Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Updated
Mangaluru, Apr 21: Chief minister Siddaramaiah culminated his day-long visit on Thursday April 21 by launching four projects in Suratkal, namely construction of a modern market, six-lane concrete road from Suratkal junction to railway bridge near MRPL, MCC zonal office and a memorial for U Srinivas Mallya.
Prior to the ceremony, the CM arrived at the venue, the cental maidan, in a procession from Suratkal junction.
Lauding Mangaluru north MLA Mohiuddin Bava, Siddaramaiah said, "Mohiuddin Bava is an active MLA but he is always in a bit of a hurry. He is an expert at sitting with officers and getting any work done. An MLA should have such qualities. Whenever he comes to me about some work, I give approval. You have got a good MLA.
"During the previous Assembly elections there were chances of Bava missing the ticket. I then asked him to meet a person in Delhi, and then he got the ticket and today he is MLA. He has concern for people. He will become MLA again in future.
"This programme was not in my itinerary and instead I was supposed to hold a review meeting. But as Bava requested, I came here. An MLA can do development work if he has such attitude," he added.
To a demand for a hospital in Suratkal placed by Bava, the CM said, "We have stopped sanctioning new hospitals but as there are many from the labour class in the industrial area of Suratkal, I will ask health minister U T Khader to sanction a hospital here. Under CM's special grant, Rs 300 crore has been sanctioned for Mangaluru in three phases, but works are yet to complete. There is a demand for more funds, but we will think of it after these funds are exhausted."
Urging people to living with harmony, he said, "Mangaluru is a good city and its people are also good. The city is famous for health and education. We have accepted the secular ideology of the Constitution. We are all children of one mother, irrespective of caste, sect and religion. Harmony should not be spoiled. We should treat everyone equally as the Constitution says. We should live with unity in diversity. Many people are below poverty line and deprived of economic and social justice. Everyone should get equal opportunity and come to the main stream - this is the responsibility of all governments.
"Our government has adopted secular principles so as to provide social justice to all, and hence our programmes are also designed in such a way so as to benefit everyone. The report of socio-economic survey done last year will be out in May. This was done for accurate statistics about the population so that we could implement programmes accordingly. This was the first such survey undertaken in the state," he added.
"Opposition parties are dreaming that they will come to power in the next elections and are already distributing portfolios among their leaders. Our programmes for the poor, Dalit and minorities have won the hearts of the people. Hence, even in 2018 Assembly elections we will come to power.
"We believe in inclusive growth. We never appease any community and keep fundamentalists away. Strict action will be taken against fundamentalists. Everyone should live with brotherhood and those who try to spoil harmony would be dealt with," he warned.
MLA Mohiuddin Bava presided over the programme. In his address he thanked the CM and lauded other leaders of the Congress party too. He also urged the CM to sanction a hospital for Suratkal.
Ministers Ramanath Rai, U T Khader, MLA J R Lobo, MLC Ivan D'Souza, mayor Harinath and others were present.
Earlier:
Mangaluru: 'Will come to power next term too' - CM at launch of DC office project
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Updated
Mangaluru, Apr 21: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday April 21 symbolically launched four major projects, including the construction of the DC's office at Padil at a cost of Rs 41 crore. The other three projects were construction of a new block at government Wenlock hospital, swimming pool of international standards, and housing for police personnel consisting of 168 quarters.
Addressing the gathering after symbolically laying the foundation for the above projects, Siddaramaiah said, "This May 13, it will be three years since our government came to power. Our government has done sincere efforts to fulfill the promises made in the manifesto. We had made about 165 promises in the manifesto, out of which, we have already fulfilled over a hundred. There are about two years left, and we are confident of fulfilling the remaining promises too. We will come to power again in the next term as well.
"With the aim to make Karnataka hunger-free, we have been giving free ration to about 1.13 crore poor families. Through 'Ksheera Bhagya', we have been providing milk to children, we have been giving Rs 4 as subsidy to dairy farmers, we have Krishi Bhagya, Manaswini, Maithri and many other schemes for the betterment of the poor. We are going to bring about SC/ST law, according to which, of the total money spent by the goverment, 24.7 percent will be utilized for the betterment of SC/ST depending on their population. There is a provision that this money needs to be spent within a fiscal year, and if not, it will be carried forward to the next year. Accordingly, about Rs 19,452 crore has been kept aside this year. We will also bring reservation for SC/ST in government contracts.
"Some people accuse me of being pro-Ahinda or being partial towards Ahinda, but this is not true. Schemes like Anna Bhagya, loan waiver, Maithri, Manaswini, subsidy on milk etc benefit all the people and not just people of any one community. People who are against reservation are creating this propadganda and the public should be wary of them," he added.
Referring to the new projects, he said, "We have laid foundation for several development projects today, mainly the DC's office which will be built at a cost of Rs 41 crore, so that all district offices come under one roof. There are about 31 government departments, and when all these come under one roof, it will be convenient for the public.
"We have also laid foundation for the new block at Wenlock hospital, a swimming pool of international standards, and housing for police personnel with 168 quarters. The job of police is continuous. They provide 24-hour service, so it is the responsibility of the government to provide housing to them. We have been building police quarters throughout the state and accordingly, we have laid foundation for this project here in Dakshina Kannada too," he said.
