Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Jan 7: Reacting to the objections raised by Congress leader Ivan D'Souza over BJP president Amit Shah's proposed visit to Mangaluru, home minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday January 7 said that such an act would be 'unconstitutional'.
"Objecting to the visit of central home minister is unconstitutional. Congress' demand is not democratic. Amit Shah is BJP's national president. He should come to Mangaluru. Let Ivan D'souza sit on hunger strike, it’s good for his health," Bommai told reporters here.
Bommai, who is also the district-in-charge minister for Udupi, was speaking to reporters after holding a KDP meeting with the department officials at DC’s office at Manipal, here on Tuesday January 7. The meeting was held with a view to expedite the work progressing under various state and central government schemes in Udupi.
Bommai said that delay in cleaning silt accumulated in the minor dams in the district has been brought to his notice.
"Ensuring that silt is cleaned from dams under the gram panchayat level is the responsibility of the PDO. Meanwhile, the city commissioner is responsible to ensure cleaning is done in city areas. We are expecting to collect around Rs 90 lac by selling sand that is collected from the dams. This amount will be utilized for cleaning silt. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman scheme is a personal favorite of PM Narendra Modi. We have identified 1.39 lac beneficiaries under this scheme. Some have received their second and third installments of the benefit," he said.
Speaking about the slowdown in the implementation of Ganga Kalyan Scheme, Bommai said, "Borewell installation work under this scheme for the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 is still pending. I have instructed the DC to supervise the work. By March 31, work of 2018-19 should be finished and simultaneously work of 2019-20 should be started," he added.
Answering a query on the upgrading of the district government hospital, the minister said, "Shortage of beds in district government hospital has come to my notice. At the moment it needs to have 250 beds. Proposal has sent for the 250 beds. DC has the power to appoint doctors for the district hospital. DC has said that 2 specialized doctors are not available at the moment for appointment. I have instructed that the matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible," he said.
Speaking about the Bharath bandh by some organisations on January 8, the home minister said, "Our department has taken necessary steps to maintain law and order all over the state. I have discussed with Ananth Subbarao, CITU state president about the issue. Police have given permission for the protest but not for bandh. Schools and Colleges will remain open as usual."