` 80 crore for DK, Udupi rural electrification, says Moily

 Union Minister for Energy and Corporate Affairs M Veerappa Moily said that projects will be chalked out for the development of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Speaking to presspersons here on Sunday, he said Rs 20 crore has been released to take up work on rural electrification in Udupi district and Rs 60 crore for Dakshina Kannada district. A proposal of Rs 137 crore is ready to develop National Highway from Theerthahalli to Udupi.

The PWD has already prepared the plan and has submitted to Chief Minister. Once, the Centre receives the report, action will be initiated.  Moily said that a proposal will be submitted to develop Karkala-Udupi road under CRF fund. The State government has taken up the work on widening Padubidri-Karkala road. The proposal to four-lane Mangalore -Sollapura National Highway 13 is getting ready.

The Central government will implement Tiger project in Kudremukh National Park only if the State government approves it. The State government will have a final say in the Tiger project. There is no need to politicise the issue and create fear in the minds of the forest dwellers, he said.

‘CAG not final’

At a separate press meet in Mangalore, he said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has made an estaimate on the allocation of the coal. The report on irregularities in allotment of coal blocks leading to undue benefits of Rs 1.80 lakh crore to private companies is not final. The CAG has just made observation. The CAG report will be discussed by Public Accounts Committee (PAC).” He said the CAG report has not blamed Prime Minister or PMO’s involvement in corruption.

The irregularities in allotment of coal blocks is a administrative lapse and there was no need to politicise the issue.

He said the government planned to increase private participation in power generation in the 12th five year plan. The private participation in power generation has increased from 17 per cent to 57 per cent.

As there is a problem related to distribution of coal, the Union government will give priority to gas based power generation units, he said.