Sorake, Lobo caution health dept for inefficiency

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh Vamanjoor)
June 17, 2013
Mangalore, Jun 17: The progress of several developmental projects under Mangalore City Corporation limits was reviewed in a meeting chaired by Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake, at the MCC council hall, here on Monday.

The urban development minister was briefed on the progress of several projects in various departments such as clearing of rainwater-drains, solid-waste management, malaria and dengue control, town planning, and underground drainage (UGD) project.

Officials of the concerned departments also provided additional information and clarifications with respect to their respective projects, in the presence of MLAs J R Lobo and Moideen Bava, Deputy Commissioner N Prakash and MCC commissioner-in-charge Srikanth Rao.

In the meeting, emphasis was placed on the development of underground drainage network taken up under the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environmental Management Project (KUDCEMP) in the city.

Works should be completed soon in the second stage, which will be further reviewed in 15 days, said Mr Sorake.

Solid waste management

Officials of the Health Department said that solid waste management would be carried out in 47 wards through local contractors and by civic labourers in eight wards, who would begin their work from July 1.

Mr Lobo expressed unhappiness over the dismal sanitation situation in Central Market. The waste management around the market place is highly inefficient, and the cleanliness is at its lowest in months. It is the worst form of maintenance in the health sector, he said, instructing officials to take their work seriously in improving the sanitation of the place.

Mr Sorake cautioned that the problem ought to be solved within three months before the next review meeting.

It was brought to the notice of the authorities that a 3-tier system had been introduced to bring transparency in solid waste management, which included vehicle-tracking system, mobile governance and SMS-based public grievance addressal forum to address issues on waste management. It was also informed that three vehicles had been facilitated to collect waste from meat stalls and five to collect from hotels and restaurants.

Rain-water drains

Briefing the minister on the works being carried out with regard to rain-water drains, Mr Lobo said that the cleaning of the drains had not been completed, and most of the rain-water drains had been left as they were, in spite of having given the task to contractors.

To this, an official replied that the works had been almost completed and only 10 percent was remaining. Mr Sorake instructed the DC and the concerned departments to hasten the process.

Control of vector-borne diseases

In the meeting, vector-borne disease control officer said that 2125 cases were found in 2012 and 1560 were reported in 2013, and there was about 50 per cent decrease in the cases from last year.

He said that about 3 lakh houses were visited from last year, among which 27,000 houses were found to have breeding sites. These sites were eliminated and awareness was given to the people. In the month of May, building construction sites were also visited and breeding sites were destroyed wherever found. Free malaria testing and treatment centres were set up across the city and six more were in the process of being set up.

Bus stand at Pumpwell

It was also brought to the notice that about 7.11 acres of land had been acquired for the establishment of a new bus stand in the city near Pumpwell, although it had been deferred since entry to the National Highway would create a bottleneck junction and also since there was a plan to construct a permanent bus stand for both government and private buses.

Thumbay vented dam

With regard to the construction of the vented dam at Thumbay, Mr Lobo instructed the concerned officials to accelerate the pending works by the month of April so that it would be completed and made functional by the next season.

In response, the official gave assurances that the dam would be completed within the period of six months from November to April.

MLA Moideen Bava pointed that the facility of conveying water from Lakya dam in Kudremukh was still available, and requested the minister to revive this facility so that water could be supplied to areas such as Suratkal.

It was also mentioned in the meeting that a national-level quality assurance laboratory would be set-up soon in the MCC to monitor the quality of developmental works at all stages. Software to manage general fund works had been developed which would be used to display all details from estimate preparation to stage of bills online.

Mr Lobo also pointed out the problem of lack of clean public toilets for the people in the city.

He also instructed the Revenue department to provide door numbers and title deeds to those houses in Bengre where people had been residing on government land from several years.

Deputy Commissioner N Prakash and MCC commissioner-in-charge Srikanth Rao were present.

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News Network
May 12,2024

hajabba.jpg

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat High School in Harekala, popularly known as Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba’s school, is gearing up to inaugurate its first batch of Pre-University (PU) courses starting June 1. 

The government issued an order to elevate the school established by Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba to the status of a PU College a few months ago.

The School Education and Literacy Department (PU Education) has formally sanctioned the upgrade for the school.

CD Jayanna, the deputy director of PU Education, confirmed that all necessary approvals have been obtained from the government to initiate PU classes.

