Mangalore, Sept. 29: Areca nut growers in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Kodagu, Uttar Kannada and Udupi had incurred highest losses due to heavy rains and fruit-rot disease, estimated at Rs 232 crore. The central government has released Rs 30 crore in this regard, and will soon release an additional Rs 40 crore as compensation said chief minister Siddaramaiah.
He chaired the review meeting of developmental works in Dakshina Kannada on Sunday in his maiden visit to the district after being elected as CM of Karnataka.
He further said that the proposal to establish government medical colleges in every district have been accepted, and that in the initial stage. Those districts that have no medical colleges, has been chosen. “Altogether, six districts including Gadag, Koppal, Chamarajanagar and Karwar have been picked in the first stage, and other districts will get medical colleges later he said.
South MLA J R Lobo stressed that the expansion of runway was very necessary for the improvement of the airport to international standards. Responding to this request, Siddaramaiah agreed that the expansion was indeed necessary and said that he would make the necessary arrangements for its commencement.
We will start “Janata Darshan”, to listen to the grievances of the people once a week because we are getting hundreds of complaints especially about not getting the pension. From the district level such problems should be solved. If the district administration fails to perform its duty, it is a failure of the administrator, he said.
DK is known as an intelligent people’s district and corruption is less compared to other districts. The District administration should deliver corruption free service. Pension should be handed over to the beneficiaries on time. Any officer failing to perform his/her duty, strict action will be taken against them immediately, the CM warned.
U.T. Khadar, health and family welfare minister, Ramanath Rai, forest, ecology and environment minister, Abhay Chandra Jain, youth affairs and fisheries minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, urban development minister, Pratap Reddy, IGP, Abhishek Goyal, SP and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Before attending the review meeting, he arrived to the helipad at Maryhill from Belthangady. He received the guard of honour by the police department and a grand welcome by Congress party leaders.
