From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Dec 5: The ambitious Brand Bengaluru plan is afoot for the systematic development of the State Capital of Bengaluru city.

Replying to a question from Congress MLA N A Harris on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the State assembly on Tuesday, Transport Minister B Ramalinga Reddy said: “Bengaluru was known by many sobriquets in the past including Garden City, Pensioners’ Paradise, IT Hub, etc. But the population of the city has increased significantly.’’

The minister said the deputy chief minister has collected thousands of suggestions from organisations and individuals from various walks of life. A total of 70,000 suggestions have been received regarding various aspects of Bengaluru such as Green Bengaluru, Healthy Bengaluru, People’s Bengaluru, Educational Bengaluru, Technology Bengaluru, etc., he said adding that the suggestions have been given to respective departments for evaluation. The suggestions will be implemented once the evaluation is complete, he said.

“The deputy chief minister is planning to give a new direction to Bengaluru with a working group headed by the chief secretary. A coordination committee for Greater Bengaluru will also be formed under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,’’ he said, adding: "here is a clear plan for Bengaluru but the Opposition leaders are unable to fathom the scale of this project.”

Reddy said the government is committed to develop Bengaluru city in a systematic way but it requires cooperation from all parties. “You are saying no work is happening on Bengaluru but your government has left behind a debt of Rs 25,000 crore besides outstanding dues. MLA Munirathna raised the issue of a flyover at Chalukya circle, but it was the BJP which is opposed to it,” he retorted.

Itagi-Sasalawada LI Scheme at Rs 5 cr
Replying to another question from BJP member Chandru Lamani on behalf of the deputy chief minister, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the pending works of the Itagi-Sasalawada Lift Irrigation scheme will be completed at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

The minister said Rs 29.88 crore has been spent on the Itagi-Sasalawada Lift
Irrigation project which was dedicated in 2011 to provide irrigation facilities to Shirahatti, Mundaragi and Haveri taluks to benefit 1983 hectares of land. The project has been entrusted to the Munirabad Irrigation Zone in 2015.