Karwar: Zilla Panchayat (ZP) President Jayashri Moger instructed officials to take steps to supply drinking water to the people, using available funds, as drinking water scarcity was being experienced at several taluks in the district.

Chairing the monthly KDP progress review meeting at the ZP here, on Tuesday, she asked officials to complete the pending drinking water supply works.

Supplying drinking water and fodder is priority. For this, all departments should work in coordination. As per approved action plan, borewell digging, pipeline laying and other works should be completed fast.

Out of 1,977 works under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), 1,524 works are completed, 181 works are in progress and 172 works are yet to begin, she said.

Out of 943 drought relief works taken up at an estimated cost of `11 crore, `7.28 crore has been spent to complete 883 works. A proposal should be submitted to government, seeking more funds for new works, she noted.

RTE seats vacant

Many students could not get seats under the Right to Education (RTE), as town is considered as a unit.

In Karwar educational district, only 29 applications were received for 221 seats meant for SC students, while no application came for 44 seats meant for ST students.

In Sirsi educational district, 83 applications were received for 133 seats meant for SC students, and 18 applications came for 33 seats meant for ST students, ZP president said.

SC and ST students are not able to submit applications, as there are no schools in their locality.

Changes should be made in the guidelines, to fill up these vacant seats during the third round of counselling.

She asked forest department officials to create ponds in forest area and to fill water in them, for the benefit of wild animals.

ZP Vice-President Santosh Renake, ZP CEO L Chandrashekhar Nayak, and others were present.