Rama Jois Committee set up to recommend changes to the Religious Endowment Act to facilitate smooth administration in the religious centres across the state is working on the report and is likely to submit the same to the Government in 15 days. After the report is discussed at the Assembly and the Cabinet and then the department will take up programmes to shape the new Act,” said Minister for Endowment B Nagaraj Shetty.
Mr Shetty after visiting Kollur Mookambika Temple on Friday, addressing the reporters said that the government has chalked out a plan of Rs 249 crore to provide permanent relief from sea erosion that has been threatening the people dwelling on the coasts along the three districts.
“Retaining wall will be constructed at the worst affeced areas along the 300 km long coastal line in the region.
Attempts are being made to receive ADB funds for the proposed project. The projct will be taken up by Central and State governmen collaboratively and is likely to be taken up from 2008 onwards,” he added.
He said that Union Minister of State for Surface Transport Muniyappa has assured to release a sum of Rs 25 crore for the repair of National Highway from Karwar to Talapady. Apart from Rs 31 crore set aside for repair of Shiradi Ghat, additional sum of Rs 5 crore has been released for the same. “Due to the neglegence of the officers, the plans have not been proceeding the way it should have progressed.
A discussion was held with Union Minister Sharad Pawar about developing all important ports in undivided Dakshina Kannada as all season ports, to which he has responded positively”, he added.
He said study must be taken up on the feasibility of the ‘Saubhagya Sanjeevani’ and ‘Pashchima Vahini’ projects of A G Kodgi, which aims at solving the drinking water problems persisting in the region. He said that it would be better to conduct a study on adopting the Gujarat model of canal water supply rather than thinking of river linking.
Coalition fate
When questioned about the begining of II phase of the coalition government, bringing BJP to power, Mr Shetty said that he is one of the persons who shares an exceptionally good relation with CM H D Kumaraswamy and hence he had complete faith on the words and behavious of CM. “I would not wish to be in power even a day after the said 20 months, brother”, said Shetty reiterating words spoken by Mr Kumaraswamy to him.