The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Shobha reposes faith in party leadership

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Sunday, Nov 08, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Shobha reposes faith in party leadership

Special Correspondent

She says rehabilitation work is in full swing

High command has not asked her to resign
Formation of layouts started for flood-hit families

BANGALORE: Rural Development and Panchayatraj Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday clarified that she had not resigned from the B.S. Yeddyurappa Ministry and that she would do so in the interest of the party if asked to.

The lone woman in the Ministry, Ms. Karandlaje said the high command had not yet asked her to tender her resignation and there was no question of quitting the Government at this stage.

The Minister said that she was surprised over the demand for her resignation as there was no charge of corruption or inefficiency or nepotism against her. However, she would respect the wishes of the high command as a loyal worker of the party and she had full faith in them that they would do justice to her.

Ms. Karandlaje said she did not believe that the survival or collapse of the Government depended on her. She said the construction of roads, culverts and providing drinking water in the villages of north Karnataka district was going on in full swing.

She told The Hindu that the zilla panchayats were spending the Calamity Relief Fund of Rs. 200 crore for the purpose.

She said that Rs. 2 lakh each had been released to all the 2,400 village panchayats for cleaning and fogging the flooded areas to prevent the outbreak of any epidemic.

Under the provisions of the CRF, the money released for relief work had to be spent within 35 days, she said.

She said the department had been instructed to utilise the funds within November 10, five days before the deadline.

Ms. Karandlaje said that her department had started forming layouts on the lands in new and safe areas sanctioned by the State Government or purchased for building houses by the department and the private sector.

She said that funds under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was made available for the payment of wages to those, who were constructing houses.

She said that layouts at Inginal in Bagalkot district and Hukumnal in Bijapur district had been launched and the construction of houses in all these places had started.

Land identified

The deputy commissioners of the districts had identified the land for the layouts and there would be no delay in providing houses to the affected people.

The Minister said that proposals had been submitted to the Centre for releasing funds to the tune of Rs. 2,120 crore for construction or repair of roads, storm water drains, shifting 209 villages and repairing roads under the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana and other works.

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