Allegations on Indira canteen baseless: Khader

Urban Development and Housing Minister U T Khader has said that the MLA and others in the Opposition party, have not been able to digest the popularity of Indira canteens.

He has also termed the accusations by Opposition leader and MLA Ramdas on Indira canteen fund misappropriation as ‘politically motivated and baseless’.

Addressing reporters on Monday, Khader said that the main objective of the canteen is to provide food for the needy at an affordable cost and the canteens have been gathering good response from people.

‘No corruption’

Khader elaborated that there are 263 Indira canteens in urban local bodies and one canteen per ward for all 198 wards of BBMP. “There are 174 canteens without kitchens, 24 mobile canteens and 21 independent kitchens. The total project cost of Indira canteens at urban local bodies comes up to Rs 211.24 crore and that of canteens in BBMP is Rs 77.14 crore,” he listed out.

“There is no room for corruption as the procurement of materials is done through e-portal and entrusted to Kumar Equipment Delhi for Bengaluru, Kalaburagi and Belagavi division; and Kalkoora, Udupi, for Mysore division. Food tender was completed in all 30 districts, through e-portal,” the minister clarified.

“Currently, 72 out of 136 canteens are operating across the state. Work of 37 canteens is under progress and 70 more Indira canteens are to be started. Indira canteens in Bantwal, Belthangady, Udupi and Puttur will be opened soon,” he added.

Two high schools for Ullal

Khader said that the state government has sanctioned two English medium high schools in Farangipet and Kallapu in Ullal, under Maulana Azad scheme of the minority welfare department. The English medium schools will be run along with the existing Kannada medium schools.

He further said that Rs 10.5 crore has been sanctioned for the development of Mudipu-Muloor approach road. The stretch between Ira Temple arch to Mulooru will be developed as a 25-metre wide road.