'Demand for medical college will be considered in next budget'

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the demand for setting up a government medical college at the Wenlock Hospital in the city will be considered in the next year’s budget.

Speaking after laying foundation stone for the construction of the district office complex, a new wing of Wenlock Hospital, an international standard swimming pool at Emmekere and police quarters both in Commissionerate and SP limits here on Thursday, he said, “Since 2004-05, I have sanctioned 12 government medical colleges. There were only four medical colleges in 2004-05. The demand will be considered in the next budget.”

He said the state government has made an honest effort to fulfill the promises it made in the election manifesto, Out of 165 promises, more than 100 promises have been fulfilled.
The Congress will come back to power in 2018 Assembly election as it has implemented a number of welfare programmes.

“Some persons are in delusion that they will come to power in the next Assembly election and have started the portfolio distribution,” he said without mentioning the Opposition parties.

“They will be disheartened with the victory of the Congress in the next Assembly election,” he added.

Siddaramaiah said, “The Congress government is committed to make Karnataka a hunger-free state and has already supplied free rice to 1.13 crore families. To empower SC/ST community members, the state government has earmarked Rs 19,452 crore in the budget.”

Rubbishing the allegations that his government has concern for only Ahinda (Minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits), he said his government’s schemes are not only aimed at the Ahinda communities, but also at the poor sections of society.

Those who are against the reservation system and social justice are levelling such allegations, he charged.

The chief minister said, “The government will make a positive move towards the implementation of Paschima Vahini Scheme which envisages harnessing the west-flowing rivers. The demand on expansion of runway at Mangaluru International Airport, widening of road to Airport from Kavoor, ring road from Mulki-Bajpe-Gurupura-Konaje-Kotekar, facelift to Old Port will be considered in future.”

Earlier, MLA J R Lobo and District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai appealed to the chief minister to come to the rescue of rubber growers who are facing problem with steep fall in the price of rubber.

Estimated cost of projects

The district office complex will come up on Alape in Padil on 5.89 acre land at an estimated cost of Rs 41 crore. The international standard swimming pool at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore will come up at Emmekere on two acres of land. The new wing at Wenlock Hospital with 176 beds will be taken up at a cost of Rs 15.16 crore.

Projects in Surathkal

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also initiated shifting of old market and construction of a new market at Surathkal at an estimated cost of Rs 1.70 crore.

The foundation stone was laid for construction of new building for MCC sub-office at Surathkal at an estimated cost of Rs 2.25 crore and six-lane road from Surathkal Junction to MRPL at an estimated cost of Rs 2.75 crore.

Protesters in custody

Earlier, Nethravathi Rakshana Samyukta Samithi activists,  who tried to stage a protest against the chief minister and the Yettinahole project, were taken into custody.
The Samiti had announced on Wednesday that it would hold a silent protest and wave black flags against the chief minister at Suratkal junction over the implementation of the controversial Yettinahole project.