Responsding to some of the demands made on the occasion by people's respresentatives and the district administration, he said, "The MLA has asked for a government medical college in Wenlock hospital. In this year's budget, we have given one medical college to Bengaluru, and I would like to remind that it was me who announced 12 medical colleges from 2004, when I was the finance minister, till now. So we will consider this demand and may be in the next year's budget we will take necessary steps. The reason for starting government medical and engineering colleges is that poor students should also be able to pursue these streams.
"The district administration has demanded the implementation of the Paschima Vahini project, and accordingly survey will be conducted and necessary action will be taken in this direction. Altogether there are demands for many projects. We cannot do everything at once, but we take them up step-by-step," he assured.
At this point, a member of the audience got up and almost approached the dais demanding solution to the problems to the 9/11 forms. In response, the CM said, "I will convene a special meeting and solve this problem."
Earlier, deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim placed several demands before the CM, which included: - Runway at the airport should be extended from 8,000 to 11,000 metres.
- Two-way road should be constructed from airport to Kenjar
- Wenlock hospital should be upgraded to medical college
- Grant should be provided to build another block at Lady Goschen Hospital,
- Grants for Rang Mandir and service bus stand at Pumpwell,
- Implementation of Paschima Vahini project to solve drinking water problem
- 2 mgd water pipeline which connects Thumbay to Mangaluru should be handed over to zilla panchayat
- Additional grants should be given to maintain roads built under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
- Police staff should be appointed to fill the vacancies and excess appointments should also be made.
Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo thanked the chief minister for sanctioning and laying the foundation for the projects and said, "Our district is very well developed as compared to many other districts. But today youngsters are leaving this city due to lack of jobs. Developing tourism, education and industry can give jobs to these youngsters. Hence, I request the chief minister to take necessary steps in this direction. Mangaluru is a port city which gives employment to a large number of people. So emphasis needs to be given to develop port activities in this region so that many more employment opportunities can be generated, thereby increasing the revenue to the government.
"Mangaluru has the best infrastructure, connectivity and many more facilities, so there is a need to increase industrial activity in this region. I request the CM to upgrade the Wenlock hospital with a government medical college and also to start government evening evening engineering college so that poor diploma students can pursue engineering. Infrastructure needs to be developed at the airport so that we can retain the number of travellers. As Kannur has come up with a new airport, it can affect the traffic in Mangaluru airport. I request the CM to take necessary steps in this direction," he urged.
"There are about four main problems facing the public today - forms 9/11, single site approval, mulageni, and sand problem. I request the CM to take necessary steps to solve these main problems. Rubber growers are also facing problems and there is a need to take necessary action in this regard too," he added.
District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai said, "Forms 9/11 have caused a lot of problem to the people. The government should take necessary steps to solve this issue. There is a lot of confusion among people regarding the Yettinahole project which needs to clarified. The district is facing water problem in the summer and to solve this, Paschima Vahini project should be implemented by building check dams."
Health minister U T Khader requested the chief minister to upgrade Wenlock hospital with a government medical college and to fill the shortage in the police department in the district.
MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA Mohiuddin Bava, MUDA chairman Kodijal Ibrahim, MCC mayor Harinath and others were present.
Earlier Report
Mangaluru: CM inaugurates airport exit road; says Yettinahole project won't harm DK
Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Apr 21: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday April 21 inaugurated the long-awaited new exit road at Mangalore International Airport here.
The 1.2-km exit road was supposed to open for traffic in April first week, but it got delayed due to various reasons. The work on the stretch began in March 2013.
Speaking to reporters at the airport prior to the inauguration, Siddaramaiah, who arrived almost two hours late, replied to queries on the formation of a separate board for Yettinahole project and said, "It is a big project. We will form the board and give water from the project at the earliest. It is a wrong perception that Yettinahole project will divert the river water. We are just giving excess water during the monsoons and not diverting the Netravati river."
Asked who would be responsible if the project were to fail, he said, "There are technical reports on the project that it will be a sucess. There is no chance of failure."
"We are also looking for alternative sources of water and have formed an expert committee for the purpose," he added.
Asked about the Paschima Vahini project that aims to link west-flowing rivers, he said, "This project should benefit both the places. We will be taking up the work of joining the rivers. There will not be any problem from Yettinahole project to this region. This is a wrong perception."
Regarding meeting with activists and environmentalists opposed to the Yettinahole project, he said, "I had called them for a meeting but they cancelled. I am ready to convene the meeting whenever they say in Bengaluru."
To a question on Karnataka government's decision to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against BJP state president Yeddyurappa's acquittal in corruption cases, he said, "We are not doing any vendetta politics. No one is above the law. We will seek opinion from legal experts and then proceed."
On the garment workers' protest in Bengaluru which had turned violent and the remark by the high court that the government had failed to handle the situation, the CM said, "We have handled the situation well. There were about 2 lac people gathered together and most of them were women. We cannot use force on women, but to control the situation mild lathi charge was done. We have not failed on any point. We cannot allow anyone to set public property on fire."
Ministers Ramanth Rai, U T Khader, Abhaychandra Jain, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo, Mangaluru North MLA Mohiuddin Bava, Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, Puttur MLA Shakuntala Shetty, MLC Ivan D'Souza, deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, Air India station manager of Mangaluru Nagesh Shetty and others were present.
The CM then proceeded to Bantwal where he will take part in a couple of programmes. Later in the afternoon, he is expected inaugurate various works in a ceremony at Town Hall and lay the foundation stone for Konkani museum at Shaktinagar, before heading to Suratkal.