Belagavi session was fruitful for North Karnataka's development: CM Bommai
Belagavi, Dec 24: The Belagavi session of state legislature was fruitful for the development of northern Karnataka as many projects for development of the region were approved during the session, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.
Speaking to media persons at Suvarna Soudha, he said the session came up with solutions for many complex problems of the region.
"State government has proved that it is committed to the development of irrigation in the region. Approvals were given for a slew of railway projects for northern Karnataka, financial rejuvenation of HESCOM, clearance for Sasalatti and Manturu irrigation projects, lift irrigation in Sedam were among the projects which got a push during the session," Bommai said.
The recruitment of teachers for Kalyana Karnataka region, grant of Rs 500 crore in the supplementary estimates for the region, taking up new infrastructure projects in Belagavi and holding joint session of state legislature in January are among the prominent decisions the state cabinet took during the session, Bommai said.
According to him, the session witnessed elaborate discussion on recent floods and crop losses.
He added that the state government made history by rushing to farmers' aid as the crop loss compensation was paid within 48 hours after the details were uploaded in the government app.
About Rs 700 crore was distributed within a month, benefiting over 14 lakh farmers, he explained.
"We have proved ourselves as a farmer-friendly government by almost doubling the crop loss compensation despite financial constraints amid COVID-19 crisis. The compensation for crop loss in dry land farming has been raised from Rs 6,800 per hectare to Rs 13,600, for irrigated lands it has been increased from Rs 13,500 to Rs 25,000 and for horticulture crops it has been raised to Rs 28,000 from Rs 18,000. It is a historic decision," Bommai said.
Referring to the Anti-conversion Bill which was passed by the legislative assembly, the Chief Minister said it exposed the dual policy of the opposition Congress, which opposed the bill.
When asked about the bill not getting passed in the Legislative Council yet, he said, "We would not like to force the bill through. The bill would be taken up in the next session after taking all the members into confidence."
Reacting to Congress' comments that the session was convened only to push through a few bills, the Chief Minister said the opposition parties had enough time to take up pro-people issues but their objective was confined to holding dharna in the House.
Claiming that the opposition did not bother to participate in the debates, he alleged that they did not conduct themselves responsibly.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Nabin holds Odisha BJP core committee meeting, discusses strategies for next year's rural polls
Bhubaneswar (PTI): BJP national president Nitin Nabin Monday chaired a meeting of the party’s core committee in Odisha and discussed its strategies for the next year's rural polls and possible expansion of the council of ministers in the state, party sources said.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CMs KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and its national vice-president Baijayant Panda attended the closed-door meeting that began at 8.30 am at the party's state headquarters here.
BJP MPs Sambit Patra and Pratap Sarangi, and the party's Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, co-in-charge Lata Usendi and other senior leaders also participated in the meeting.
"The national president discussed the party's strategies for panchayat polls next year, possible expansion of the council of ministers, and appointments of party leaders in different boards and corporations, and other issues," a BJP source said.
After the meeting, Sarangi said, "The core committee also discussed the BJP's ideology and how to maintain it when the party is in power in the state."
Nabin, who arrived here on Sunday night on his first visit to Odisha after he became the party president, is also scheduled to hold a series of organisational meetings, training programmes, and strategic dialogues with senior party leaders and office-bearers in Bhubaneswar and Puri.
Samal said Nabin’s visit is considered politically significant as it will infuse energy among the grassroots-level workers and leaders.
During the day, Nabin is also scheduled to visit the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri. He will partake of the sacred 'Mahaprasad' at the residence of Puri Lok Sabha MP and BJP's national spokesperson, Sambit Patra.
Upon returning to Bhubaneswar, Nabin will meet state office bearers and frontal unit presidents at 4 pm. He will also chair a meeting with members of the council of ministers of Odisha, another BJP source said.
He is scheduled to return to Delhi on Monday evening, he added.
