Karnataka seeks special grant for Bidar district
Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda today urged the Planning Commission to release a special grant of Rs 430 crore for the development of Bidar district, which is set to celebrate 500 years of Gurdwara Jheera Saheb.
Gowda termed the district as one of the under-developed districts of the state with lower Human Development Index amid a relatively higher population of SCs, STs and minorities.
The move comes in backdrop of the proposed 500-year celebrations of the famous gurdwara here in April.
In a letter to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, he said: "...we are going to celebrate 500th year of consecration of the revered Guru Nanak Jheera Gurdwara at Bidar between 24th and 29th April 2012."
Gowda said the "gurdwara, considered as one of the holiest, has great cultural and historical significance. It will attract around two million people during the celebrations".
"In this context, it would be appropriate we pool our resources for the infrastructure upgradation in and around the Bidar City to ensure better civic and other services to the citizens and devotees," Gowda said.
The chief minister said a project proposal in this regard has been prepared and an estimated Rs 430 crore will be required for the development of basic infrastructure including roads, water supply, health facilities, traffic, electricity, sports and recreation etc.
"This one-time development of infrastructure will give fillip to the overall development of that area and will have tremendous multiplier effect which will help the whole area to develop," he said.
