Addressing a press conference in Bangalore, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V S Ugrappa alleged that welfare programmes had come to a standstill as the State government had failed to release the required grants. Kharge said the government was giving poll code as an excuse for its financial indiscipline.

Mining land

Ugrappa demanded that the State government convene an all party meeting and convey its stand on the alleged encroachment of mining land at Tumti village on the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh border by Obulapuram Mining Company belonging to Tourism Minister Janaradhana Reddy.

Ugrappa said the State government had turned a blind eye to the reports of the Lokayukta, and the Centre’s suspension of its license given to OMC. He demanded that the government cooperate with Andhra Pradesh in conducting a joint survey of the region as directed by the Karnataka High Court.

Survey from May 27

Meanwhile, the Office of the Controller of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines, has scheduled the survey work tentatively between May 27 and 30. Controller of Mines (South Zone) B P Sinha in a communication to various authorities including the deputy commissioner of Bellary district and Collector of Ananthpur district has sought their co-operation and also deputation of officers concerned for the survey work.

He stated that his office has written to the headquarters of Indian Bureau of Mines, Nagpur to depute a team of experts for the survey work.