Mangaluru: Congress leader and MLC Ivan D’Souza urged Election Commission to relax the election code of conduct in Dakshina Kannada district claiming that the code of conduct prevented the elected representatives from conducting meeting on drinking water problem and preparedness for the upcoming monsoon.

Addressing the reporters at the District Congress Office on Monday, May 6, he said that the district is facing the drought-like situation but the elected representatives are not able to conduct review meetings with the officials concerned. “As the Lok Sabha election is already over in Dakshina Kannada district, the election code of conduct should be relaxed, allowing elected representatives to conduct meetings on drinking water and monsoon preparedness”, he said.

Ivan also informed that though the election for the urban local bodies is there in district, the code of conduct should be enforced only to that area, where the elections will be held.

Informing about the fund released by the state government for the drinking water needs of the people, Ivan said, “The Revenue Department has released a total of Rs 132 crore for the drinking water in the state and Rs 6 Crore for Dakshina Kannada district alone. Though the storage of drinking water in Thumbe vented dam has dipped to 4.38 metres now, it is quite enough to provide water to the people for another 22 days. Hence, people need not be panic”, he informed.