Udupi: In a review meeting held at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium in Manipal, Laxmi Hebbalkar, the district in-charge minister, asserted that any delays in the ongoing development projects in Udupi district will not be tolerated. Emphasizing the need for seamless coordination among all departments involved, she warned of strict action against officers found in violation of project timelines.

Highlighting the critical issue of potential drinking water shortages during the upcoming summer, the minister urged officials to take corrective measures promptly to ensure a sufficient water supply for both the residents and cattle. She directed the completion of pending drinking water projects on a priority basis, particularly focusing on the installation of barrier planks for the remaining 247 vented dams out of a total of 604 in the district.

Addressing the irrigation department officers, Hebbalkar underscored the urgency of completing the Varahi drinking water project, with a specific directive to ensure water supply to the city of Udupi by the end of February.

Providing an update on city development projects, the minister revealed that out of the 71 approved works, 32 have already been completed. She urged officials to expedite the remaining projects, emphasizing the importance of timely and efficient execution.

Expressing her discontent over the stalled silt removal work at the outer port of Byndoor, Gangolli fishing port, and Kodi Jetty navigation channels, Hebbalkar attributed the delay to technical reasons. She promptly instructed the concerned authorities to facilitate communication between the ports department and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) authority to expedite the necessary work.

MLAs Sunil Kumar, Gururaj Gantihole, Yashpal Suvarna,  Kiran Kumar, Gurme Suresh Shetty, MLC Manjunatha Bhandary, DC Vidya Kumari and many others were present.