“Hajabba’s school will kick off PU classes for its inaugural batch on June 1. We have appointed a senior lecturer as the interim principal for the PU college. Presently, the school possesses the essential temporary infrastructure to begin the I PU batch. Plans are underway to enhance the infrastructure for the PU college in the future. Currently, the school boasts adequate classrooms and facilities to commence PU classes,” stated Jayanna.

Harekala Hajabba, an orange vendor, personally erected the school in his native village, New Padpu in Harekala, situated approximately 35 km from Mangaluru. For several years, he has tirelessly petitioned the government for the establishment of a PU college.

Expressing his gratitude, Hajabba mentioned that 19 students who recently completed their SSLC examinations are poised to enroll in the new PU college. He added, “We anticipate enrollment from neighboring villages as well. Both the interim principal and the PU education department have been diligently orchestrating the necessary arrangements to initiate classes.” 

He extended his appreciation to the government, local representatives, and officials for their unwavering support.

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News Network
May 3,2024

Bengaluru: In a shocking revelation, a former member of Hassan Zilla Panchayat (ZP) has accused incumbent JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna of raping her multiple times over three years and videographing the alleged crime.

A case was registered by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) based on the statement by the 44-year-old survivor on Wednesday, May 1.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the woman claimed that when she was a ZP member she used to visit the MLAs and MPs for various development works.

In one such instance in 2021, she met Prajwal seeking his help to get hostel seats for some female students at a local college. The woman, in her statement, said that since the MP was busy, she was asked to meet him the next day.

“The following day I visited the MP at his office and the MP's quarters in Hassan. The staff present there told me to wait on the first floor as there were many others in the hall. Prajwal spoke to some of the women waiting there, spoke with them and sent them off until I was the only one left,” the woman alleged.

As per the survivor, the MP then called her inside a room and she obliged.

“He held my hand, pulled me inside and locked the door. When I asked him why was he closing the door, he told me nothing would happen and made me sit on the bed. He said my husband should talk less and warned me of the consequences. He also said that because of my husband, his mother, Bhavani Revanna, missed the MLA ticket. He told me that if my husband wants to grow politically, I should listen to him [Prajwal],” the woman alleged.

Next, Prajwal allegedly told the woman to lie down on the bed and undress. When the woman refused and said that she would shout, Prajwal allegedly threatened her that he had a gun and warned of dire consequences for her and her husband.

The woman alleged that Prajwal took out his mobile phone and then raped her.

“He raped me and sexually assaulted me and recorded the act on his mobile phone,” the woman alleged. “He threatened to leak the video if I ever spoke about it and told me to be there whenever he wanted. After that, he used to video call me frequently, ask me to be naked during the call and raped me in multiple instances.”

The woman claimed that she was scared and did not make the incident public and chose to come forward after she learnt of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Karnataka government to probe the alleged Hassan sex scandal.

A case was registered under Sections 376(2)(n) (commits rape repeatedly on the same woman), 506 (criminal intimidation), 354A(1)(physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and 354C (voyeurism) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 66E (violation of privacy) of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Prajwal is also accused in a sexual harassment case along with his father, Holenarasipur MLA HD Revanna, registered at the Holenarasipur police station in Hassan on April 28. 

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News Network
May 6,2024

Bengaluru, May 6: Arrested JD-S MLA H.D. Revanna, the son of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, on Sunday said that there is no evidence against him in the sex video scandal kidnapping case and that it was a "conspiracy" against him.

Talking to the media, while being taken for a medical test before being produced in front of a court here, Revanna stated that a kidnapping case had been lodged against him though he does not have 'one black mark' against him in his entire career of 40 years.

"Without evidence, I have been targeted... All allegations against me are false. My arrest has been made out of ill intention," he claimed.

"The case was lodged on April 28, then, they did not have any evidence. Later, the fake evidence was created on May 2 and I was fixed," he alleged.

Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwara stated on Sunday that a Blue Corner notice has already been issued against Revanna's son and MP Prajwal Revanna, the prime accused in the sex video scandal, as he is believed to be abroad.

"The Interpol will communicate to all nations and he will be located. Once he is located, the SIT will take a call on how he should be secured and brought back to India," he added.

Revanna was arrested on Saturday on charges of kidnapping one of the victims of the sex video scandal.

Parameshwara further maintained that the arrest of Revanna has saddened JD-S leaders and if action was not taken, the SIT would be blamed too.

Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge refused to comment on the alleged sex video scandal involving Prajwal Revanna.

About Revanna's arrest, he said that the SIT would initiate action as per the law. "Those indulging in such acts must be taught a lesson and justice should be given to the families of victims. No one can escape the law. No one should use this case politically," he stated.

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