ZP resolves to dissolve Hirebandadi GP

Mangalore, August 19: The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat in its third general body meeting held at the Zilla Panchayat Hall on Thursday, took a major decision to dissolve Hirebandadi Gram Panchayat in Puttur taluk for failing to hold any meetings in the last one year.

Amidst heavy opposition from the Congress party members and support of the BJP members to dissolve Hirebandadi Gram Panchayat, ZP President Shailaja Bhat made an advance by handing over the power to the ZP Chief Executive Officer to take up further action in this regard. The issue was discussed on the floor after the zero hour where the Congress and the BJP members went against each other on the issue. It was M S Mohammad from the Congress party who raised the issue saying that dissolving Gram Panchayat would be against the Panchayat Raj system.

While another Congress member Mamatha Gatti insisted upon opting for no-confidence motion against the Gram Panchayat President rather than dissolving an elected system.

Bantwal MLA Ramanth Rai too came down heavily against the decision to dissolve the GP, as he said the BJP led State government is playing politics in the Panchayat Raj system.

Approach SC

The ZP also unanimously decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking not to grant bail to S R Patalappa, the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) officer, who was caught in Rs 86 lakh fraud. Patalappa had sought anticipatory bail in the local Court but the request was denied.

Later, the High Court granted him the bail. Understanding the severity of his fraud, the ZP decided to seek the Supreme Court not to grant bail to the officer.

President Shailaja Bhat informed the general body that after taking the suggestions of top advocates from Bangalore, the Zilla Panchayat has decided to move Supreme Court.

Later, speaking to media persons, CEO Dr K N Vijayprakash said that as there are chances of Patalappa trying to damage the documents, he would not be allowed to gain entry into Zilla Panchayat office any cost.

Teachers ratio

Earlier during the zero hour, Mamatha Gatti urged the ZP to maintain 30:1 students-teachers ratio in aided schools on the lines of the government schools.

“The government schools have 30:1 students-teachers ratio while it is 40:1 in aided schools. This discrimination should be stopped and same teachers ratio should be provided to aided schools too,” he said. Responding to it, ZP President said that she has discussed the issue with the Primary and Secondary Education Minister.

ZP member Santhosh Kumar Rai raised a question on land acquisition for Kochi-Bangalore pipeline in Kavoor, Mudipu and other places. He said though the actual land required for laying one and a half feet pipeline is four to five feet, 66 feet of land has been acquired in Mudipu and surrounding places.

“The villagers are ready to give the land if the pipeline is for a good purpose, but by acquiring 66 feet land, the locals are wonderstruck,” he said and sought a study on the same.