Shiradi Ghat repairs: Centre approves Rs 95 cr; Siddu regime releases Rs 5 cr
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 16: With work on the repairs of the Shiradi Ghat section of the Bangalore-Mangalore road having already started, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress regime has released Rs 5 crore for taking urgent work while the Centre has approved laying of a concrete road at a cost of Rs 95 crore.
Giving this information to reporters in Bangalore, Karnataka’s Public Works Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa said the urgent repair work has already started.
Laying a concrete road would provide a big relief to people travelling to and from the coastal city of Mangalore to Bangalore, the minister said.
Dr Mahadevappa said the State government has proposed to widen the Bangalore-Mysore state highway to ease traffic congestion between the State Capital city of Bangalore and the cultural capital city of Mysore.
He said the Public Works Department has prepared a plan to widen the stretch from the present four lanes to eight lanes to ensure smooth movement of vehicles.
''We have also prepared a plan to develop an alternate route to Mysore through Kanakapura and Malavalli," he said.
Replying to a question on the NICE road, he said the road project was facing legal controversy and a case was pending before the Supreme Court.
The status of the project would be known only after the Apex Court verdict, he said.
He said the Public Works Department has submitted 29 proposals, including Bangalore-Mysore, for upgrading the state highways into National Highways to the Centre for approval.
''No more demolition of walls in Vidhana Soudha”
With Karnataka’s Forest Minister B Ramanath Rai and Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya landing the Siddaramaiah regime into a major embarrassment by demolishing walls for renovation of their office chambers, the minister had a tough time in defending the Government.
The State Government will not allow demolition of any walls in the Vidhana Soudha in the name of renovation of rooms in the future, the minister said.
Dr Mahadevappa said the Department of Personnel for Administrative Reforms (DPAR) officials have been instructed not to permit demolition of any walls in the State Secretariat.
Sand mining impasse may end in 15-20 days
The impasse over transportation of sand by truck owners will be ended in the next 15-20 days, the minister said.
Answering questions from reporters, he said the present crisis on sand extraction and transportation was expected to last two-three weeks.
The Deputy Commissioners, who have been heading the district monitoring committees on extraction, storage and auctioning of sand, have been instructed to complete the process of identifying sand blocks in their respective districts.
The State Government has framed rules for scientific extraction of sand to ensure availability of sand at affordable cost. He said that all activities of sand mining and distribution would be streamlined in the next 15-20 days.
Referring to recent talks held with the truck operators, who were on agitation, "We are not concerned to oversee the activities of hiring of vehicles by the public.”
Truck owners were on strike for the last few days opposing harassment from officials in issuing permits for transportation of sand.
Govt won’t yield to pressure tactics
The State Government has formulated new guidelines on sand extraction and procurement and the truck operators had welcomed it.
"The government is not going to succumb to pressure tactics of truckers," he said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened a meeting of all Deputy Commissioners on January 29 to discuss all issues, he said.
The State Government has declared Chikkballapur, Kolar, Bangalore Urban and Ramanagaram districts as "no sand mining districts,” Dr Mahadevappa added.