Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP tells officials to execute drinking water projects on priority basis

MP Kota Srinivas Poojary directs officials to prioritize Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Mission for rural drinking water supply.

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary on Tuesday, May 13, directed officials concerned to execute Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Mission (RJJM) project to provide drinking water in rural areas scientifically and on priority basis.

Chairing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring (Disha) Committee meeting at Rajatadri, the district office complex in Manipal, Mr. Poojary asked forest department officials to positively respond whenever there was a requisition to lay pipeline through forest areas for the Jal Jeevan Mission. Even other drinking water projects should be undertaken on priority basis, the MP said.

Asking Taluk Panchayat executive officers to monitor the work and resolve issues if any, Mr. Poojary said officials concerned would be held responsible if substandard works were found to have been executed.

He said officials concerned should properly implement schemes and programmes brought out by the central government for the benefit of the general public.

Mr. Poojary told officials to give special attention to Koraga tribes people living in over 182 settlements on forest fringes. He said housing projects for their benefit should be accelerated and if need be, help from private organisations should be availed of. Government schemes, including ration cards, Aadhaar cards, Ayushman cards etc., should be provided on their doorsteps, he said.

The MP asked officials to speed up land acquisition for widening the Malpe-Hebri stretch of National Highway 169A to complete the project at the earliest. In all, the district has received ₹1,412 crore funds for NH projects this year, he said. He wanted speeding up of fishing harbour project at Hejmady and coastal berth projects at Hangarkatta, Gangolli and Maravanthe. Wherever necessary, foot bridges should be built under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Expressing concern over the deteriorated condition of concrete roads built under the Gram Sadak scheme within six to seven years as against 15-year life, Mr. Poojary asked officials to issue notices to contractors concerned and get the affected roads restored.