Officers on SIR duty should act responsibly, says Parameshwara

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara addressing officials at the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

Officers on duty for Election Commission of India’s Systematic Intensive Revision and others concerned should act responsibly and see that not a single eligible voter is excluded from the electoral rolls, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said in Belagavi on Wednesday.

Dr. Parameshwara, who also holds the Revenue, Endowments and Sports portfolios, was speaking at a review meeting of officers of the three departments in the seven districts of Kittur Karnataka at the Suvarna Soudha.

He also reviewed monsoon preparedness, drought mitigation, temple maintenance and sports promotion.

“The ECI SIR process is already under way in the State and officers should act responsibly. All efforts should be made to see that no eligible voter is left out. It seems that a lot of people need the Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) to help retain their names in the electoral rolls. PRC should be issued by the Tahsildar and the officials at higher levels. PRC should be issued urgently to those who need it. Necessary steps should be taken for this,” he said.

“There is a shadow of drought in the entire country. A study says this is the least rainfall monsoon since 1901. India Meteorological Department has predicted that even in July the rainfall quantum may be less. Water in our reservoirs has reached dead storage levels in almost all dams. I have directed officials that the available water in dams should be used with utmost caution. Drinking water needs should be given priority. The available water should not be used for any purpose other than drinking. Appropriate action should be taken against those who install unauthorized pumpsets in canals and rivers and they should be cleared,” he said.

He asked officers to repair dysfunctional rain gauges or install new ones in places where they are required to be put up.

“There is a possibility of sudden rain, lands