Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, said on Saturday that a proposal would be submitted to the State government to implement the Paschimavahini project in Udupi district.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Madhwaraj said the project, which aims at construction of check dams against west-flowing rivers, would help meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of the district.
This would be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a meeting in Bengaluru on June 27 and 28. Mr. Siddaramaiah had called a meeting of deputy commissioners and chief executive officers of zilla panchayat on these two days. All ministers too would be present at this meeting.
The issues of upgrading of drinking water supply system and underground drainage system in Kundapur and Udupi would also be taken up at the meeting.
A proposal of Rs. 6.5 crore for repair of roads damaged due to rains and Rs. 5 crore for construction of temporary sea walls would also be submitted to the State government, he said.
Mr. Madhwaraj said after the Trasi incident, where eight children were killed in a road accident, there were different views on whether there should be immediate crackdown on autorickshaws and vans carrying these children or some time should be given to them to make alternative arrangements.
Hence he had called a meeting of all stakeholders including the drivers of autorickshaws and vans, school heads, officers such as Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Regional Transport Officer (RTO) too will attend it. The matter will be discussed threadbare at the meeting at district offices complex hall at 11 a.m. on July 2.
The problem requires an immediate plan of action and permanent plan of action for safe transport of children to schools, he said.
As regards nearly 600 seats under Right to Education (RTE) Act remaining vacant in the district, he said that the Department of Primary and Secondary Education will be issuing proper guidelines on Monday and that will help fill the seats.
On complaints of substandard pulses being supplied to three schools for the midday meals in the district, Mr. Madhwaraj said that one assistant headmaster had been suspended in Navunda. The schools had been told to purchase “dal” from outside if its quality was not good, he said.
On the widening of narrow road at Parkala here, he said that the National Highways Authority of India had prepared a Detailed Project Report for widening of road from Malpe harbour to Adiudupi and from Manipal to Parkala. R. Vishal, Deputy Commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis, CEO of Zilla Panchayat, K. Annamalai, Superintendent of Police, were present.
