Mangaluru : The delay in the implementation of ‘Shuddha Neeru,’ which was touted as a panacea for the drinking water crisis in rural areas, irked the zilla panchayat members here at zilla panchayat meeting on Tuesday.

The project entailed installation of Reverse Osmosis (RO) machines to ensure that people were provided pure drinking water.

However, due to the negligence of the authorities, the work has not been completed in the district. Even at places where the work has been completed, the machines have become defunct, the members said.

An official from Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd (KRIDL) said that at a few places the coin box machine and the RO machines have a few technical problems, which are being set right. Machines have been repaired two to three times in the past wherever it has been installed.

Responding to it, Chief Whip of the Government in Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza said he will discuss the issue with District In-charge Minister Ramanath Rai as well as the deputy commissioner and will bring the issue to the notice of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister. The minister will be asked to blacklist all those who have failed to instal the machines properly in the district.

Standing Committee president Shahul Hameed said that under the fourth phase of ‘Shuddha Neeru,’ the government has sanctioned 68 units even when it has not been implemented effectively.

Members Prameela Janardhan and Mohammed M S suggested that instead of setting up such units, it is better to write to the government to earmark funds for drinking water projects in the district. Instead of entrusting the work on implementing the project to KRIDL, it should be entrusted to zilla panchayat engineering division.

Agriculture department joint director Kempe Gowda said that under Krishi Bhagya scheme, the target is to dig 700 farm ponds in Dakshina Kannada district. A sum of Rs 550 lakh has been allotted to the district. The facility of farm pond can be availed by farmers who have a minimum of one acre land. Even machines can be used for digging the farm ponds. To avoid any mishap, construction of a fence around the farm ponds has been made mandatory, he said.

When the members sought to know why ‘D’ group employees in the department have failed to get salary for the last few months, an officer from Veterinary department said that the employees have not been paid the salary since February. The salary has been withheld at the state-level and will be released shortly, the officer informed.

The members said that beneficiaries are made to run from pillar to post by the bankers while sanctioning loan under self employment scheme, especially for micro units for the artisans.

Member Vinod said that a youth who had applied for the loan under the government’s scheme has not been sanctioned loan since one year. The bank had asked the youth to furnish five-year rent agreement, whereas, in reality, 11-month rent agreement is sufficient. In such a situation, how will the youths be motivated to set up self employment units, the members asked.

Zilla panchayat president Meenakshi Shanthigodu also directed the lead bank manager to ensure that bankers speak in Kannada in rural branches.

The zilla panchayat approved the action plan for the year 2017-18 worth Rs 1,387.46 lakh under agriculture, industry standing committee, Rs 15,269.84 lakh for education and health and Rs 1,783.86 lakh under Panchayat Raj engineering division.

Toppers in SSLC were felicitated on the occasion.