Gram Panchayat polls 2015 - Udupi

Udupi: Hectic preparations on ahead of gram panchayat polls

Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (HB) Udupi, May 26: Preparations for the village panchayat elections are on in full swing in Udupi district. The district authority is all set for the gram panchayat level election to be held on Friday May 29. There are 155 village panchayats in the district and the nomination process has been completed. There are a total of 7, 38, 608 voters in Udupi district of which 3, 53, 190 are men and 3, 85, 418 are women. There are 4,740 candidates contesting the election in the district of which 2, 229 are women and 2, 511 are men. Since 16 new village panchayats have been added, there are 75 more seats this year. The total reserved seats are 2, 398, out which 1,161 are for the general category and 1, 237 are for women. Approximately 159 seats are reserved for schedule caste women out of 186 scheduled caste seats and both men and women could contest for the remaining 27 seats. The total scheduled tribe reservation seats are 197, of which 166 seats are reserved for women and the remaining 31 are for both men and women. There are 582 reservation seats for ‘A’ category backward class candidates of which those 323 seats are for women while men and women could contest for the remaining 259 seats. There are 79 seats for women under reservation out of the 145 posts in backward class ‘B’ while men and women candidates could contest for the rest of the 66 seats. There are 1,288 seats in general class of which 510 are reserved for women and the rest of the 778 are open to all. A total of 131 poll stations are considered sensitive and 59 very sensitive, out of the 907 polling stations. As many as 54 polling stations are in Naxal-affected areas while 663 are in the general category. Rejected nominations A total of 43 nomination papers were rejected after scrutiny in Udupi district, 16 from Udupi, 18 from Kundapur, and 18 from Karkala were considered as invalid. There are 2,738 candidates in Udupi, 2,470 in Kundapur, and 1,130 in Karkala contesting the election. Unanimously selected candidates Candidates in eight village panchayats have been selected unanimously by the party activists. They include 10 from Kedur of Kundapur taluk, 9 from Korgi, 11 from Molahalli, 13 of Hardalli Mandalli, 21 seats from Kokkarne, 11 from Kuchchur of Kundapur taluk, 12 each from Nandalike and Belmannu. The election will be held for one seat each in Cherkady (Kampankatte) and Belve. The Nagarika Samiti members are participating in Kemmennu and Varamballi panchayat. There are 59 village panchayats in Udupi, 62 in Kundapur, 34 in Karkala, and there are 875 village panchayat constituencies in the district. The code of conduct will be in effect till June 7. District commissioner R Vishal and SP Annamalai will hold many meetings on preparation and will take peace-keeping measures. A flying squad will be formed for the smooth functioning of the election. According to Mallika Balakrishna, women have acknowledged the reservation seats and thus, came forward to contest the election. She said that a villager opined that she missed an opportunity due to her age being 62 and added that the villagers are giving good response compared to the previous elections. Congress party leaders district-in charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, Oscar Fernandes, and Jayaprakash Hegde took the leadership of election canvassing to motivate the voters. In the BJP, Shobha Karandlaje, MP of Udupi, MLA Sunil, MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, and former MLA Raghupathi Bhat took on this responsibility. Two parties have appointed their own supervisor at the rural level. K M Asha, joint director of co-operative societies, Mysore region, has been appointed as an election observer for Udupi district. During the first phase on May 29, polling will be held in 15 districts—Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Chamarajnagara, Udupi, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Haveri, Bagalkote, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, and Gadag. The DC circular says that the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages should be banned during the election and counting day. Dry days are from midnight of May 27 to midnight of May 29, and from midnight of June 4 to midnight of June 5. No party politics in village panchayat elections Interestingly, candidates are seeking votes on a non-party basis, but the candidates are directly supported by one or the other party. Candidates are allowed to carry pamphlets containing personal achievements along with the party symbol. Many of the candidates alleged that the symbol process was delayed so they have lesser time to cover all the areas. Social media in campaigning Nowadays, social media is playing a crucial role in building public opinion. Many of the candidates have already changed their profile images, are tagging images, symbols, and passing messages by seeking votes in their friends’ circle, amongst relatives, and so on. So, it would be a good reason for the variation in results. Finally, the result depends on voters. The public should be aware of the power of votes. Elections will be held on a non-party basis and a total of 94,458 GP members will be elected by an electorate of 2.81 crore during the two phases of polling. Fifty per cent of the seats are reserved for women. Polling will not be held in 229 GPs as their tenure will end after August 2015. During the second phase, on Tuesday June 2, polling will be held in the remaining 15 districts—Bengaluru urban, Bengaluru rural, Ramanagara, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Bidar, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, and Koppala. As many as 47 nomination papers were rejected after scrutiny for gram panchayat elections in Udupi district.

