MLA: No houses for poor sanctioned for DK after 2022

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting chaired by district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao here on Friday, debated why Dakshina Kannada had not been sanctioned houses for the poor under various government schemes after the 2021-2022 period.
Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, raising the issue, said that although housing schemes had been sanctioned for all districts across the state, Dakshina Kannada had not been considered after 2021-22.“It has been brought to my notice during a discussion with the housing minister, that the district has not submitted a demand for houses between 2021-22 and 2024-25,” Rai said.
When an official cited a technical reason, the minister stated that it was a serious lapse on the part of the officials. “There is a need for the initiation of disciplinary action against the concerned officials, because the district failed to sanction houses in the past four years, despite having government land. We cannot tolerate negligence in the implementation of the housing scheme for the poor,” the minister said. Officials informed that in the 10 years between 2010 and 2020, the district was sanctioned 64,123 houses. While 48,252 houses have been built, work on 4,898 is in progress, and the remaining are yet to be started.
Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO Anandh K said that as per a survey conducted in 2018, the district has a demand for 49,715 houses. However, no houses were sanctioned after 2022, he said.
The issue also led to a serious discussion with MLC Ivan D’Souza and Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath expressing concern over the poor in the district being deprived of the housing scheme benefits.
Electrocution: Minister orders inquiry
The district minister directed deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP to conduct an inquiry in the wake of three electrocution instances reported in Dakshina Kannada during the rainy season.
Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta said that an electrocution incident in Shibaje village was due to the negligence of Mescom officials. “Villagers had brought the issue related to a transformer in Shibaje to the notice of officials thrice. The negligence on part of the officials has resulted in the death of a person. There is a need for an inquiry to find out whether the same issue has led to the electrocution,” the MP said.
The minister said an inquiry should be conducted, and a report should be submitted within 10 days. He also warned of action based on the report. Furthermore, the minister directed Mescom officials to install earth leakage circuit breakers (ELCB) to prevent instances of electrocution.