Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network –Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Jan 30: Deputy chief minister (DCM) and minister for Transport Laxman Savadi on Saturday January 30 said that the transport department spent Rs 1,760 crore to pay salaries for the 1,30,000 employees of the state-run transport corporations post Covid-19 pandemic.
He was speaking to mediapersons at BJP district office during his visit to the district.
"Initially, during the first two months of the coronavirus pandemic, the transport department came to a complete halt. Though the salary of two months is delayed, the department has paid 100% salary by availing Rs 650 crore from the government. For the next 7 months, the department paid salaries by availing 75% of funds from the government and 25% from the transport corporations and 100% of salary was paid to the employees till November.
“In the month of December, employees received half salary. Within three to four days, complete salary till January will be paid to the employees,” he said.
Lauding the employees of transport corporations of Mangaluru and Udupi district for not supporting the strike call given by the union in the month of December, Savadi said, "The government assured the employees of taking necessary measures to fulfill 9 demands out of 10."
Answering the queries of media, taking a dig Maharashtra chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray, Savadi said, "Maharashtra CM is running the government with help of three parties. It is like a television serial called 'a house with three doors'. To divert the attention of the people, Thackeray is claiming Belagavi, Karwar and Nipani as part of Maharashtra. It is a stubborn statement and I condemn it. As Kannadiga and belonging to Karnataka, I want to clearly say to the CM of Maharashtra that Belagavi is undivided part of the Karnataka. It is also announced as the second capital of the state. Every year, there will be a parliament session there. He is giving such statements to divert attention of the people, as three parties have lost coordination."
He also said that even in Mumbai there are a lot of Kannada speaking people. “They may be from North Karnataka or from coastal Karnataka. Hence, I said that if towns are divided on the basis of languages, there are many Kannada speaking people in Mumbai. Then Mumbai belongs to Karnataka,” he said.
He also said that the development works which were lagging following Covid-19 pandemic, will gain momentum. The government and its ministers will work as per the expectations of the people, he said.
Lauding the party workers of Mangaluru and Udupi districts for securing highest seats in the assembly elections, Savadi said, "I always have special affection towards the party workers of these two districts. Party workers of Mangaluru and Udupi are sincere and dedicated to the party. My office and house will always be open for the party workers of this district."
He also said that he will be holding a review meeting with transport department officials in the evening.
District in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLAs Vedavyasa Kamath, Bharath Shetty and Umanath Kotian, BJP district president Sudarshan Moodbidri and others were present.