Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said here on Monday that he would expand the Cabinet after he returns from a road show in Japan and Singapore to promote Global Investors' Meet to be held in Bangalore.
He was speaking to presspersons at a helipad in Mahatma Gandhi Malnad High School here.
To a question on the appointment of the Lokayukta, Mr. Gowda said the Government had written to the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court seeking a clarification on the consultation process to be followed.
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The Government would proceed further after receiving the reply.
On drought relief measures, Mr. Gowda said the Government had formed three teams of ministers to tour the drought-affected districts.
One team began the tour from Bjiapur, another from Chamarajnagar, and the third from Gulbarga. He added that he himself had visited three districts of Mysore, Belgaum, and Chickballapur. He said that the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had given him a report on the condition in the drought-affected districts. The Government would pursue suggestions given by Mr. Yeddyurappa.
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To a question on the construction of a new vented dam at Thumbe in Dakshina Kannada, Mr. Gowda denied that the work had halted. He said the work was progressing at a slow pace than expected but he had instructed the district administration to speed up the work. He said there was no shortage of funds for the project.
Visiting the Mallikarjuna Temple in Thodikana later, Mr. Gowda participated in a meeting of the local people. Addressing the gathering, he said he had brought governance in the State back on track. There was an impression that “the BJP government was unstable but no one can shake this government,” Mr. Gowda said.
He had allocated Rs. 1,000 crore for the welfare of backward classes. He said that Rs. 79 crore had been set aside for the development of the region, including Sullia and Puttur taluks. He said that Rs. 26 crore had been set aside for the Subrahmanya Bridge and Rs. 9 crore for the Shantimogaru bridge. He said he had directed the officials concerned to initiate road repairs immediately after the monsoon.