The Hindu : Karnataka News : Back they go to the old village ‘comforts'

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Thursday, Jun 23, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Back they go to the old village ‘comforts'

Staff Reporter

Lack of drinking water facilities and other amenities are driving them away from the new houses

Inadequate facilities:A young girl fetches potable water for her new house in Kongawada village, Dharwad district.

KONGAWADA (DHARWAD DISTRICT): It was in August 2010 that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa inaugurated 250 Aasare houses built for the rehabilitation of the flood-hit people at Kongawada village in Navalgund taluk of Dharwad district.

Later, another 170 houses were built at the ‘new village' by the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP).

Yet, even with the houses ready, only 30 families of the 100 who have been allotted houses have shifted. Reason: lack of basic amenities at the new village. And the lack of consensus on the allotment of the remaining houses.

First to move

Mookappa Pujari, whose original house was beyond repairs after the floods, was among the first to move to the new village. But he soon realised that everything was not rosy as the officials said it would be. After moving into the new house, Mookappa found that though there was a huge water tank and bore well, there was no drinking water as the pipeline was broken.

“Ever since we moved in here we have been asking the panchayat to reapir the pipeline, but they haven't come,” Mookappa said.

Even the drinking water source for the village is polluted and the de-silting work has been suspended.

“If they had repaired the pipeline, more people would have shifted to the houses. Although there is a building to incorporate the primary school, no infrastructure has been shifted. And at night it is frightening, especially for women and children, as there is power supply only to some parts of the village. Even the main road is not properly lit,” Mookappa said.

Like Mookappa, Shivanand Doddamani had also shifted to the new village, but went back to his old village after two months owing to lack of facilities.

“We have to go to the old village for everything. All the shops are still there, including the ration shop,” said Somu Pujar.

Meanwhile, the lack of consensus over the allotment of the remaining houses has compounded the problems. Suresh Badiger, a carpenter by profession, still stays in the old village as the village leaders are not in agreement with the allotment process adapted by the officials.

While officials say they can allot houses to only those families who, despite being part of joint families, have separate title deeds and land records, the village leaders want houses to be allotted to every family.

Tahsildar Vinayak Palankar admitted that there was a problem. He said there had been several rounds of talks with the village leaders but it hadn't yielded any result as the village residents were sticking to their guns.

Regarding water supply problems and other issues, he said he had requested the zilla panchayat to tackle them.

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