Mangaluru : District minister Kota Srinivas Poojary on Tuesday directed authorities to expedite the repair of rural roads damaged in natural calamities that struck Dakshina Kannada in the recent past. “Most of the rural roads have suffered extensive damage due to heavy rain that lashed the district, and the state government has released funds under the disaster relief fund to repair them. There should be no more excuses to initiate the repair work,” he said.

Chairing a meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, Poojary expressed unhappiness at the delay on part of authorities in taking up the repair work.

He directed the panchayat raj engineering division to initiate the repair works at the earliest and to restore the damaged roads to a motorable condition.

“The division should send a fresh proposal to the government if it needs additional funds,” he said. Later, the minister also directed the authorities to resolve issues that were holding up grants of land to KPTCL for setting up a sub-station at Kudupadavu in Kepu village of Bantwal taluk within one week. “The revenue department, Mescom and forest department must sort out issues and provide 3.5 acres that KPTCL needs to construct the sub-station,” he said.

Later, chairing a meeting of the endowment department that he heads, Poojary directed the officials to plan to conduct mass marriages in all A grade department temples in the district. While the groom will receive Rs 5,000 as an incentive, the bride will get double the amount and a mangalsutra and gold earrings weighing approximately 8g, valued at Rs 40,000. This amount will be borne out of the donations that the temples receive, he said.

The executive officers of such temples must fix a date between April 26 and May 25, 2020, for this mass marriage, after obtaining permission from the administrator, hereditary trustee, deputy commissioner and president of the district dharmika parishat, the minister said. Couples who wish to enter wedlock at this event should submit applications to the respective temple 30 days in advance. The marriage registration officer too will be present, he said.

Likewise, the respective deputy director of department of women and child welfare too will be present at such events, he said. Registration of marriage will be compulsory, he said. Anyone furnishing false documents to avail the benefit of the scheme will be dealt with severely under provision of the law. The incentive amount will be credited into bank accounts of the bride and the groom, and the event will be held under the supervision of DCs, he noted.