From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Nov 23: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the Congress government has provided the maximum financial allocation for the development of North Karnataka during last four and half years and promised to provide more funds if needed.

Replying to a special debate on the development of North Karnataka in the Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister quoted facts and figures to justify his contention that no injustice had been done to the region and said his government has done the most for the development of the region.

Siddaramaiah argued that the districts coming under the northern Karnataka region had been allocated more funds towards panchayat raj bodies, agriculture, roads, drinking water and watershed as well as irrigation compared to other districts in the State.

PM must intervene to resolve Mahadayi dispute

Responding to the constant demand of the region for taking up the Mahadayi water project, the Chief Minister urged the BJP members to prevail upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a tripartite meeting of all the riparian states of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. 

While the States of Goa and Maharashtra as well as the Centre are ruled by BJP, the Chief Minister said he was willing to attend a meeting convened by his Goa counterpart Manohar Parikkar or Maharashtra Chief Minister Padnavis. ``The onus for finding an amicable solution to the dispute is on the BJP,’’ he said making it clear that the State was always ready for a negotiated settlement outside the tribunal or legal adjudication.

The Chief Minister said the State Government has taken bold steps for the comprehensive development of the Hyderabad Karnataka region by ensuring that a constitutional amendment under Article 371 (J) and creation of the Hyderabad Karnataka Area Development Board for the educational, social and economic development of the region.

As compared to a meagre grant of Rs 50 to 60 crore annually, the Congress government had allocated on an average Rs 1000 crore funds annually to the Hyderabad Karnataka Area Development Board since 2014.  A total of Rs 3750 crore has already been released and over Rs 1700 crore has already been spent. ``If necessary, more funds will be allocated,’’ he said.

Increase in seats for Professional Courses

As against the total availability of 1265 medical seats for the region during the years 2010 to 2013, the number has gone up to 3,176 seats. The post-graduation medicine seats has gone up by 688.

More seats for students in professional courses such as medicine, engineering, dental and pharmaceutical have been made available to the region, the Chief Minister said.

Siddaramaiah claimed that candidates in the Hyderabad Karnataka region have been able to get more government jobs. Of the total number of 55000 vacancies in government jobs in the region, as many as 19000 have already been filled up and steps are underway for filling up another 28,000 vacancies.

Speaking about the implementation of the Dr D M Nanjundappa panel’s report on redressal of regional imbalances in the State, the Chief Minister an allocation of Rs 8,300 crore has been made.

Rural drinking projects and establishment of potable drinking water units have been given the maximum priority, the Chief Minister said Rs 2,271 crore has been spent on cluster village drinking water projects. The total amount spent on rural drinking water projects in the northern Karnataka districts was Rs 9291 crore.