The Hindu               22.08.2013

Development plan approved for Hyderabad Karnataka region

The Hyderabad Karnataka Development Board (HKDB) on Wednesday approved an action plan to take up development work worth Rs. 65.30 crore for 2013-2014 in the region.

The board, headed by S.R. Patil, Minister for Planning and Statistics, IT and BT, Science and Technology, discussed various issues pertaining to the development of the region, especially in the wake of the special status granted to the region under Article 371 (J) of the Constitution by the Union government.

Elected representatives from the areas falling under the Hyderabad Karnataka region raised issues relating to drinking water shortage, roads and bridges, community halls and schools.

Sandur MLA E. Tukaram pointed out that schools in his constituency required computers, solar system and sports material. Requesting for more grants, Mr. Tukaram said that Sandur was one of the most backward constituencies.

“We have severe drinking water scarcity that needs to be set right immediately,” he said.

Bidar South MLA Ashok Kheny, who submitted a report of the most backward areas in his constituency to the board chairperson, sought more funds for the development of his constituency. “Bidar South has 106 villages and 15 tandas. Yet it does not have either a degree college or a hospital. There is not even a taluk office and people have to either go to Bidar or Humnabad for any administrative work,” he said.

Mr. Patil told the members that the board would be reconstituted soon.

Bellary Deputy Commissioner and member-secretary of the board Amlan Biswas tabled various development projects to be implemented in Gulbarga, Bidar, Yadgir, Bellary, Raichur and Koppal districts that fall under the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

“The allocations are made based on a report prepared by D.M. Nanjundappa on regional imbalances. The members will have to prioritise works in their areas,” he said.