Udupi: The issues of problems due to widening of National Highway 66, vented dams and suspension of a senior geologist dominated the general body meeting of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat here on Thursday.

Raising the issue, Gitanjali Suvarna, member, said that she had been repeatedly complaining about the improper widening works on the National Highway 66, but there has been no proper response. The haphazard works were resulting in deaths on the road.

She had been repeatedly asking about the incomplete work on NH 66 at Katapady and other places in the district. But the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was least bothered about these problems, she said.

Janardhan Tonse, member, said that the Kallianpur-Santhekatte Junction here was badly affected due to improper construction on NH 66. He had been seeking space for the construction of a proper bus stand at the junction for the benefit of passengers.

It was difficult for the pedestrians to cross the road at this junction. The officers of the NHAI whenever they attended the meeting of the zilla panchayat, which too was rare, gave evasive replies to queries, he said.

The House was promised that a meeting would be called soon to discuss all matters related to the National Highways in the district.

Marali Pratap Hegde, member, said that the gates of the vented dams were not being closed at the right time resulting in intrusion of salt water.

The House was told that mild steel gates would be installed at the vented dams.

Mr. Hegde demanded that the House pass a resolution condemning the suspension of the senior geologist Kodandaramaiah without providing him with notice. An officer of the Department of Mines and Geology told the House that the Deputy Commissioner had suspended him for dereliction of duty pending enquiry.

Mr. Tonse said that it was not right to pass a resolution without having knowledge of full facts. But the Treasury benches wanted the matter to be recorded. The officers explained that suspension was not punishment and it could not be recorded. Finally, the matter was recorded along with the objection of the Opposition Congress.