Mangaluru : Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology S.R. Patil set a deadline of three months for the officials in Dakshina Kannada to complete pending works under the special area development grants of elected representatives.

Presiding over the review meeting at Circuit House here on Saturday S.R. Patil said, the progress made under local area development funds of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, the Minister told the officials, the countdown begins today. He said while 369 works were pending under special funds of legislators accounting for 75 per cent of the works sanctioned, 153 projects were pending under MP’s funds.

Further he said, though the financial progress was 71 per cent (Rs. 70 crore spent as against Rs. 98 crore released out of the total budget of Rs. 204 crore), there was a need to speed up the completion of the projects.

Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said, MCC engineers making delay on pending works, to construct an anganvadi they are taking five months.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Thulasi Maddineni said officials in Panchayat’s Engineering Department had not been transferred for more than 15 years and this was the reason why the works were not progressing fast. She had recommended transfer of many. The Minister advised her to get more work from the staff instead of transferring them.

Executive engineer Rajashekar, MLC Ivan D’Souza, MLA J R Lobo and other officials were present.