Udupi: Shobha Karandlaje, MP, on Friday directed the officers of National Highway Department to give priority to the widening work on the National Highway 169A, which connects Malpe with Tirthahalli in Shivamogga district.

She was chairing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting held at the Zilla Panchayat hall, here.

Ms. Karandlaje said that the officers should inform her of any issues regarding the widening of both National Highways — 66 and 169A, which were pending. She would take it up with the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, she said.

An official of the National Highways Department said that presently, the widening work was being taken up in the Parkala – Kadiyali Junction stretch of the NH 169A in Udupi city. Land acquisition would have to be taken up on a 1 km stretch at Parkala. The work of filling potholes from Perdoor to Parkala on the NH 169A would be completed in a week, he said.

Ms. Karandlaje said that her suggestion to construct a tunnel under the Agumbe Ghat to protect the eco-sensitive forests of Western Ghats had been rejected as it was found to be unfeasible. The widening work on the Agumbe Ghat road, which also is part of NH 169A, has run into trouble with the Department of Forests as the region is one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the world, she said.

Gracy Gonsalves, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare, said that boxes containing nutritious food were being supplied to women who were pregnant for over six months and lactating mothers.

Ms. Karandlaje said that other pregnant women had to come to anganwadis to have nutritious food under the Mathrupurna Scheme. But, pregnant women in coastal districts did not like to go to anganwadis to have food. Cash incentives may have been better, she said.

Rohini, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, said that 68 infants had died in the district this year. Ms. Karandlaje said that the Health Department should take steps to reduce infant mortality in the district.

Dinakar Babu, ZP president; Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner; and Shivanand Kapashi, ZP CEO were present.