‘Give priority to solving water crisis’

Maheshwar Rao, district in-charge secretary, on Tuesday directed officials to take steps to provide water in all parts of Udupi district during summer.

Chairing a review meeting at the District Offices Complex here, Mr. Rao said that it was essential to identify water-scarce areas in the district and take steps to provide water there.

It was also necessary to take up permanent drinking water works to deal with the problem. He sought a report on the steps on this issue.

He also directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat M. Kanagavalli to visit the places where the housing schemes are being implemented.

Ms. Kanagavalli said that she would be in contact with the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation on getting approval for 847 houses. As regards, providing housing to members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, Ms. Kanagavalli said that if there was shortage of beneficiaries for these housing schemes, the houses was provided to beneficiaries in neighbouring villages.

R. Vishal, Deputy Commissioner, informed the meeting that a proposal for the construction of two multi-purpose shelters, three bridges and 29 connecting bridges under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) in Udupi district at a cost of Rs. 40 crore had been submitted to the government.

The multipurpose shelters would be constructed at Thekkatte in Kundapur taluk and at Padu village in Udupi taluk under the NCRMP.

The Union and State governments would provide funds in 75:25 ratio for the NCRMP, he said.

Mr. Rao directed the officials to draw up a plan to construct a ring road for Udupi city.

He also directed the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture to give priority to increasing productivity.