ZP RECOMMENDS COD INVESTIGATION TO MISAPPROPRIATIO;

Madikeri June 12, 2007

Zilla Panchayath yesterday took a decision to handover a misappropriation issue in connection with “Navachetana” scheme.

Pandemonious scences prevailed in the meeting as people’s representatives and officials argued about the scheme. MLA Basavaraju raised the issue and said that lakhs of rupees is misused under the scheme and there are no proper proofs to prove that computer education was provided to beneficiaries under this scheme.

Social welfare officer stated that computer training was provided to beneficiaries at a cost of rupees 18 lakhs under this scheme. Basavaraju shouted that this issue should be handed over to CoD as so much of money can not be spent on training and misappropriation is proved at the first sight. Officer stated that the state commissioner of social welfare himself will look into the matter. However, members stated that the issues reaching state officials will not be investigated and they urged the president to pressurize government to hand over the case to CoD.

President Ashok agreed for this and a resolution was passed in this regard.

Members recalled that the ZP had taken a decision to handover to CoD another case of misappropriation in ITDP. But the government did not handover the case to it.

Members insisted on president to see that the case gets through.

The meeting also raised another misappropriation in fisheries department at harangi reservoir area. A resoulution was passed to suspend the assistant director of fisheries in this connection. The members charged that the assistant director is dodging to produce details about a building being constructed at harangi and they fear large scale misappropriation in it.

TUSKER TRAMPLES ONE;

One person was trampled to death on the spot while another escaped the attack as a tusker charged at them in a forest at Karadigodu.

Eravara Krishna and Raju were walking in the forest around 10.30 p.m on Sunday night at the time of the incident. They were attacked by a wild tusker . Krishna, 35 was thrown into air by the frenzy pachyderm and trampled on the ground repeatedly. He died on the spot.

His companion ran to a nearby cow shed and hid himself on the roof. He spent the night without making a noise and ran into village at 5 p.m.

Range forest officer Chinnappa and police arrived at the spot yesterday and conducted mahazar. Chinnappa assured the family that rupees 1.5 lakh would be released from the forest department as compensation.

TRIBALS RETURN TO FOREST;

In an unprecedented incident, about twenty youth sent to rehabilitation center have returned to forest yesterday through a function presided over by a minister.

These youth with their families were shifted to Veerana Hosalli rehabilitation center by the government years ago from Nagarahole national park. They were promised to give five acres of land, house and other facilities.

The youth who returned said that they are given only 1.5 to 3 acres of land. Houses are in a dilapidated condition and basic facilities are not sufficient.

The crowd of twenty youth was dramatically received by BJP leaders. Distrioct BJP president Sunil Subramani, Virajpet taluk BJP president Machimada Ravindra and Jenukurubara Mani washed the feet of the youth and invited them into forests by affixing kumkum at their forehead.

Taluk panchayath members, gram Panchayath members and office bearers of BJP and other Tribal organizations were present.

District in charge minister ramachandra gowda under whose presence the youth entred forest spoke on the occasion. He declared that not only forest areas, the entire country belongs to people and Tribals are free to live in the forest. He cautioned the youth not to waste inside the forest by making their children play with elephants. But, give them education and bring them to the main stream, he advised.

Assistant commissioner Ithesh Ulhaq, Tahasiladar Shwetha and other officials were also present during the ceremony.

State St Morcha president Siddaraju spoke on the occasion and said that ST development board has earmarked rupees 165 crores for the development of tribals. The board will provide basic facilities by utilizing the fund he assured.