The Hindu : Ghorpade draws flak over maintenance of ZP roads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Ghorpade draws flak over maintenance of ZP roads

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore March 5. Several members of the Legislative Assembly today criticised the Government for the poor maintenance of zilla panchayat (ZP) roads, and blamed the Rural Development Minister, M.Y. Ghorpade. However, the minister gave them very little hope of any improvement in the near future.

Mr. Ghorpade admitted that the condition of ZP roads left much to be desired. He said that of the one lakh km. of roads, only 23,000 km. had been asphalted, and funds for maintenance were inadequate.

The minister, who was replying to supplementaries on a question tabled by Rajendra Varma (BJP), said the condition could be improved only when uniform norms of maintenance were applied to all roads. The amount required for the proper maintenance of ZP roads was Rs. 150 crore, whereas the allocation was only Rs. 71 crore, of which Rs. 48 crore had been released. For every 1 km. of PWD roads, there was 3 km. of ZP roads, he added.

Mr. Ghorpade said he had taken up with the Cabinet the question of evolving a uniform policy for road maintenance. The Centre was concerned about maintenance of roads as it was providing huge sums for new roads. He favoured the formation of a revolving fund to which the Centre might contribute, to solve the problem of poor maintenance.

At one stage, the Speaker, M.V. Venkatappa, lent support to the members who complained of poor maintenance of roads.

Drinking water

The Minister of State for Rural Water Supply, R.B. Koliwad, replying to a question from A.B. Patil (JD-U), explained the steps taken to solve the problem of drinking water in Sankeshwar, and said Rs. 1.40 crore was available to meet the drinking water requirement.

Mr. Koliwad said there was a scheme for providing generators to lift water if the gram panchayats contributed 30 per cent of the funds required. However, no panchayat had come forward to avail of the scheme, he added.

Denying that he had issued a statement that the condition requiring contribution from panchayats would be withdrawn, Mr. Koliwad said there appeared to be a feeling that drinking water would be given free. How was it possible to provide all facilities for free? he asked.

Show-cause notice

The Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education, B.K. Chandrashekar, informed Araga Jnanendra (BJP) that the Principal of Tunga College at Tirthahalli had been asked to show cause why grants to the institution should not be stopped in view of the allegation of collection of fees and donations by the college.

An inquiry had proved the allegation against the management, and an explanation from the Principal to the notice issued last month was awaited.

In reply to a question by Bellubbi, the minister said the salary grants for the Jagadamba educational institution in Bijapur had been withheld because of irregularities involving Rs. 26 crore. However, the Government was taking steps to release the salary of teachers on humanitarian grounds, said, and added that action was being taken against the officials who colluded with the management.

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