Yediyurappa announces Rs 3,500 crore development project for Karnataka

B D Narayankar

Bangalore: The state government has announced development projects worth Rs 3,500 crores for Northern Karnataka.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said in New Delhi on Thursday that the government would set up border area development authority to implement developmental projects, especially in border areas of Belgaum. "We plan to build Suvarna Soudha - the second legislature house in Belgaum," he added.

The government would also set up a veterinary college in Gadag and upgrade district hospital in Bidar, he said.

The project inclues the upgradation of mental and district hospitals in Dharwad and Belgaum respectively, he said.

Yediyurappa also added that deemed university status would be given to Sri Dharmasthal Manjunateshwara Educational institution group.

The project includes development of 5,500 kms km stretching across the state, Yediyurappa said.

Apart from forming Sri Renuka Yellamma Development Authority, the government would also develop a park on the lines of KRS Dam at Hidakal Reservoir, he said. "We will construct western canal under Hipparagi Irrigation project in at Athani taluk," the chief minister added.

Other developmental works to be taken up:

* Implementation of Karimasuti East Canal and Shapur Branch Canal lift irrigation project

* Building of circular ring road, heritage park and underground drainage system in Belgaum

* Setting up of foundry cluster near Machhe village in Belgaum taluk

* Starting center for climatic change and research at Dharwad Agricultural University

* Setting up silver jewelery manufacturing complex at Mangur village in Chikkodi taluk.

* Setting up Spice Park at Byadagi in Haveri district

* Establishing Auto Park at Basava Kalyana

* Establishing Steel Park in 10,000 acres in Koppal

* Implementing 600-crore drinking water scheme to cater to 848 fluoride affected villages in Northern Karnataka

* Implementing irrigation project worth Rs 2,193 crores to provide lift irrigation facility to 87,000 hectares land belonging to Indi and Bijapur taluks

* Modernization work of a total of 22,600 kms of road comprising of 10,000 kms of State Highway and District Roads and 12,600 kms of Rural Roads

* Developing 66,000 kms of road across the State under public-private participation (PPP) basis