Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat witnessed a very lengthy and heated discussion over not implementing Presidents direct order to utilise the fund granted for drinking water project as a spill over fund. The meeting was held on Monday at ZP office hall.

The matter was advert by member M S Muhammad. He said that it was decided to keep the 50% of fund for the new drinking water project. Why it is not done yet? Officials are behaving like dictators; they are not respecting the members.

Senior official informed that there are 805 old projects are pending which requires Rs 78 crore for the completion. Present only Rs 34.33 crore have been sanctioned and the officials have got order to not to utilise the fund for new projects.

Then the officials and members decided to set a 60:40 agreement, 40% for the new projects. Members urged the ZP CEO Srividhya to implement the decision of the meeting strictly.

Replying to this Srividhya said that she is working under the instruction of the government. The decision will be forwarded to the government. Based on the reply the fund will be utilised.

ZP President Meenakshi Shantigodu, ZP Members and officials were present.