Chamarajanagar: The Hanur Town Panchayat in the Chamarajanagar district is facing a severe staff shortage, which is hindering the town’s development.
Hanur which is also a taluk centre, is also experiencing sanitation issues as a result of the pandemic posing threat to people’s health.
As per municipal regulations, the panchayat should have at least 25 civic workers, but it has just three staff and 11 civic workers while sanctioned strength is 40. The panchayat has no revenue officer, health inspector, civil engineer affecting daily works of the panchayat. Beginning of this week, the residents protested at the panchayat office alleging delay in public works.
Speaking to News Karnataka Panchayat Officer P. Murthy said, “shortage of staff burdened present staff and it also dents income of the panchayat.” According to Murthy, the panchayat expects to collect Rs. 95 lakhs in rent from tenants this year. The panchayat must also recover Rs. 80 lakhs in rent from a recently built shopping complex. He claims that because there is no health inspector, the number of overdue bills is increasing.
“The panchayat currently has 1500 illegal water connections. We are unable to act due to a lack of staff,” he added.
Due to the absence of a Revenue Inspector, the panchayat was only able to recover Rs. 20.45 lakhs in property tax. There is also a due of water tax to the tune of Rs. 22 lakhs, of which only 1.7 lakhs have been recovered. Despite the fact that a shortage of workers is causing problems and people are criticising the panchayat, the administration has taken no steps to fill the vacancies.
