Special grants to check sea erosion

Chief Minister chairs review meeting at the new District Offices Complex

Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said on Sunday that the State government would provide special grants to check sea erosion in the coastal districts, in the State Budget next fiscal. He was chairing a district-level review meeting at the newly built District Offices Complex here.

Mr. Gowda said that the special grants would be in addition to the funds provided by the Union Government. A sum of Rs. 60 crore had been sanctioned for the construction of a fisheries harbour at Hejmady. He directed the officials to dispose of all pending files in their departments in 10 days.

The State government had given Rs. 800 crore to repair roads under the Public Works Department (PWD). Of the amount, Rs. 15 crore had been given to Udupi district, he said.

Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon said that people of Padur opposed the second phase of crude oil storage facility of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) in their village.

Superintendent of Police Y.S. Ravi Kumar said that a survey had been conducted by a central agency without any permission from the district administration.

Mr. Gowda said that no survey should be undertaken for the second phase of ISPRL.

An appropriate decision could be taken only after the pros and cons of the issue were examined. He had given a direction to the district administration in this regard, he said.

Mr. Gowda said that the vacant posts in the three taluk panchayats of the district would be filled. His government had given a special grant of Rs. 175 crore to the taluk panchayats in the State. An additional grant of Rs. 1 crore would be given to all the three taluk panchayats in Udupi district.

Since the presidents of the three taluk panchayats in the district had complained that they did not have vehicles, the government would provide the same to them soon, Mr. Gowda said.

When the meeting was informed that 60 per cent of drinking water work was pending, Mr. Gowda directed the officials to give priority to it. It should be completed by January 17.