The Hindu 15.02.2014
Push for drinking water schemes, underground drainage in urban areas
Earmarking Rs. 9,995 crore for urban development, Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the focus will be on providing
drinking water and underground drainage (UGD) system in urban areas.
Costing Rs. 697 crore
Presenting
the 2014-15 budget here, Mr. Siddaramaiah said as many as 14 drinking
water supply schemes and 10 underground drainage schemes will be taken
up at a cost of Rs. 697 crore.
Another six water
supply and seven UGD schemes under Centrally-sponsored schemes will be
implemented at Rs. 247.2 crore, he said.
As many as 26,323 houses with basic infrastructure will be constructed in 39 cities for residents of 124 slums.
These
houses will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1,335 crore to make
Karnataka a slum-free State, Mr. Siddaramaiah said. Setting apart Rs. 75
crore to undertake solid waste management, the Chief Minister said
three modern abattoirs will be constructed with Central assistance.
Infrastructure
Improving
road infrastructure has been the government’s priority, the Chief
Minister said, and added 544 km of most underdeveloped roads will be
improved under special development programmes.
Special grant
He
also provided a special grant of Rs. 50 crore for repair of battered
roads and bridges due to torrential rain in Kodagu district.
On railway projects, Mr. Siddaramaiah said action will be taken to ensure timely completion of all ongoing projects.
The
government will release Rs. 540 crore for this. Lands and other
facilities will be provided for rail coach factories at Kolar and
Yadgir, he added. Taking paperless office a step forward, Mr.
Siddaramaiah announced that online services will be introduced in all
regional transport offices across the State for various works. They
include filing of applications for registration of vehicles, learner’s
licences and driver’s licences.
RTO services
At
the same time, vehicle inspection and certification centres will be
established in Gulbarga, Mangalore and Shimoga, to issue fitness
certificates to commercial vehicles. To take forward the automated
driving test track concept, such tracks will be set up in Bellary, Gadag
and Madikeri, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.