Udupi: About Rs 11.66 cr of the 13th Finance Commission Project was returned to the central government as the fund remained unused for its purpose, said a section of Taluk Panchayat here. With this declaration, a sense of pandemonium broke out because the entire TP stood divided over the issue.
Taluk Panchayat member Sudhir Kumar Shetty, addressing the general body meeting of the Udupi Taluk Panchayat on Wednesday asked the reason behind such a huge amount going back to the centre after being unused.
At this juncture, the opposition and ruling parties came together to demand for details of the developmental works undertaken using the said funds and why such a romping amount was unused. But, commotion took over when the officials concerned refuted the charges and said that only Rs three lakhs were sent back while the remaining funds were well utilised for various developmental works.
Raged by this reply, the house demanded to know the entire details of the amount that came from the centre, the amount that was utilised and the works that were undertaken.
Manpower crisis
Dinakar Heroor said that while 44 posts in the taluk panchayat are vacant, recruitment have been done only to three to four vacancies. “The TP is working under pressure due to manpower crisis,” he said.
Responding to the same Nalini Pradeep Rao, TP President said that she has spoken to Minister for Urban Development H K Patil personally and briefed him about the manpower crunch which is affecting the day to day functioning of the TP. She said that the Minister has given assurance to set right the issue at the earliest.
Drinking water
With Udupi district facing acute drinking water problems, TP Member Bhujanga Shetty said that water from Varahi project can be divert to Sitha River, so that the remaining part of the Udupi district can avail drinking water.
Prior to the meeting the cheques and sewing machines and other benefits were distributed.
Rajesh Pandubettu, Vice-President, Sarvotham Udupa acting CEO, Neetha Gururaj standing committee president and other officials were present.
