Date:10/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111052550300.htm

Karnataka

Chikmagalur ZP accused of neglecting Central schemes

Correspondent

CHIKMAGALUR: A.N. Mahesh, spokesperson of the Chikmagalur District Congress Committee, has accused the district administration and the Chikmagalur zilla panchayat of neglecting the Central schemes.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, Mr. Mahesh said Rs. 4.11 crore had been spent of the Rs. 31 crore allotted to implement minor irrigation schemes under the Vidarbha package for 2008-09.

He said that in addition to this, Rs. 2.5 crore had been spent of the Rs. 4.2 crore sanctioned under the National Horticulture Mission, Rs. 60 lakh of the Rs. 2 crore sanctioned for distribution of seeds and Rs. 1.5 crore allotted for animal husbandry had not been utilised.

Under the Prime Minister’s Grama Sadak Yojana, of the 230.49 km of roadwork taken up till October end, only four of the 20 works had been completed. He said the progress achieved was spending only Rs. 13.55 crore as against the target of Rs. 57.35 crore. He said the Deputy Commissioner had not taken any step to conduct a survey and submit a report to the Government on the loss suffered by potato growers in the district despite protests by his party in this regard.