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 Dr. Nanjundappa committee’s report on removing regional imbalances which is scheduled to end this financial year.
“We have decided to evaluate the impact of implementation of the Dr. Nanjundappa committee’s report in the last eight years through the Dharwad-based Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Research (CMDR). Also, the process of preparing the district-wise human development indices’ report 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 Nanjudappa committee 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 constitution of a high-level committee headed by the development commissioner for the monitoring of the implementation of the Nanjundappa committee report.
He pointed out that the implementation of the Dr. Nanjundappa committee report that had recommended investing an additional Rs. 16,000 in the backward taluks over eight years at a rate of Rs. 2,000 a year had 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.
A clear picture on the present status of North Karnataka and the impact of the implementation of the Nanjundappa committee’s report would be available after the evaluation process and preparation of the Human Development Indices’ report, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
Responding to the concerns expressed by members that inadequate number of government schools and colleges too had come in the way of development of North-Karnataka, the Chief Minister said new government high schools would be sanctioned on priority to the needy places in North-Karnataka.
However, terming the Chief Minister’s reply as vague, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members staged a walkout while the Janata Dal (S) members staged a dharna demanding increase in minimum support prices (MSP) for maize.
