Excise Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda chairing a Praja Seva Abhiyana meeting in Hassan on Saturday.

| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Excise Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, who is also Minister in-charge of Hassan district, has instructed officers in Hassan district to redress public grievances raised at the Praja Seva Abhiyana at the earliest and ensure that people received resolution to their problems.Chairing the Praja Seva Abhiyana meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Hassan on Saturday, the Minister said a majority of complaints from the public pertained to the Revenue Department. He noted that there had been delays in addressing pleas relating to the grant of land, and directed officers to verify the applications and resolve them as per the law.He instructed the officers to maintain records properly and respond to public pleas within 15 days, adding that he would hold another meeting to review the progress of applications being handled. If any officer had failed in their duties, he would recommend government disciplinary action against such officials, he warned.Tension prevailed at the meeting for some time after a person allegedly attempted to harm himself by consuming a liquid, said to be from a pesticide bottle he was carrying.The person has been identified as Kari Gowda, 34, of Attavara Hosahalli village in Shivamogga taluk. He had earlier submitted pleas to the officers concerned, alleging that he had been facing difficulty cultivating his land due to harassment by a neighbour. The issue remained unresolved despite him submitting multiple pleas.Expressing anguish over the delay in resolving the matter, Mr. Kari Gowda consumed the liquid at the venue, prompting the police present to intervene and shift him to the hospital by ambulance.Lok Sabha member Shreyas Patel, Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari, District In-charge Secretary Naveen Raj Singh, and other senior officers were present at the meeting.(If you are in distress or having suicidal tendencies, please reach out to these helplines: TeleMANAS at 1-8008914416/ 14416, NIMHANS at 08026685948, 9480829670 or SAHAI at 080 25497777, +91-9886444075) Published - September 05, 2026 08:05 pm IST