From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 3: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has set a month’s deadline to identify and shift State-level offices from Bengaluru to the Belagavi Suvarna Soudha.

Reviewing the performance of the Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department through video conferencing from Bengaluru on Wednesday, the Chief Minister directed the officials to take the identification and shifting of offices from Bengaluru to the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi seriously and take immediate steps to carry out his order.

The Chief Minister said he would like to see many of the offices working from the Suvarana Soudha building in Belagavi instead of allowing the building to remain idle by time of the next review meeting.

Yediyruappa advised the officials to ensure that the repair work on the roads and bridges damaged due to heavy rains on priority basis so that the people were not inconvenienced during the monsoon.

The State Government has released necessary funds for the repair of works pertaining rain damaged roads and buildings at a cost of Rs 500 crore.

As many as 1700 out of the 1800 road repair works taken up have already been completed, the Chief Minister was informed at the meeting. Works pertaining to repair of bridges and rebuilding were also under progress, the meeting was told.

Appoint Trainee Engineers

Noting that the Public Works Department was facing problems due to delay in the recruitment of engineers, the Chief Minister directed that steps be taken to appoint trainee engineers.

Yediyurappa said the Public Works Department was executing a total of 4,813 national highway works at a total cost of Rs 30,675 crore.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to take up water conservation measures by building a metre-deep walls at the below the bridges to ensure improvement of ground water and also availability of drinking water for the cattle.

Yediyurappa directed the officials to complete the work on the construction of airport at Sogane village in his home district of Shivamogga within a year. He asked the officials to ensure that quality standards were adhered to in the construction work.

He indicated that the land has been identified for construction of the airport in Vijayapura and asked the officials to review all aspects of project.

The Chief Minister said a decision has been taken to upgrade as much as 1,650 kms of rural roads as district main roads and another 10,110 kms district main roads into State Highways.

Pointing out that the State Government has decided to desilt the tanks, lakes and river beds, Yediyurappa asked the officials to utilize the debris for road works.

Deputy Chief Minister Govind M Karjol said the State Government has appointed a technical committee of retired officials of the department for examining and preparing a uniform rate list for all engineering department works. Once the revised rate list was finalized and implemented, he said the State Government would save hundreds of crore of rupees.

Chief Secretary T M Vijaya Bhaskar, Public Works Department Additional Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goel and other senior officials were present at the review meeting.

Earlier, the Srimad Vibhutipura Mutt pontiff Dr Mahalinga Shivacharya and others called on the Chief Minister at his home office, Krishna, and presented a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.