From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 26: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed officials to ensure the development of Tumakuru, Ballari, Vijayanagar and Chitradurga as model districts.

Siddaramaiah, who held a review meeting of the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) in Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, said the State Government has allocated Rs 24,996.30 crore funds for the Comprehensive Environment Plan for Mining Impact Zone (CEPMIZ) in the four districts, which must be utilized.

The Chief Minister said the high level monitoring authority headed by the retired Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudarsharshan Reddy has already given approvals for taking up 358 works costing Rs 7,928.78 crore and asked the KMERC officials to ensure that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the works must be completed within a week.

The Chief Minister took the officials to task for the delays in the completing the DPRs and said further delays will not be tolerated.

He said all the departmental works coming under the four districts must be expedited.

Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary L K Atiq, Secretary K C Trilokchandra and other officials attended the meeting.

Kannada actor Aniruddh wants Tunga river clean-up

Earlier, Kannada cinema actor Aniruddh called on the chief minister and requested urgent steps for clean-up of the Tunga River.

After meeting the actor, the chief minister telephoned the Neeravari Nigam Managing Director Rajesh and directed that urgent steps for cleaning the Tunga river must be taken.

Horticultural Producers Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) President and Directors called on the Chief Minister and held discussions pertaining to the problems of horticultural producers.