9 govt offices for N-K’taka? Cabinet to decide today

Nine government offices have been identified to be shifted to North Karnataka, a region that Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has been accused of “neglecting” even leading to demands for separate statehood.

The State Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Wednesday evening, will take a call on this.

The headquarters of the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (Bengaluru), Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (Bengaluru), Karnataka State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (Bengaluru), Directorate of Sugar and Commissionerate for Cane Development (Bengaluru) and the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage (Mysuru) are proposed to be shifted up north.

The government has also proposed bifurcating the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board to create a separate entity for North Karnataka.

One member of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission is proposed to be based out of North Karnataka. From among the State Information Commissioners, two will be shifted to Kalaburagi and another two to Belagavi. Lastly, one Upa Lokayukta office will be moved up north.

The Department of Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics, which Kumaraswamy heads, has moved the Cabinet agenda.

That government departments or offices will be shifted to North Karnataka was a promise Kumaraswamy made in July when the demand for a separate statehood peaked. Kumaraswamy also announced making Belagavi the second capital.

The demand for separate statehood amplified after Kumaraswamy presented his July 5 budget, which was criticized for lower allocations to the backward districts of North Karnataka.