The Hindu 07.11.2013
‘Basic facilities will be upgraded in urban areas’
Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake, said here on Wednesday that all fundamental facilities would be upgraded in urban centres across the State in a phased manner.
He was addressing a rally at the Maharaja College ground here at which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated a slew of projects and laid foundation stones for several others.
About 38 per cent of people lived in urban centres in Karnataka, according to the 2011 census, Mr. Sorake said. This was against the national average of 32 per cent. Facilities such as drinking water, electricity, and underground drainage system would be provided.
The Minister said that Rs. 3,250 crore was being availed of as loan from the government to develop small town panchayats in the State. A Land Bank scheme was being chalked out to acquire land for the development of urban centres. His department was also going ahead with plans to upgrade Tumkur, Shimoga and Bijapur CMCs to corporations by improving amenities, Mr. Sorake added.
Mr. Sorake added that steps were being taken to appoint 3,450 employees under different cadres. Mysore district in charge and Revenue Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, who spoke earlier, said the State government had sought Rs. 495 crore from the 14th Finance Commission to construct mini Vidhana Soudha buildings in taluks and district complexes in district headquarters in the next three years. A.H. Vishwanath, MP, urged Mr. Siddaramaiah to appoint a special officer to check encroachment of government lands in Mysore district and lauded the “progressive policies” of the Siddaramaiah government.
Janata Dal (Secular) MLA, G.T. Deve Gowda, who spoke earlier, praised the Siddaramaiah government for its “pro-poor stand” and appealed to ensure that drinking water was supplied to several villages in Mysore taluk. Chamaraja MLA, Vasu, who presided, appealed to the Chief Minister to construct Ashraya houses for the poor in Mysore.
Facilities such as drinking water and electricity will be provided: Sorake
