All potholes in Bengaluru must be filled in a week: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday ordered officials to fill all potholes in Bengaluru within a week, following his earlier directive last month that set October 31 as the deadline for repairs across the city’s five corporation limits.
The CM made the remarks after flagging off projects for the comprehensive development of roads, including white topping, in the Gandhinagar Assembly constituency.
"I was speaking to officials, including Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority Maheshwar Rao and Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Urban Development Department Tushar Girinath. Within a week, potholes should be filled," Siddaramaiah said.
Addressing the gathering, he said, "Because of the rains, there have been delays in filling potholes; that's the issue. There have been more rains this year."
Noting that white-topping work is underway in various parts of the city, Siddaramaiah said it would help reduce the pothole problem, as white-topped roads can last 25–30 years.
"We will fill the potholes and also do white topping of roads in the city," he added.
Siddaramaiah further said he is providing funds to all MLAs for the development of their constituencies, allocating Rs 8,000 crore in the budget for the purpose.
"The funds are being given to both urban and rural MLAs, also opposition MLAs, because we want all-round development," he said.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the in-charge Minister for Bengaluru development, said over 10,000 potholes have been filled so far.
"We have filled over 10,000 potholes till now. The Bommai government had filed an affidavit in the court that there were about 20,000 potholes in the city. We have given the public and traffic police the opportunity to identify and report potholes. We are working in a transparent way," he said.
Shivakumar said a detailed project report is being prepared to white top 500 km of roads in the city at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore.
"White-topped roads last 25–30 years. We have already taken up 148 km of roads for white topping and are spending Rs 1,800 crore for white topping 83 roads. Black topping is going on in 350 km of 182 roads at a cost of Rs 695 crore. The CM has given a grant of Rs 1,100 crore, and we have taken up asphalting of 550 km of roads," he listed out.
He also accused the central government and BJP MPs of "not cooperating in Bengaluru’s development."
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
