Cabinet meeting to be held at Vijayapura, Nandi Hills soon: CM Siddaramaiah

M M Hills (Chamarajanagar dist): The state government has decided to hold the Cabinet meetings at Vijayapura of the Belagavi division and at Nandi Hills of the Bengaluru division soon.

A Cabinet meeting has already been held in the Kalaburagi division. Now, a meeting took place at M M Hills in the Mysuru division, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, adding that the government had earlier decided to hold the Cabinet meetings in the four revenue divisions of the state, one by one.

Siddaramaiah chaired the special Cabinet meeting, a first such meeting held after the formation of Chamarajanagar district 28 years ago, at Malai Mahadeshwara Hills on Thursday. However, a mini Cabinet meeting was held at B R Hills in 2001, with tribal leaders, by the late chief minister S M Krishna.

Addressing a media conference after the meeting, Siddaramaiah said that it was a historical meeting and around 78 different topics were discussed, whereas 56 topics were discussed during the Kalaburgi Cabinet meeting.

The meeting discussed the proposal of a Wild Elephant Soft Release Centre at a cost of Rs 53.20 crore at Bhadra Tiger Reserve to mitigate human-animal conflict and an administrative approval was given. An amount of Rs 20 crore would be utilised in the year 2025-26, the remaining funds will be released later.

The CM said that the Cabinet has decided to develop the tomb of medieval Vijayanagar emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya at Anegundi in Koppal district.

Siddaramaiah announced various projects worth Rs 3,647.62 crore for the Mysuru revenue division.

Citing the allegation of BJP that the government has gone bankrupt due to its guarantee schemes, the CM asked, "If there is no money, was it possible to approve projects worth Rs 3,647 in the Cabinet meeting?"

Badanavalu development

During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the Khadi Gramodyog Centre at Badanavalu village of Nanjangud taluk, where Mahatma Gandhi had visited. A centenary hall will be constructed at a cost of Rs 40 crore, along with a Rural development centre, he said.

Resolution against terror attack

The CM said a resolution was passed condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack and condolences were offered to those who were killed before the start of the Cabinet meeting. The Pope's death was also condoled, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Water Resources D K Shivakumar said Rs 198 crore has been granted for lift irrigation at Periyapatna and administrative approval was given for Rs 103 crore lift irrigation at Chikkanandi. He also said that Rs 92 crore has been earmarked for the Cauvery Aarti, at Srirangapatna, which will begin from next Dasara.

Around 29 works related to the Irrigation department will be taken up at a cost of Rs 1,787 crore, which will help to fill the lakes and ponds, he said.

Ministers H K Patil, K H Muniyappa, H C Mahadevappa, K Venkatesh, M C Sudhakar, MLAs Puttarangashetty, A R Krishnamurthy and M R Manjunath, and MLC D Thimmaiah were also present.