Sorake threatens to protest against UPCL

UDUPI, May 20, 2015

Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, said on Tuesday that he would launch an agitation against the thermal power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL) at Yellur in Udupi district, if it failed to pay taxes to the Yellur Gram Panchayat and use its funds under Corporate Social Responsibility for the welfare of the surrounding villages.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Sorake said that the salt water discharged by the thermal plant had damaged the fields of farmers in a couple of surrounding villages. UPCL should pay compensation to these farmers, he said.

UPCL, which is now under the Adani Group, wants to expand the capacity of the thermal plant.

For this purpose, it is planning to buy land in neighbouring villages up to Inna and Belman. “But we will fight against such mega expansion plans of the UPCL,” he said.

Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar had called him for a meeting with the officials of UPCL in Bengaluru on May 19. But Mr. Sorake had refused to attend it. He had briefed Mr. Shivakumar on the problems faced by people due to the thermal plant, e said.

On the K. Kasturirangan Panel’s Report on the Conservation of the Western Ghats, Mr. Sorake said that the State government had urged the Centre only to include reserve forests and wildlife areas for conservation and to avoid all human habitations. The State government had already sought the relaxation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The CRZ norms, in existence in Goa and Kerala, should be extended to the State. This would help in promoting tourism along the coastline, he said.

Mr. Sorake said that ever since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power, the funds sanctioned to his Urban Development Ministry had been drastically reduced. The previous United Progressive Alliance government had provided Rs. 6,400 crore for implementation of various schemes. But the NDA government had provided only Rs. 82 crore.

The NDA government had also changed the ratio of funding for construction of fisheries harbours. Earlier, the Centre used to provide 75 per cent of amount, while the State bore the rest. Now the State government has to bear 60 per cent of expenses on construction of a port, while the Centre pays the remainder, Mr. Sorake said.

‘The plant should pay compensation to farmers’

