NewsKarnataka-Bantwal
Bantwal : Drinking water supply to over 80 houses including the Kaithrodi Anganavadi centre at Rayi Gram Panchayat was affected after a Panchayat Development officer locked up the pump house without the consent of the elected representatives on Wednesday June 4. The matter however came to light on Thursday June 5.
What has been gathered of now is that the PDO resorted to such a step after many villagers were averse to paying their water bills owing to irregular water supply in some places in Rayi, Koila and Arala villages in Rayi Gram Panchayat limits.
Though the matter had came up for discussions at Gram Sabha on many occasions, the elected representatives as well as officials were speaking only about installation of meters rather than finding solution to the problem. Sources say water was supplied to some places every alternate day and sometimes even once a week not only during summer but also monsoons.
Though the latest gram sabha held on May 27 had no resolved against locking up the pump house, the PDO had all of a sudden locked up the same on Wednesday June 4 without taking anyone into confidence.It is learnt, even the TP Chief Indira Madhukar Bangera was kept in the dark on the issue.
The villagers have now threatened to stage a protest in front of the Panchayat office after lodging complaints with the Tahsildar, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer, ZP CEO and Deputy Commissioner.
