Madikeri: Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar on Thursday criticised delays in implementing Union govt schemes in Kodagu district, saying officials should remain apolitical and leave politics to politicians.At a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting at ZP hall, Wadiyar cited shortcomings in housing schemes, waste segregation, park construction, Jal Jeevan Mission and works under AMRUT.Members expressed concern over incomplete AMRUT works in Madikeri. BC Naveen Kumar alleged the scheme was not being implemented according to the guidelines. An official said work was underway in four zones, of which two had been completed, with 45km of new pipelines laid.Legislative council member Suja Kushalappa alleged that work had been halted for two months. Official Jayakumar said work in Virajpet, which had stopped because of a labour shortage, had resumed. Projects in Kushalnagar and Madikeri would be completed by March.Wadiyar said Kodagu had become a holiday destination for some officials and criticised their absence from a meeting convened by the minister for municipal administration.Members RK Chandru and Nagesh Kundalpadi alleged that central govt schemes were being delayed for political reasons. Nagesh sought the suspension of the official responsible and alleged that incorrect housing-scheme statistics had been submitted. Errors were found in information provided by taluk panchayat and housing department officials.DC SJ Somashekhar said a detailed housing-scheme report would be submitted. Efforts were underway to secure forest department land at Monnangeri for a Madikeri waste-disposal unit after an alternative Katakeri site was found unsuitable. Land availability for a sewage treatment plant in Ponnampet remained a problem.Wadiyar directed forest officials to prepare a Project Elephant action plan amid central-level discussions on relocating wild elephants. Deputy conservator of forests Abhishek said fresh tenders had been invited for a delayed 7-km railway barricade in Kushalnagar and the process would be completed within a month. An estimated Rs 300-crore action plan was being drafted, although guidelines were awaited.Wadiyar sought scrutiny of NGOs allegedly exploiting forest issues to obtain foreign funding and directed officials to expedite Jal Jeevan Mission works amid drought conditions.
