No funds for Gandhi ashram, building in ruins

No funds for Gandhi ashram, building in ruins

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/No-funds-for-Gandhi-a...

Times of India

HAVERI: The Mahatma Gandhi - National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MG - NREGS) is being implemented in villages all over India by undertaking several developmental works, but funds have not been released for the development of the Gandhi ashram at Koradur village near here.

The ashram was a safe place for freedom fighters during the pre-independence era. It was a place for them to spread patriotism among people of North Karnataka. According to elders, the ashram was safe hiding place for freedom fighters like Mahadevappa Mailar and his followers. Freedom fighter Siddamma, wife of Mahadevappa also lived for some years in the ashram after her husband Mahadevappa was shot dead by the British police on April 1, 1943. the ashram now wears a deserted look and is on the verge of collapse.

Enthusiastic people of the village came forward to develop the ashram under the MG-NREG scheme. They prepared an action plan of Rs 3 lakh and demolished the compound wall. But during the recent ZP progress review meeting, CEO M S Channappagoudra clarified that no funds under the scheme will be sanctioned for the works executed without an approval.

Executive officer of taluk panchayat Basavaraj said that the action plan was executed without waiting for an approval from higher ups. Now the project will be re-examined and placed before the ZP to be considered.