Karnataka - Belgaum   

`MLAs not being consulted on development'

Staff Correspondent

Officials have diverted Suvarna Gramodaya funds to Karnataka Land Army: MLA

Belgaum : Two BJP MLAs alleged at the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting here on Monday that officials were neither consulting nor involving elected representatives on issues concerning development in the district.

Senior party leaders Vishwanath Mamne, Parasgadh MLA, and Laxman Savdi, Athani MLA, took objection to officials "ignoring" elected representatives.

Although the Central and State Governments had sanctioned various development schemes, officials had not bothered to inform elected representatives about the implementation. Belgaum district had been selected for implementation of the Employment Guarantee Scheme under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.

`Laxity'

But the officials had not bothered to take steps to extend the benefits to those in rural areas, they alleged.

The Government had selected five districts — Bidar, Chidradurga, Davangere, Gulbarga and Raichur in the State — under the scheme last year. Belgaum was selected in March.

The meeting was presided over by Minister for Horticulture and district in-charge Shashikant A. Naik. Among those who were present included zilla panchayat president Fakeerappa Gorbal and MLAs Mahadevappa Yadwad and Digamber Patil.

Mr. Mamne alleged that the officials had not involved any of the MLAs in preparing proposals for implementation of the "Suvarna Gramodaya" scheme.

Mr. Savadi alleged that the zilla panchayat had diverted a huge sum of money meant for implementation of Suvarna Gramodaya to the Karnataka Land Army.

Horticulture Mission

Mr. Savdi criticised officials, particularly the Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department K.B. Dundi, for being lethargic in implementing programmes under National Horticulture Mission in the district.

The MLAs of north Karnataka had held a meeting and decided to tender mass resignations to the then Dharam Singh Government if their demand for including Belgaum, Bijapur and other districts in the region under the National Horticulture Mission was not met. Also, Belgaum was the home district of the Horticulture Minister.

Hence, the Horticulture department had greater responsibility to ensure that the mission was a big success in the State, Mr. Savdi said.

The department had not utilised even the Rs. 3.27 crore that had been sanctioned. More than Rs. 1 crore was lying unspent. The department had not launched any proper publicity campaign, he alleged.

Suresh C. Angadi, MP, said that the department had not stocked saplings for distribution among farmers. Deputy Commissioner and zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer in-charge M.E. Shivalingamurthy said that only Rs. 14 crore was with the Karnataka Land Army and the amount could be withdrawn any time. On the "poor" progress of Suvarna Gramodaya, he said that 97 villages in the district had been selected and the project reports sent for approval.

Later, welcoming the suggestion of Kakasaheb Patil, MLA, it was decided to hold a workshop exclusively for legislators on June 18 giving details of the development schemes sanctioned by the State and Central Governments.

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`MLAs not being consulted on development'

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