Credibility of survey on Koraga families questioned

Mangalore, January 3: Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat continued general body meeting had heated discussion over the alleged anomalies and shortcomings in the survey conducted to find the total number of Koraga families requiring houses in the district.

While a section of the officials affirmed that survey was conducted to ascertain the number of Koraga families in the district and gave out information collected during the survey, members of Zilla Panchayat objected to the same saying that the officials are giving out wrong information as no survey was conducted at many places in the district.

As per the survey conducted by the officials, 586 Koraga families, need house in the district. As many as 273 families are already living in houses constructed on the government or private land according to the survey report. A proposal to construct houses for 313 Koraga families has been sent to the Government.

Deputy Secretary Shivaramegowda said that in Puttur there are 20 Koragas who have their own land while 38 are living on private land. In Sullia there are 23 families who have their own land, 44 in Belthangady, 179 in Mangalore, 49 in Bantwal.

Many of Zilla Panchayat members, irrespective of party differences raised objections and said that survey teams had never visited villages in their respective wards and even if they had visited it was not brought to the notice of the elected representatives of the area.

Looking at the unprepared and half baked answers of the officials, Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayprakash sternly said that he would be compelled to initiate disciplinary action against the officials if they come to the meetings unprepared. “Conduct survey taking elected representatives, Panchayat Development Officials and others into confidence. There is a format to be followed while conducting this survey. No official can violate the format and conduct survey as per their own convenience,” said that CEO.

As far as construction of houses is concerned for the Koragas plan is to build house at a cost of Rs 2.10 lakh per house. Official concerned said that they would require a total of 657.30 lakh. Integrated Tribal Development Programme at present has Rs 237.75 lakh central fund and Rs 41.50 State fund.

“Corporate companies like KIOCL, MRPL, MSEZ have been approached to sponsor some funds. They have agreed to give some share. Since couple of these companies are seeking tax exemption, they cannot provide the amount directly to Zilla Panchayat. Hence we will be opening a Trust headed by Zilla Panchayat CEO,” he said.

Unlike the meeting held on 23/12/2011, the continued meeting witnessed some fruitful discussion with members participating giving priority on issues rather than party.

One minute silence was observed during the beginning of the meet to pay homage to former chief minister S Bangarappa and former ZP chief Santhosh Kumar Bhandary.