Expressing commitment to the development of the backward north Karnataka region, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that the government would extend the tenure of implementation of the Nanjundappa committee recommendations to redress regional imbalances, which is scheduled to end this financial year.
“We have decided to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the Dr. Nanjundappa committee report in the last eight years through the Dharwad-based Centre for Multi-disciplinary Development Research. Also, the process of preparing the district-wise human development indices’ reports in the State is in the final stage. Based on the outcome of these two exercises, the government will decide on issues such as to what extent the implementation of the Nanjundappa committee recommendations should be extended and the quantum of funds to be spent,” the Chief Minister said while replying to a three-day debate in the Legislative Assembly on the issues related to the development of north Karnataka.
He also announced setting up of a high-level committee headed by the Development Commissioner to monitor the implementation of the Nanjundappa committee report.
He pointed out that the implementation of the Nanjundappa committee report, which had recommended investing an additional Rs. 16,000 crore in the backward taluks over eight years at a rate of Rs. 2,000 crore a year, commenced in 2006–07. It had been possible to spend Rs. 13,565 crore in the seven years as part of this exercise, he said.
Terming the Chief Minister’s reply “vague”, Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members staged a walkout while the Janata Dal (S) members staged a dharna demanding an increase in the minimum support price for maize.
