From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Sirsi (Uttara Kannada), Jan 15: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who participated in a series of programmes in Uttara Kannada district for laying foundation stones and inaugurations, on Sunday announced that a first of its kind University of Environmental Sciences will be established in Sirsi and also a Super Speciality Hospital in Kumta.

Speaking to media persons after inaugurating the new tourism bungalow in Sirsi, he said the district had many forestry and horticultural colleges and the government is planning to have an environmental sciences university by including all these colleges besides study of agricultural and life diversities as well as protection of wildlife, welfare of people and maintaining environmental balances.

The chief minister said Karwar had a medical college but Kumta lacked health care facilities. The government has decided to establish a super speciality hospital in Kumta and necessary allocations will be provided in the budget, he said.

The proposed university would be a composite one, incorporating study of arts, science, commerce as well as normal subjects. The State Government is ready to provide the necessary budgetary allocations for the setting up of the university, he said.

Bommai made it clear that the State Government is aware of the problems of tribal people, who were mostly dependent on forests for their livelihood, and has no intention of displacing such persons.

"We need to protect the forests and environment. But at the same time, it is necessary to maintain ecological balance. The people depending on forests for their livelihood have their own problems, especially when it comes to implementing developmental programmes and during floods and other ecological disasters,’’ he said.

The problems of forest dwellers and tribals, who have been living in forest areas for generations and eking out their livelihood, was pending before the Supreme Court, he said pointing out that the State Government has been making concerted efforts to provide housing and other basic infrastructure needs of the forest dwellers.

Bommai declared that the forest dwellers will not be displaced as long as the Supreme Court takes a decision as there is a stay order against displacement.

The chief minister also announced the establishment of a chair in the name of former chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde in the Karnataka University to study and conduct research activities on rural development, panchayat raj and decentralisation of power, which were very dear to the former chief minister who hailed from Uttara Kannada district.

Speaker Kageri felicitated

The chief minister described State Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri as a rare person filled with patriotism, concern for the poor and oppressed classes, tough on land, language, and water and having a passion for life.

The State can see development under the guidance of Kageri who has rich experience and had shown toughness on issue-based debates but is values friendship.

"Kageri did not have a love for any post and has done his duty honestly. Both
Basavaraja Horatti and Kageri have worked as education ministers and gave a new direction to the education field. He would have worked just as the presiding officer of the House but he has worked to uphold the value-based democracy,’’ he said.

Bommai said Kageri has worked as a Minister and the Speaker of the Assembly but never had an ego about his position. As speaker, Kageri showed interest in holding a detailed discussion on the electoral reforms, transparency, and democratic activities with the intention of people's participation in it.

He has favoured holding an influence-free election and also the one nation, one election concept to check the wasteful expenditure on conducting the polls for different democratic institutions.

He presided over the debates on the introspection of elected representatives and their duties, and responsibilities thereby creating several records.

Visveshwara Hegde Kageri, Basavaraja Horatti, Ministers Shivaram Hebbar, C C Patil and Kota Srinivasa Pujari, former minister R V Deshpande and others were present.

Cabinet expansion after High Command’s nod

The chief minister told media persons in Hubballi later that the expansion of the State Cabinet will be done as soon as he gets the green signal from the party high command.

There are seven vacancies in the Cabinet and it is not clear whether some senior ministers will be asked to step down to make way for some others with a view to giving representation to different communities and regions in view of the assembly elections in the next few months.

"All the consultations have been completed. We waiting for the approval from the party high command,’’ he said.

Bommai said the appointments to boards and corporations will also take place soon as the terms of some chairmen and members has already expired.

Answering questions from reporters on the special schemes or offers for North Karnataka in the forthcoming budget, Bommai said departmental reviews and consultations have already been started. "Wait for the budget,’’ he quipped.

The chief minister later visited the Siddappajja Mutt in Hubballi and sought blessings for the people of the State.