JOIN USObstacles to Varahi project may be cleared soon
Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said the obstacles in the process of clearing off the impending works of Varahi irrigation project has been embarked upon with new dimensions.
Speaking to media persons after chairing the KDB meeting, the minister said the solution to the problems pertaining to the deemed forest in the proposed Varahi project area is underway. The project will be designed to aid irrigation facilities to as many as 8,000 acres of agricultural land through the left canal in the first phase, Sorake said.
Stating that the decision on the revival of Brahmavar sugar factory is solely dependent upon the affected farmers and laborers’ decision, the minister said as many as Rs 12 crore has been released by the government in the first phase. The amount will be used to pay the pending arrears to the farmers and laborers, the minister added.
Road works
He further said that the proposal for Rs 40 crore to widen Shimoga-Agumbe stretch was approved by the Central government. A detailed project report has been prepared for the connective stretch between Athradi-Shirva-Mangalore. The proposal to construct link roads connecting three national highways via Manipal-Heeriyadka-Karkala-Gurvayankere-Dharmasthala-Gundya has also been taken up with the Central government.
Areca issue
Vinaya Kumar Sorake said that the State government has decided to file a return affidavit in Supreme Court pertaining to arecanut issue claiming that arecanut growth contains medicinal qualities. The decision is taken up in the meeting comprising the Chief Minister and Union Health Minister. Besides, the State is expecting Rs 171 crore-compensation package to arecanut growers who suffered loss following rot disease, through National Horticulture Mission. Earlier, Rs 6.5 crore is given away as compensation package to the arecanut farmers in Udupi district.
Homes for homeless
The minister said 822 people have been identified to offer title deeds of which 509 have already received the title deeds. He added that as many as 47 acres of land in Udupi, around 36 acres of land in Kundapur and eight acres of land in Karkala has been identified to construct homes for the homeless needy.
As many as 25,000 new BPL cards are given to the beneficiaries. Measures are taken to implement the multi village drinking water scheme in the district.
He also said the new sand mining policy formulated by the State government will comprise certain relaxation to coastal stretch of the state following the manual sand mining in the area. Boiled rice in Anna Bhagya
The minister added that Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu districts will receive boiled rice under Anna Baghya Scheme. The government has also decided to extend the Ksheera Bhaghya scheme to differently abled kids, Ashrama schools and government residential schools, he added.