Minister pitches for Paschima Vahini project

Says CM will convene a meeting to discuss project proposal

District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai said Paschima Vahini project should be implemented to find a solution to drinking water woes in the district.

Speaking to mediapersons after releasing a handbook on the achievement of the State government in the last three years here on Tuesday, he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will convene a meeting to discuss on the proposal of Paschima Vahini shortly. Paschima Vahini project involves the construction of a series of check dams at different points along Kumaradhara and Nethravathi rivers for recharging ground water. “I have sought Rs 1,000 crore for the project and asked to bring the project under major irrigation projects,” he said.

The minister said the Cabinet has given nod for the construction of a district-level Ambedkar Bhavan at Urwa Stores. The Bhavan is a long-pending demand of the people of the region. Though 1.61 acres of land was allotted for the construction of the the Bhavan at Urva Stores in April 2011, the construction work has not been taken up due to various technical reasons. The Bhavan will come up at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore, he added.

To a question on Ranga Mandira, he said, “We were expecting funds under the Centre’s Tagore Cultural Complexes Schemes. However, we failed to get the funds under the scheme. Now, the work on the Ranga Mandira will be taken up by the  State government itself. A proposal will be sent to the State government seeking funds for the purpose.”

The minister said the Congress-led state government has fulfilled 85 per cent of the promises it made during the election.

He said the government has sanctioned 50-bed Ayush Hospital to the district Wenlock Hospital premises. The OPD of the hospital will start shortly. There is no shortage of sowing seeds and fertilisers in the district, he noted.

The minister said the government has decreased the penalty to be paid by residents for regularisation of unauthorised houses constructed on the government (revenue) land on the peripheral limits of urban and rural areas in the state. Vidyasiri Yojane has been extended to SC/ST and minority students from this year, he added.

Podi-free villad drive
He said under ‘Podi -free village’ drive, land measurements have been completed in 43 villages in the district. The drive has been taken up to convert cases of Records of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) having multiple ownership into single ownership. The drive will help people in getting their RTC set right, he explained.

To a query on delay in completion of the Lady Goschen Hospital new building, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said the building work will be completed within three months. For the equipment and other furniture, a proposal for Rs 10 crore has been submitted to the state government, he stated.

Rai said the BJP leaders speak in two different tones when it comes to Yettinahole in Dakshina Kannada and the parched districts. The party acts like two-headed snake, he criticised.

To a query on Yettinahole project, he said the BJP acts like it is protesting against the project in the coastal district and pretends that Congress is coming in the way of implementing the project while speaking in Kolar.

“The project was approved during the reign of the BJP. When it was passed, no  public opinion was collected. Now, the BJP leaders are suggesting to collect public opinion. The BJP leader from Surathkal waves black flag at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Then, why does he fail to wave black flag when D V Sadananda Gowda and B S Yeddyurappa visit Mangaluru?” he asked.