Minister launches projects; says Hassan is on fast track

Projects that were stalled have begun without interruption

District-in-charge and Public Works Department Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa said the Congress government has implemented 90 out of 160 assurances it had mentioned in its poll manifesto during the first nine months of ascending power.

Speaking after launching several development programmes at Hasanamba Kalakshetra in Hassan, on Tuesday, he said the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has earmarked Rs 21,000 crore for education in the current budget. No government had allotted such a huge amount till now and said the CM had presented a complete budget.

As the water table has depleted in the district, the government, instead of digging borewells has chalked out plans to completely utilise water from rivers, lakes and other water sources. He pointed out that he has the responsibility of overseeing whether the government projects are being implemented in the right way. Shravanabelagola MLA C N Balakrishna, Belur MLA Y N Rudreshgowda, H K Kumaraswamy, MLC Patel Shivaram and others were present.

Addressing mediapersons, here, on Tuesday, after inaugurating a slew of projects, he said, steps were being taken to ensure that Hassan develops well, in comparison with any progressive district in the State.

“Many projects, which had been put on the back burner, have been initiated and the works are going on without interruption. The State Cabinet has approved implementation of lift irrigation projects to fill 82 lakes under 42 villages of the drought-hit Arkalgud taluk,” he said.

The Minister said, Rs 10 crore has been released to buy equipment for the District Government Hospital in the interest of patients. “Talks have been initiated with the Railway authorities to construct a flyover across the railway track on the road to the new Bus Stand. The Deputy Commissioner has a reserve fund of Rs 1.5 crore to supply drinking water to villages in tankers,” he said.

He said, if somebody has done some good work, it should be one’s minimum courtesy to praise it. He was responding to a question regarding reports that a Congress MLA from the district has written a letter to the high command, complaining that the minister was lauding former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Revanna. 

It has to be recalled that Dr Mahadevappa had complimented the father-son duo during a function organised to inaugurate a new unit of the local cooperative dairy. District Congress president B Shivaramu and vice-president Narayana Gowda were present.