JOIN USThe State Cabinet on Saturday gave its approval for the overall development of Kollur town as well as the Mookambika temple at a total cost of Rs 65.64 crore.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said the government planned to develop major temples across the State in the next two years.
Mookambika temple is located at Kollur in Kundapur taluk, Udupi district. A dining hall in the temple will be constructed at a cost of Rs 21 crore.
Administrative approval has been given for a permanent drinking water scheme for Kollur town at a cost of Rs 24.67 crore.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, had announced in the budget proposals 2015-16 that the government would be implementing the ‘Bruhat Devalaya Poornabhivruddhi Yojane’ for the overall development of big temples, including Kollur Mookambika temple, Kukke Subrahmanya Swamy temple in Dakshina Kannada, Chamundeshwari temple and Srikanteshwara temple of Nanjangudu, Mysuru; Ganagapura Dattatreya temple, Kalaburagi and Savadatti Renuka Yellamma temple in Belagavi at a cost of Rs 400 crore in the next two years.
Jayachandra said the government would initiate strict action against those involved in the theft of gold at Banashankari temple in Bengaluru. Already, four priests have been suspended.
The State Cabinet decided to suitably amend rules to make in mandatory for the Lokayukta institution to submit its annual financial statement and performance reports to the government by October 31 every year. The Lokayukta has not been submitting the reports stating that rules did not permit the same. Jayachandra said the Lokayukta should submit the reports as it received grants for the government.
KPSC not to disclose marks
The Karnataka Public Service Commission will do away with the system of disclosing marks scored by the candidates prior to the completion of the interview process.
A decision to this effect was taken by the State Cabinet on Saturday. Law Minister T B Jayachandra said secrecy would be maintained till the selection process was completed, along the lines of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Hitherto, KPSC followed the system of announcing the marks scored in the main examination prior to the personality test (interview).
The H C Hoota Committee on examination reforms in the KPSC had pointed out that the system had led to malpractices.
Henceforth, the UPSC model of announcing the marks scored in the main examination, along with the results of the interview, would be followed by the KPSC, the minister said.