Udupi: UPCL takover by Adani - Sorake slams Modi

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB) Udupi, May 19: Urban development minister and district incharge Vinay Kumar Sorake on Tuesday May 19 lashed out at the union government, particularly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that Modi's 'right hand' industrialist Gautam Adani's group had come forward to purchase UPCL as part of a 'strategy' to acquire farmers' land. Addressing a press meet here, Sorake said, "Prime Minister Modi’s right hand Adani's group has come forward to purchase UPCL by investing Rs 6,500 crore. The central government is plotting a strategy to acquire land belonging to poor farmers. This is the achievement of one year of Modi-led government." "I have always been against the 1,200-MW UPCL power plant. The authorities should have sorted out all the problems faced by the famers before acquiring their agricultural land in Kaup," he added. "Rs 6,400 crore had been sanctioned by the central government for three projects, but Modi cancelled the sanctioned amount of Rs 3,000 crore and there are no other grants sanctioned by the centre except the MP fund. The centre has released only Rs 82 crore under Swachch Bharat Abhiyan scheme. Modi says his dream is 'Make in India', but he has not even prepared guidelines for achieving this," he said. Condemning MP Shobha Karandlaje's statement that Congress government in the state has been a 'big zero', Sorake said, "If she is concerned about development of her own city, she should have asked sought IIT for her own constituency instead of Raichur district. She has no confidence in her ability to make contributions to society." Sorake, describing the two successful years of the Congress administration, said that the first phase of the most-awaited Varahi irrigation project, totally worth Rs 596 crore, has been started. "Foundation was recently laid for the Rs 141.38-crore advanced research center at Belapu. The state has completed more than 100 promises made to the public," he added. He further added that before commenting, BJP members should look at their own track record when they were in power in the state. He further said, "The state government has sanctioned Rs 123 crore for the development of coastal fishing and other basic infrastructure. The diesel subsidy was increased from Rs 300 to Rs 400 and the banking loan closing term was increased from 12 to 24 months for women. A proposal has been sent to the central government for the construction of Hejamady port. Approximately, 244 sea walls have been constructed and work amounting to Rs 2,730.24 lac of work is in process. Total Rs 168 crore worth of the sea wall project (from Ullal) is under process as per the ADB scheme and the third phase of Malpe port is under way. Udupi district has achieved 99.23 percent of success in revival of 116 lakes at an expense of Rs 413.78 lac." Sorake said he felt happy about Udupi and Dakshina Kannada achieving good results in SSLC and PUC exams, and praised the toppers hailing from the twin districts. Speaking about Ksheera Bhaggya and other government schemes, he said that 2,03,734 students were provided milk three days in a week and 21,621 bicycles were distributed to the students. Construction of Mini Vidhana Soudha "A Mini Vidhana Soudha building is to be established and an amount of Rs 5 crore has been released. A 25 acre site has been identified at Uppoor for a new police training school and 10 acre of land has been reserved for the establishment of a University center," he informed. "Nearly 32,638 Anthyodaya cards and 1,2,373 BPL cards have been distributed till now. In this term 1,471 people received old age pension, 6,981 widow pension and 2,016 received disability pension. A total Rs 85 crore grant was sanctioned to the City Municipal Council, Udupi," said Sorake. Regarding the upcoming gram panchayat elections, he said, "The preparation for gram panchayat elections is going well and we have been conducting meeting in every block office to strengthen the party's unity."

Land to UPCL ruled out till problems are solved

Udupi, May 19, 2015, DHNS:

UPCL Company, presently owned by Adani group, is up to acquire thousands of agricultural land for the extension of the company. But, the government will not allow the company to do so, until the problems caused to the local people, farmers and fishermen, by the company are solved, Udupi district in-charge Minister and Minister for Urban Development Vinaykumar Sorake said.

Briefing reporters, in Udupi, on Tuesday, he criticised that the greatest achievement of the Centre was the purchasing of UPCL company by Adani, who is considered to be the right hand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for Rs 6,500 crore.

Responding to the remarks made by MP Shobha Karandlaje that the State government’s achievement is zero, Sorake alleged that the BJP MPs were lobbying to get the IIT sanctioned for Raichur. If Shobha is concerned about the State, let her make efforts to bring IIT to Udupi.

During the regime of UPA government, 75 per cent grants were provided for the development of ports. But, after the NDA government took over, the grant has been brought down to 60 per cent.

Also, the Central government has cut as many as Rs 3,000 crore grants to be sanctioned for the department of urban development.  Altogether, the State government has been bequeathed a shortage of Rs 16,000 crore, by the Central government, he said.

Vinaykumar Sorake said in a period of two years of administration by the Congress government in the State, Udupi district is witnessing an overall development. Rs 1,002 crore has been utilised towards the development works so far, he said.

Water is being supplied to farmers’ lands after 60 per cent of completion of Varahi irrigation project. Twelve crore has been released for Brahmavar sugar factory and the amount has been utilised towards the payment of arrears of labourers and liabilities with cooperative societies. Every legislative assembly has been provided with Rs 18 crore under Namma Grama Namma Rasthe scheme.

As many as 32,000 Antyodaya and 1.27 lakh BPL cards have been provided to beneficiaries. Rs 312 crore has been provided for drinking water and UGD works under ADB scheme.

