GADAG: Cracking the whip on officials unresponsive to drought relief management, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda suspended an Executive Engineer of HESCOM for failing to meet the expectations of MLAs and publc in relief work.
He, however, expressed satisfaction at the relief works being carried out by officials in the district.
Gowda was addressing the press here after a meeting with officials at the DC’s office on Wednesday where he took cognizance of the satisfactory work by all departments save for HESCOM. “HESCOM officials were not effective in re-installation and repair of transformers, which are essential for water supply,” he added.
“Taluk-level officials have been assigned as nodal officers for villages to overlook drought relief operations in the district. The government has decided to waive off land revenue worth `6.95 lakh in 314 villages,” he stated.
Stating that Gadag-Betgeri city is receiving drinking water once in 10 days, he added that work has been started by KUIDF and depth of borewells are being increased.
“Repair of pipelines and motors and pumping water from canals are among the measures taken up by the district administration... water in ten lakes are being filled at a cost of `32 lakh; only Bhairapur village in Ron taluk is getting water by tankers,” the chief minister added.
He said he has also instructed health department officials to take measures to avoid the outbreak of any epidemic.