Jagadish Shettar, MP, has directed officials to properly implement all Centrally-funded schemes in Belagavi district.

During the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Tuesday (June 2), the former Chief Minister asked officials to ensure that no eligible beneficiary was left out of any scheme.

He asked engineers from the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department to make sure that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was properly implemented across the district as several villages were suffering from drinking water scarcity.

“I have some reports that say JJM has not been properly implemented in some villages. Low rainfall areas and those habitations suffering from water scarcity should be identified, and JJM works should be initiated on priority,’’ he said. He asked officials to act without fear or favour and implement all schemes, including MGNREGA, without succumbing to any political interference.

Officers should ensure supply of adequate seeds and fertilizers to farmers as the sowing season has started. They should act in coordination with Union government officials and ensure uninterrupted supply, Mr. Shettar said.

He instructed Education Department officials to ensure that the quality of education in schools improves. “We should look at districts like Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, which are at the top of the list of districts with the highest pass percentage in SSLC and PU,” he added.

He asked officers to complete all Smart City project works within the scheduled time limit by coordinating with other departments. “We have received some complaints about road repairs in some villages. They need to be addressed immediately,’’ he said.

He asked the lead bank manager to ensure that banks provide loans and subsidies to farmers and the vulnerable groups as per rules and out of humanitarian considerations. He asked Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) to follow rules regarding control of stray dogs. “Some farmers have complained regarding the long-pending repair of power converters in villages. Immediate action should be taken to repair them. Lands should be identified for graveyards,” he said. He asked officers to ensure that there was no scarcity of petrol and cooking gas in the district.

Rajya Sabha member Iranna Kadadi asked officers to ensure that works taken up by the zilla panchayat under various schemes get widespread publicity. He asked them to ensure proper implementation of road works under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

He asked bankers to behave politely with farmers.

Education Department officials said that 40 PM SHRI schools were started in Chikkodi educational district, including 10 high schools and 30 primary schools. Guest teachers, including music and karate teachers, have been appointed. The demand for PM Sri schools has increased in rural areas. Their performance in the SSLC examination is better than other schools, he said.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Shindhe said the zilla panchayat had taken up several programmes to improve the educational level of students in the district. He said officials had been asked to bring to the notice of MPs any problem they faced during the implementation of schemes. Mr. Shindhe said 22 borewells were dug in Chikkodi and surrounding areas to supply water to villages facing water scarcity. “All the gram panchayats have their own water tankers for drinking water supply. Work on multi-village schemes have been completed in most cases. A plan has already been formulated for a permanent solution to the drinking water problem,” he added.

Mahantesh Muragod, Horticulture Department joint director, said that crop damage compensation will be given to the farmers’ accounts immediately. However, the cultivation of horticulture crops was reduced this year due to low rainfall.

Priyanka Jarkiholi, MP, Additional Deputy Commissioner Vijayakumar Honakeri, Deputy Commissioner of Police Narayan Bharamani, BCC Commissioner M. Karthik, Joint Director of the Agriculture H.D. Kolekar, Joint Director of Social Welfare Ramanagara Gouda Kannolli, and others were present.