Udupi : District-in-Charge Secretary Maheshwar Rao directed the district administration to gear up to tackle the impending water scarcity in the district during summer.

Speaking at the review meet held here to discus over the various development programmes initiated in the district, the district in charge secretary said all measures should be taken to provide drinking water to the areas suffering acute shortage of water in the district.

He looked into various programmes initiated in the district over providing drinking water. Noting that talks were held with Rajiv Gandhi Vasati Nigam to approve as many as 847 houses, ZP CEO Kanagavalli said that these many houses were considered ‘Not Okay’ by the Nigam.

The district in charge secretary said he would personally inspect some of the houses. The CEO said measures have been taken to accommodate the additional demand for the houses by the beneficiaries belonging to SC/ST communities at the district level.

The additional houses from one panchayat would be redistributed to the beneficiaries of other panchayat, where there is shortage of allotted houses. She added the major challenge to accomplish the target under housing schemes is the loan offered by banks. Rao directed the official to discus the issue with Lead bank to find the solution.

He added elaborate plan is chalked out under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation (NCRMP). Under this scheme, multi purpose shelters would be opened at Padu in Kaup and Thekkatte in Kundapur and three connective bridges and 29 connective stretches would be built.

The programme is taken up at the fund sharing by central and State government in the ratio of 75:25 proportions. He directed the DC Dr Vishal to appoint a nodal officer for the purpose.

He also reviewed various road construction works taken up by PWD. He also directed the Urban Development engineer to design a circular road to Udupi City.

Stressing over the fact that the agriculture department should concentrate over augmenting the production, the secretary said that the department should chalk out plans to increase the production rather the concentrating on the target achievement specified under various agricultural programmes. He also discussed over the amount of agriculture land used for other purposes. He added the horticulture department should also emphasis on the increasing the production of the horticultural growths.

He said the department should support the coconut plantation in order to support the production by Coir Development Board.

The Horticulture deputy director said, as many as 150 acres of land is earmarked to take up the extension programme of the plantation of medicinal saplings. Rao discussed the progress in the schemes like Bala Sanjeevini and eradication of malnutrition problem coming under Women and Child Welfare department.

As many as 333 malnutrition kids in the district are receiving the nutritious food.

Besides the secretary directed the officials to chalk pout plans to develop the Anganavadi and PHCs in the district. He also looked into the water supply and UGD projects taken up at Kollur and Karkala.