100 footbridges to be built in state every year, says Karnataka minister Jarkiholi

The minister said that a survey is being carried out on the rain related damages in Malnad regions. Measures towards compensation will be taken up soon after receiving the report, he said.

Chikkamagaluru: PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi has said that a blueprint has been prepared to construct 100 footbridges in the state every year.

Speaking to reporters at Halase village in Mudigere taluk in Chikkamagaluru on Friday, he stated that the work on 20 footbridges in different locations have been taken up at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

"Rs one crore grant has been released in 36 assembly constituencies each", he said.

The minister said that a survey is being carried out on the rain related damages in Malnad regions. Measures towards compensation will be taken up soon after receiving the report.

Jarkiholi said that the Chief Minister has issued directions to the Deputy Commissioner and Zilla Panchayat CEOs in all districts towards managing the flood situation.

An action plan towards the damaged Mudigere-Sakleshpur road is being prepared and grants will be released accordingly, he meanwhile said.

In 2014, the then PWD minister H C Mahadevappa had issued sanction to construct 40 bridges in various regions in the state. The construction work was handed over to KRDCL. Out of the total works, 20 bridges have been completed and the rest of the projects are being carried out.

The work on the bridge across Hemavathi river in Bettadamane village in Mudigere-Sakleshpur state highway has been stalled for 11 years due to a technical drawback.

"Also, a plan is in the pipeline to merge KRDCL with the PWD", he said.

The minister visited the dilapidated Devavrinda - Japavathi bridge. Hassan MP Shreyas Patel, MLAs T D Rajegowda, H D Thamaiah and Nayana Motamma were present.

100 km railway barricades every year

100 km railway barricades will be built around forest areas to control elephant menace, PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi said.

Work is in progress in Gundlupet, Hassan and other locations.

The elephants have been sneaking into towns in search of food. An elephant corridor will be constructed and arrangements will be made to provide fodder and water inside the forests, he added.