Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday promised the people of Kodagu that his government is committed to resolving their various issues.
Mr. Siddaramaiah was speaking after inaugurating the new Deputy Commissioner’s office complex constructed at a cost of Rs. 14.43 crore and laying the foundation stone for a slew of development projects, estimated to cost Rs. 32.39 crore.
The Chief Minister said that an action plan to clean the Cauvery river, which was increasingly being polluted, was in the offing. The action plan would be on the lines of Ganga Action Plan. He also assured the people that an overpass would be constructed at Bhagamandala to help people cross over during floods, which was a long-pending demand of local community.
Emphasising the importance of road connectivity, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, he would increase the allocation and grants for road repair work in the district. Referring to the controversy and lingering confusion over Jamma Bane land, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the government had amended the law and it would be enacted in due course.
On the man-elephant conflict, which is rampant in the region, the Chief Minister said the government had earmarked Rs. 212 crore in the budget for the purpose and would be utilised in areas where the conflict was high.
Referring to coffee growers’ problems, the Chief Minister said that the government had released compensation based on the Coffee Board’s report last year and would follow suit this year as well.
He referred to the Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats conservation including Kodagu and other regions and said his government was committed to upholding the interests of local people.
The Chief Minister distributed benefits of various government programmes among the beneficiaries besides launching the virtual guide facility of the Tourism Department.
Review meetingThe Chief Minister conducted a district development review programme at the new complex and instructed the Revenue Department officials to issue Scheduled Tribe certificate to all Kurubas in Kodagu district. The government had already issued a directive to this effect and covers Jenu Kurubas, Betta Kurubas, Kadu Kurubas, Halumatha Kurubas, he said.
K.G. Bopaiah, Virajpet MLA, drew the attention of the Chief Minister to drinking water problem, power, housing and other related issues in the district. District in-charge Minister K.J. George, Revenue Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, PWD Minister H.C.Mahadevappa were among those present.
