for doors which were not necessary as she had nothing with her.

Mr. Kharge told the official that the woman may be destitute but she may have something that she treats as her property. She will feel secure if a door is provided.

"You have to realise their (the people's) sentiments. Their problems are not big enough to look forward to Government Orders and can be solved easily."

Surprise visit

According to the official programme, Mr. Kharge was to visit Santibastwad. But, he paid a surprise visit to Waghwedhe to find out for himself the plight of the families displaced by the project.

At Santibastwad where families belonging to five villages have been housed in a common locality, Mr. Kharge advised the people to form a committee to build temples like the ones that existed in their villages.

However, he also advised them to be "wary of the gods." Also, ask for a high school, a health centre and other facilities, he said.

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