From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jun 26: In a major policy decision, the D V Sadananda Gowda regime has decided to implement the Kannada Ganga drinking water project at a cost of Rs 1,113 crore to tackle the drinking water problem in 16 towns across all the four revenue divisions in Karnataka.

The aim of the ambitious Kannada Ganga project is to ensure 24x7 drinking water supply in the 16 towns.

The Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who reviewed the drinking water related schemes taken up by the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) and said Kannada Ganga scheme would be implemented in 16 towns in a phased manner.

Gowda said a comprehensive water supply scheme would be taken up on a pilot basis in Bijapur and Chitradurga districts under public-private-partnership model.

The cost of the project in Bijapur and Chitradurga would be Rs 885 croree and Rs Rs 2,275 crore respectively. It would be executed on PPP Model.

The Chief Minister said KUWSDB has taken up 213 works in seven city corporations, 41 city municipal councils, 95 town municipal councisl and 61 town panchayats.

Of these, about 17 works would be completed by this year end, he said.

Gowda also reviewed investment proposals signed during the recently held Global Investors’ meet and said single window agency would be streamlined to make various clearance procedures more investor friendly.

Karnataka has been ranked 16th in the investors’ friendly destinations in the world as per the Economic Intelligence Unit, which conducted a study world-wide, he said.

He said the Karnataka Land Revenue Act would be amended suitably for developing private industrial estates in the State.

The Chief Minister said he would visit Delhi on June 30 and meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Central Ministers and remind them about the drought assistance sought by the State.