Over Rs 90 crore spent on smart cities in Karnataka: Minister U T Khader
Belagavi, Dec 12: Karnataka Minister for Urban Development and Housing U T Khader Wednesday said Rs 91.34 crore has so far been spent on seven cities in the state that have been selected under the Smart City project.
The central and the state governments have each earmarked Rs 886 crore for the project.
Responding to a query from BJP MLA K S Eshwarappa during question hour, the Minister said new guidelines and rules have been framed under the project and creation of a special purpose vehicle for it have been the cause for the delay in its implementation in the seven cities - Belagavi, Davangere, Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Mangaluru, Tumkuru and Bengaluru.
Noting that central government had launched the Smart City project in June 2015, Khader said this was different from other projects, as it required introduction of new rules which required more time.
Also, cities were selected for the project in various rounds and consultants have been appointed in all the cities, he said.
Further, detailed reports on the project were underway and work was on in all the cities, but in some of them, the project was at the nascent stage, the Minister said adding that special purpose vehicles have been set up in all the smart cities.
To this, several BJP leaders including opposition leader B S Yeddyurappa, Jagadish Shettar and Eshwarappa stressed the need for a supervisory committee to oversee the implementation of the project.
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Integrity of electoral process severely compromised, Cong to soon launch movement: CWC
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress Working Committee met here on Friday and adopted a resolution alleging the integrity of the entire electoral process was being severely compromised against which the party would soon launch a movement.
In the resolution of the top body of the Congress, the party said free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that was being called into "serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission".
The CWC, which met amid the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, said the session has been a washout so far because of the Narendra Modi government's "stubborn refusal" to have an immediate discussion on three pressing national issues -- "the recent revelations regarding corruption by a business group, and the violence in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal".
Asked why the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution does not name the business group, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "The answer is the Adani group".
"The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission.
"Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take these up these public concerns as a national movement," the resolution stated.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Ramesh and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, party general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party discussed the political situation in the country for four-and-half hours and adopted the resolution.
He said the CWC has decided to constitute internal committees to look into electoral performance and organisational matters.
About the Assembly polls results in Maharashtra, Venugopal said the electoral outcome in the state was "beyond normal understanding and it appears to be a clear case of targeted manipulation".
