Karwar: Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Md Roshan has stated that the gram panchayats in the district have not utilised Rs 100 crore funds out of the total funds allocated to them under the 14th Finance Commission. In Kumta taluk, Rs 13.5 crore funds have remained unused, he added.

He noted this while speaking during the progress review meeting of development works of various departments held in the town on Friday.

He said, the district is facing a waste disposal problem. Most of the places in the district are witnessing heaps of trash everywhere. In terms to find a permanent solution for the waste disposal with the aim of making the district clean, waste disposal units will be set up in 60-gram panchayats in the first phase, he added.

Of the total funds allocated under the 14th Finance Commission, 20% of funds should be used for waste disposal. In this regard, Rs 40 lakh was given to each gram panchayat in the district. However, most of them have used only Rs 25 lakh and Rs 15 lakh funds remained unutilised.

If the officials concerned failed to make use of the remaining funds, the respective panchayat development officers and secretaries will be held responsible, he warned.

He asked the officials to prepare an action plan in the next four months and execute it with no time. Meanwhile, the officials should take people’s representatives into confidence.

Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer C T Naik,ZP Deputy Secretary (Development), gram panchayat secretaries, panchayat development officers were present.