The Congress-Janata Dal (Secualr) coalition government in the State has failed to build vented dams under the Paschimavahini project in the coastal belt, including in Dakshina Kannada, Sanjeeva Matandoor, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the BJP, said here on Monday.
Addressing presspersons, he said that vented dams should have been built across west-flowing rivers under the scheme to mitigate drinking water scarcity and to recharge groundwater. But no progress has been made under the scheme in the past one year.
Mr. Matandoor, who is also an MLA from Puttur, said that the coalition government, which will complete a year on Tuesday, has failed to tackle drinking water crisis in Dakshina Kannada under the guise of the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections. U.T. Khader, minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada, has ignored drinking water issues in the district, he said and added that many arecanut plantations are withering due to water scarcity. The Minister has not convened any meeting of MLAs and other elected representatives to discuss and to address water-scarcity issues.
The MLA said that the government a week ago gave permission to extract sand from nine blocks in the jurisdiction of nine villages in non-coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) areas in the district. Of them four blocks — Kutrupady, Savanooor, Bellipady and Charvaka — are in Puttur taluk and five — Kadirudyavara (two blocks), Dharmasthala (two blocks) and Hosangady — are in Belthangady taluk. The government has allowed extraction of only 1,000 tonnes of sand from the nine blocks, though they had enough sand. If sand is not lifted from the rivers, it will result in floods in the rainy season, he said and added that the government should allow extraction of more sand.
The MLA said that a load of m-Sand in the district cost ₹ 12,000, while natural river sand, though it is available in plenty, is priced ₹ 14,500 a load. The rates should have been reverse in Dakshina Kannada considering the abundant river sand available.
Mr. Matandoor said that the government appears to be facing “economic crisis” as of the ₹ 2 crore promised by the Chief Minister as MLA Area Development Fund for a year, only ₹ 50 lakh has been released per MLA for 2018-19. The State government has not released any calamity relief fund for Dakshina Kannada. The government has not constituted Akrama Sakrama Samithi, Ashraya Samithi, Aaradhana Samithi and Land Tribunal even a year after coming to power, he said.
Y. Bharat Shetty, MLA, Mangaluru City North, was present.