Yeddy Regime Approves "Kalam Pura" Project in 200 Hoblis

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Bangalore: Yeddy Regime Approves "Kalam Pura" Project in 200 Hoblis

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 22: An ambitious action plan for implementation of ``Kalam Pura’’ project, named after former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, for the comprehensive development of villages in 200 hoblis, at an investment of Rs 2 crore in each village has been approved by the Karnataka cabinet.

Under the project, approved by the BJP government headed by the state cabinet at a meeting chaired by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday, .the government would take up works for the total development of villages and carry out improvements relating to drinking water supply, drainage, electricity supply, roads, telecommunication includinding internet facilities with the ultimate objective of transforming each of the village into a hub of economic activity.

In coastal areas, the villages would also have a jetty for the benefit of fishermen.

Briefing the press after the cabinet meeting, home minister Dr V S Acharya said the chief minister has set a three-month deadline for preparing a time-bound programme for implementing Kalam Pura project.

It may be recalled that Dr Kalam, while addressing a joint session of both houses of the state legislature in 2005 when he was President, to mark the golden jubilee of Karnataka’s formation, had proposed implementation of the ``PURA’’ (Providing Urban Infrstructure in Rural Areas) programme.

The then JD(S)-BJP coalition regime headed by H D Kumaraswamy had subsequently unveiled the ``Suvarna Gramodaya’’ programme as part of the intiatiive to implement Pura by proposing to invest Rs 1 crore in each in 1000 villages.

The Yeddyurappa regime has now chosen to rechristen the programme as ``Kalam Pura’’ to signify the government’s total commitment for the comprehensive development of villages.

"We intend to invest more than the original proposal of investing Rs 1 crore in each of the villages. The the total outlay on each of the select villages may go up to Rs 3 crore. Our intention is to transform the villages and eliminate the necessity of rural people to migrate to urban areas,’’ he said.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Act and certain other laws, including the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, to make rainwater harvesting, installation of meters for all water connections mandatory in Bangalore and other urban areas.

All new houses to be built in Bangalore City on a residential site measuring 2400 sq ft and above shall build tanks to harvest rain water and the existing ones should also adopt it, Dr Acharya said indicating the proposed amendment bill would be introduced in the forthcoming legislature session.

The government decided to bear the cost escalation amounting to Rs 442 crore towards implementation of the second phase of the Cauvery Fourth Stage drinking water supply scheme for Bangalore.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has financed Rs 3,383 crore for the project set to be completed by 2011.

Dr Acharya said the cabinet approved a proposal for developing 10,000 kms of rural roads by 2010-11 and to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the purpose. The required funds would largely be drawn from the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

The state cabinet decided to extend deferment in payment of road tax by the North-East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation by one more year, a concession granted in 2001, as the loss-making body had turned the corner by achieving a break-even point in its revenues.

However, the corporation was not in a position to clear the dues of Rs 194.13 crore to the government despite improvement in its financial position. Consequently, the cabinet decided to convert the dues into government equity, he said.

The Cabinet decided to authorise the chief minister to finalise the three candidates to be nominated to the state legislative council to fill up the vacancies arising out of the retirement of Congress members Prakash Rathod, Mallajamma and Dr Chandrashekar Kambar. The three persons were nominated by the S M Krishna government and their term ends in January.

With the retirement of the three nominated members and filling up of the vacancies by the government, the ruling BJP will gain a clear majority in the upper house when its strength goes up from the present 28 to 31 while that of the Congress comes down to 25. However, the combined opposition will have an upper hand in the house for some more time.