Special attention has been given to the development of fisheries roads. The quantity of subsidy diesel has been raised to 400 litres from 300 litres. Also, the installments towards the repayment of loans by fisherwomen have been risen to 24 from 12.

He said the foundation has been laid for Science Research Centre in Belapu and the Chief Minister has assured of sanctioning a Post Graduate Research Centre.

MLA Pramod Madhwaraj said that a medical college is expected to be sanctioned for Udupi in the next budget. A College and a police training centre will also be built near Uppur. Congress General Secretary Narasimhamurthy was present among others.

Siddaramaiah Inaugurates Varahi Irrigation Project

THE HINDU -05th MAY 2015

KUNDAPUR:The promise of providing water to agricultural land was  partially fulfilled in Kundapur after 35 years with the official launch of Water Irrigation Project from Varahi river.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah formally inaugurated the project at Hole Shankaranarayana on Monday.

The work on the left bank canal (LBC), which is laid up to 30 kilometres, has been completed till Bidkalkatte, and the work on the right bank canal (RBC) was completed for 18.72 km from the diversion weir, which is constructed across Varahi River at Horiyabbe near Siddapur.

Also, a 1,645-metre-long tunnel, an 806-metre-long aqueduct and other works at RBC are completed and this would irrigate about 312.64 hectares of agricultural land, the CM said.

Later, during a programme held at Government High School Ground in Siddapur, Siddaramaiah claimed that 60 per cent of the work on the project was completed after the Congress came to power in the state.

He said Varahi Irrigation Project has a vision to irrigate the agricultural land in the region, however the project was stalled for about three decades.

The Chief Minister said the project is aimed at irrigating 40,000 acres of agricultural land, while in the first phase, it will irrigate  6,000 acres. 

After the remaining works on the distribution channels are completed, the entire 40,000 acres of agricultural land will be irrigated within two years, he added.

Siddaramaiah said the state government will set aside Rs 50,000 crore for taking up or completing various irrigation projects across the state in five years.

Water Resources Minister M B Patil, Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes, District Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and others were present.

Budget Increased by 60 Times

The initial budget of Varahi project was Rs 9.43 crore and the project cost increased to Rs 600.33 crore in 35 years.  The project was approved by the state government in 1979 as a power generation project, but following fears of submerging 1,019 acres of forest land, it was changed to a lift irrigation project in 2001. 

As the lift irrigation project would affect only 129.60 hectares of forest land, the project was found feasible.

The irrigation project, on completion, is designed to irrigate 40,000 acres in Kundapura and Udupi taluks. The project aims at supplying water to farming land in 180 villages.

Government upgrades 56 village panchayats

THE HINDU BENGALURU, May 3, 2015

The State government has upgraded 56 big village panchayats in various districts.

While 42 of them have been upgraded as Town Panchayats (TPs), 13 have been re-designated as Town Municipal Councils (TMCs) and one has been declared as City Municipal Council (CMC).

Announcing this at a press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday, Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said the village panchayats having a population of more than 15,000 had been declared as TPs while those with a population exceeding 20,000 and 50,000 had been upgraded into TMCs and CMC respectively. The upgraded panchayats would be removed from the list of other rural local bodies going to polls shortly as they have been converted into urban local bodies, Mr. Sorake said.

The upgrading would help the erstwhile village panchayats to get more funds for planned infrastructure development, including drains, and drinking water facility, the Minister said. Presently, the State has 11 city corporations, 41 CMCs, 94 TMCs and 68 taluk panchayats.

Mr. Sorake said Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala had given clearance for the government to go ahead with the process of regularisation of unauthorised constructions on government lands in urban areas (other than Bengaluru).

The Revenue Department was in the process of evolving rules for this legislation which would soon be implemented.

He also made it clear that the government would only collect the applications seeking regularisation of unauthorised constructions in Bengaluru city under the Akrama Sakrama scheme. But it would not process the applications as the matter was before the court.