Rai criticises PWD's irresponsible attitude

Karnataka Forests Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge B Ramanath Rai today reprimanded officials of the Public Works Department for their 'passive' approach in the upgradation of Charmadi Ghat road.
Charmadi Ghat is now being used as the alternate route between Mangaluru and Bengaluru since the closure of Shiradi Ghat stretch of the road on the national highway 75 in January this year for repair and development. Since then, the Charmadi Ghat had been witnessing frequent road blocks as the narrow road was in a poor condition.
Presiding over a meeting of the district natural calamity monitoring committee here, Rai criticised the 'irresponsible' attitude of the PWD which did not take any step to develop the Charmadi Ghat road despite repeated directions given by the district administration last year itself.

DK Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, who also spoke, said the PWD which did nothing last year in the Charmadi section, stated work only after two ministers were caught in a traffic jam soon after the closure of the Shiradi Ghat.
Rejecting the PWD's contention that the plying of trucks, rains and fall of trees were causing traffic blocks, the deputy commissioner issued directions to correct their approach and take up speedy work.
PWD exective engineer Nataraj asked the administration to deploy six home guards each in the Dakshina Kannada border and the Chikkamagaluru border to control traffic.
District Superintendent of Police S D Sharanappa, and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer P I Sreevidya were also present at the meeting.