'Socio-economic devt of border taluks top priority of BADA'

Authority to urge implementation of Nanjundappa panel recommendations

“The border imbroglios can be settled by providing a proper forum for the Centre-State co-operation. Such problems should be solved through mutual understanding between the states for which the intervention of a central agency is necessary,” he said.
Addressing his maiden press conference as the Authority Chairman here on Monday, he said the Authority would do the task required for Centre-State co-operation.
He also said the socio-economic development of the border taluks would be the top priority of the Authority.

The Authority will try to implement the recommendations of Dr Nanjundappa Committee by co-ordinating the programmes of various government agencies like Kannada Development Authority, Kannada Book Authority, Kannada and Culture Department etc, he said.

Bellada said he would tour all 52 taluks in the State’s border and gather information from the locals, officials and elected representatives and prepare an action plan for the comprehensive development of those areas.

Delineating his vision for the border areas, he said the authority would try to fulfil the demands of the people living within the border in the first step, and in the second step, efforts would be done to solve the problems of those living on the other side. “The government has granted Rs 10 crore for the Authority which will be utilised for the socio-economic development of the border areas.”

“Employment generation, better transport facility, good roads can be some of the measures,” he explained.

The Authority will also emphasise on establishing libraries in proposed Samskrutika Bhavanas in border taluks, and it will make a special point that Kannada newspapers and books are available there, Bellada added.

Akhila Karnataka Kendra Kannada Kriya Samiti office-bearer Shivashankar Hiremath and the Special Officer for the Authority Sangamesh Badavadgi were present at the press meet.