Expressing displeasure over the tardy progress in the implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes in Mysore district, A.H. Vishwanath, Mysore MP, directed the officials concerned on Friday to take elected representatives into confidence before taking up such projects.
He was presiding over a meeting of the Central Vigilance and Monitoring Committee to review the progress of works taken up under various Centrally-sponsored schemes here. Mr. Vishwanath said he was unable to fix the onus on forest officials as the functioning of territorial, wildlife and social forestry wings overlapped on many occasions. The number of elephants had gone up, as had the number of top posts in the department, but there were fewer personnel who guarded the forests. Nor had the forest cover increased, he said. M.B. Prabhu, a member of the committee, said there were 176 IFS officers in the State.
‘Neem city'
Mr. Vishwanath asked the officials of the Forest Department in Mysore to take up a project to make Mysore a “neem city” by planting neem trees, as was planned some years ago, but not followed up. When the matter of issuing ‘patta' to the 287 families living in Nagapura (where tribal people from the Nagarahole National Park are rehabilitated) near Hunsur was raised, Mr. Prabhu said the entire area was yet to be declared a revenue village.
Mr. Vishwanath announced that he would convene a meeting involving the Conservators of Forests of Mysore and Kodagu, and Field Directors of Project Tiger, on Monday to sort out various issues such as elephant problems and implementation of the Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, among others.
Hostels
Expressing dissatisfaction at the buildings constructed under the Block Resource Centres and Cluster Resource Centres under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan not being put to use, Mr. Vishwanath asked whether they could be used as hostels for students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward communities.
He directed Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat G. Satyavati to conduct a survey in that regard.
MNREGA
Hunsur MLA, H.P. Manjunath, took exception to the implementation of schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, alleging that the Act was being interpreted in different ways by officials. Mr. Vishwanath said the responsibility of ensuring the success of the programme lay in the hands of the executive officers of taluk panchayats.
Mr. Vishwanath reviewed the progress of works under the National Rural Health Mission, the National Horticulture Mission and the midday meal scheme.
Deputy Commissioner P.S. Vastrad and Superintendent of Police Manish Karbikar were present.
