Bangalore: Patriotic fervour, gaiety on I-Day, CM promises 4000 MW power in 3 years
Bangalore, Aug 15 (IANS): Karnataka Thursday celebrated the 67th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and gaiety by unfurling the Indian flag and rendering the national anthem across the state.
In Bangalore, under a cloudy sky and breezy weather, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hoisted the tricolour and reviewed a guard of honour from an open jeep at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground.
Even as Siddaramaiah took the salute and martial music rent the air, a military chopper showered rose petals from a low altitude over the flower-decked dais, drawing cheers from about 10,000 people thronging the venue to witness the colourful event.
After the chief minister's customary I-Day speech, about 2,000 personnel from the military, state police, Home Guards, fire brigade, scouts and guides and 3,000 students from various schools in the city marched past.
Patriotic songs, cultural shows and martial arts lasted for over two hours.
Daring feats and acrobatics on motorcycles by the military and state police teams kept the crowds spellbound.
Later, the chief minister presented I-Day medals and awards to police officers and distributed prizes to the participating organisations.
Heightened security and strict vigil turned the venue into a fortress.
According to reports from other parts of the state, the independence day was celebrated peacefully.
Siddu Promises Steps for Generating 4000 MW power in 3 Years
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 15: After the failure of previous BJP regime’s failure to deliver on its promise of making Karnataka surplus in power in five years, it is now the turn of Congress Chief Minister Siddarammmaiah to make a similar promise. But in sharp contrast to the grandiose schemes and ambitious targets set by the BJP regime, Siddaramaiah says the Government will take measures to generate 4,000 MW of power in the State in the next three years to meet present and future needs of electricity.
Of the 4,000 MW, the chief minister said 2300 MW would be generated in the public sector and 1700 MW in the private sector.
He was addressing the public after unfurling the national tricolour for the first time as Chief Minister on the 67th Independence Day.
Siddaramaiah reviewed a guard of honour from an open jeep at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground here.
He said the willingness of the Central government to provide 382 million tonnes of coal supply to thermal power plants in Yermarus, Yedlapura, Gonda and Bellary has raised hopes in the power sector and the Government was confident of fulfilling its target.
Rajiv Chaitanya Scheme for 2 lac Rural Youth
In an 18-page printed Kannada speech that the Chief Minister read out, he said the government would soon implement the Rajiv Chaityanya scheme to ensure employment to over two lakh rural unemployed youth and the scheme would cover 40 to 50 youth in each Gram Panchayat.
The Chief Minister said government would spend Rs 50,000 crore on the irrigation sector with the target of bringing 9.25 lakh hectares under irrigation in the next five years.
Promising the unveiling of a new industrial policy next year, he said the third Global Investors Meet would also be organised next year.
English would be taught as a subject from the first standard commencing next academic year to ensure that the rural children were not denied job opportunities merely because of their lack of English knowledge.
Police Told to Check Church Attacks, Moral Policing
Coming down heavily on the anti-social elements and other outfits, which indulged in unlawful activities like attacks on churches and minorities, fomenting communal clashes, moral policing and such other sinister moves, the chief minister said the police have been asked to take measures to prevent all such anti-social and undemocratic activities along with attempts to weaken the secular fabric in school textbooks.
The government initiated measures to implement 60 of the 160 assurances made in the election manifesto, he said and listed out major schemes, including Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya, and Krishi Bhagya and Sooru Bhagya (housing), implemented by the Government.
In view of the implementation of the election model code of conduct in 11 districts, he said “it is not possible for me to dwell upon my government’s future programmes in detail on this occasion.”
The Chief Minister limited his speech to the decisions, which have already been taken to implement various programmes in the State.
He warmly appreciated the contributions of two leaders - Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and architect of the Constitution B R Ambedkar in his speech.
Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimappa, Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy, MLA Roshan Baig, BBMP Commissioner and Independence Day Celebrations Committee chief M Lakshminarayana, Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner G C Prakash and top IAS and IPS officers attended the programme.
22 Govt Servants Felicitated for Uttarakhand Rescue Work
The Chief Minister felicitated 22 public servants, including Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola, for safeguarding the lives of several people during the recent flood-hit Uttarakhand.
Among the 22 employees, three are IAS officers, one IPS officer, six government employees and 12 members of the medical team.
Kharola was the nodal officer of the rescue team, while IAS officers Naveen Raj Singh and Pankaj Kumar Pandey were assistant nodal officers. IPS Officer Hemanth Nimbalkar was the team coordinator.
IAS officers are Pradeep Singh Kharola, Naveen Raj Singh, Director, Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, and Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Managing Director, BESCOM and Nimbalkar, Joint Police Commissioner, (DIGP).