Sullia : MP Nalin Kumar Kateel initiated various development works worth Rs 20 crore under the first phase of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana in Balpa village in Sullia taluk on Monday.

The MP said that an integrated development of five villages in the MP’s constituency will be taken up under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and Balpa is the first village in the series. An estimated Rs 20 crore has been drawn towards the development works under the first phase and the works will be carried out in two more phases under the scheme.

Stressing on the need for a good local administration for self-reliance of villages, he said that high values are necessary to transform people into responsible citizens. Only then, the Rama Rajya dreamt by Mahatma Gandhiji could be realised, he said.

De-addiction camps are being conducted in coordination with Jnanajyothi organisation of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and 60 people have been benefited in the village so far.

Banks, private companies, educational institutions and NGOs in Dakshina Kannada have extended their help for the development works under the scheme, he said and added that he would continue to approach more corporate establishments and would seek their contributions towards the implementation of the scheme.

Syndicate Bank has announced a sum of Rs 20 lakh towards installing 35 solar streetlights, which will be manufactured by SELCO India. The bank will also open its branch and ATM in the village in the near future, to encourage villagers to carry out bank transactions. Also, solar-powered freezers will be facilitated in the government hospitals.

e-class facilities will be introduced in schools. Quality upgrade of education institutions will also be part of the scheme, he said.

He further said that MRPL had announced a contribution of Rs 20 lakh towards building a community hall in Balpa. MCF will look after the development of two government hospitals, Special Economic Zone (SEZ) will aid construction of a mini Vidhana Soudha while NMPT and KIOCL will take up development of six schools and two anganwadis in the village. Alva’s College, Moodbidri and Srinivas College, Mangaluru, will provide seats in various higher education courses for the aspiring students of the village, at their respective institutions. The religious centres in the village will also be developed under the MP’s model village scheme, he said and added that the works under the first phase, are meant to be completed in one year.

The MP told Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim to take measures to rejuvenate Bhogayyana kere by utilising lake development fund.

The MP said that measures will be taken to make the village kerosene-free, in coordination with oil companies. Accordingly, steps will be taken to provide free LPG connections to the needy households in the village. All houses will be equipped with tiles roofs to make Balpa, a hut-free village.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that care needs to be taken not to harm the environment while carrying out the development works. He felt for a need to make the village crime-free. The DC suggested private companies to review the development works once in three months. An action plan will be drawn to conduct Revenue Adalat once in a month, he added.

Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof K Byrappa said that the university students would carry out dissertation works in the four villages selected by the university, Balpa being one of them. A report based on these studies will be sent to the government.
Agricultural equipment were distributed to the beneficiaries on the occasion.

Sullia MLA S Angara, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, ZP president Asha Thimmappa Gowda, Sullia Taluk Panchayat president Jayaprakash Kunchadka, Balpa Gram Panchayat president Prakash Mudnur, Zilla Panchayat CEO P I Srividya and Alva’s Education Foundation Chairman Dr M Mohan Alva were present among others.