Mangaluru: Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology S.R. Patil on Saturday set a deadline of three months for the officials in Dakshina Kannada to complete pending works under the special area development grants of elected representatives.
Reviewing the progress made under local area development funds of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, the Minister told the officials that they have to start the work from today. He said while 369 works were pending under special funds of legislators accounting for 75 per cent of the works sanctioned, 153 projects were pending under MP’s funds.
Though the financial progress was 71 per cent (Rs. 70 crore spent as against Rs. 98 crore released out of the total budget of Rs. 204 crore), there was a need to speed up the completion of the projects. Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Thulasi Maddineni said, officials in Panchayat’s Engineering Department had not been transferred for more than 15 years and this was the reason why the works were not progressing fast. She had recommended transfer of many. The Minister advised her to get more work from the staff instead of transferring them.
While, A B Ibrahim Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district expressed disappointment with the pending works by the MCC Engineers. “The people have lost confidence in the MCC, even to construct Anganavadi they are taking five months”, he said.
In addition, Zilla panchayat CEO Tulasi Maddineni said there is negligence, since crores of money is poured in, and the small works are taken too lightly by the engineers.
Executive Engineer Rajashekar, MLC Ivan D’souza, MLA J R Lobo and other officials were present.
