Bengaluru (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in poll bound Karnataka's northern districts of Yadgiri and Kalaburagi on Thursday to lay foundation stone and inaugurate projects worth more than Rs 10,800 crores.

This will be the second such visit by the Prime Minister to Karnataka this month. He was in Hubballi on January 12 to inaugurate the National Youth Festival, during which he had held a massive road show.

According to an official release, at around 12 noon, in Kodekal, Yadgiri district, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various developmental projects related to irrigation, drinking water besides a National Highway development project.

Later, at around 2:15 PM, Modi will reach Malkhed, Kalaburagi District, where he will distribute title deeds (hakku patra) to the eligible beneficiaries of newly declared revenue villages and also lay the foundation stone for a National Highway project.

The visit also gains significance, as the ruling BJP prepares for assembly polls in Karnataka and has set a target of winning a minimum of 150 out of total 224 seats which will go for polls by May.

Aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all households, Modi will lay the foundation stone for Yadgir multi-village drinking water supply scheme under Jal Jeevan Mission at Kodekal in Yadgiri District, also a Water Treatment Plant of 117 MLD will be built under the scheme.

The project, which costs more than Rs 2,050 crore, will provide potable water to about 2.3 lakh households of more than 700 rural habitations and three towns of Yadgiri district.

During the programme, the PM will also inaugurate Narayanpur Left Bank Canal Extension Renovation and Modernisation Project (NLBC ERM).

The project, with a canal carrying capacity of 10,000 cusecs, can irrigate 4.5 lakh hectares of command area. It will benefit more than three lakh farmers in 560 villages of Kalaburgi, Yadagir and Vijaypur districts. The total cost of the project is about Rs 4,700 crores.

Later, he will also lay the foundation stone of the 65.5 km section of NH-150C. This 6-lane Greenfield road project is part of Surat Chennai Expressway. It is being built at a cost of about Rs 2,000 crore.

Further pointing out that about 1,475 unrecorded habitations have been declared as New Revenue villages in five districts of Kalaburagi, Yadgiri, Raichur, Bidar and Vijayapura, the release said, at Malkhed village of Sedam Taluka of Kalaburagi district, the Prime Minister will distribute title deeds (hakku patra) to the eligible beneficiaries of these newly declared revenue villages.

The issuance of title deeds to more than 50,000 beneficiaries, who are largely from the marginalised and vulnerable communities from the SC, ST and OBC, is a step to provide a formal recognition from the government for their land, and will make them eligible for receiving government services like drinking water, electricity, roads etc.

During the programme, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the 71 km section of NH-150C. This 6 lane Greenfield road project is also part of Surat Chennai Expressway. It is being built at a cost of more than Rs 2,100 crore.

Surat Chennai Expressway will pass through six states- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. It will reduce the existing route from 1,600 Kms to 1,270 Kms.

The PM after finishing with his engagements in Karnataka will leave for Mumbai.

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Chamarajanagara (PTI): With the number of maternal deaths in Ballari rising to five, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said action will be taken against the guilty based on the report by an expert committee, headed by the Development Commissioner, inquiring into it.

Last month, four women died in Ballari. Another patient, who was undergoing treatment at Ballari Medical College and Research Centre (BMCRC), died on Thursday night.

"Fifth deaths have occurred there now. When four deaths happened, I held a meeting, we had also discussed it during yesterday's cabinet meeting. The Health Minister (Dinesh Gundu Rao) is visiting there (Ballari) today, also Health department officials," Siddaramaiah told reporters here in response to a question.

Noting that maternal deaths could be linked to substandard Ringer Lactate solution, he said the government has already suspended the Drugs Controller and also has blacklisted the company that supplied the solution.

A committee headed by the Development Commissioner was formed to inquire into it and submit a report, he added.

"Once we get the report, action will be taken against the guilty. We have already taken some action, further action will follow based on the report."

The CM had on November 30 chaired a high-level meeting regarding the recent maternal deaths in Ballari, following which he ordered an inquiry into such deaths, as he also announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to each victims' family.

Amid concerns that the maternal deaths could be linked to substandard Ringer Lactate solution that is administered intravenously to restore hydration and fluid balance in the body, he directed suspension of the Drugs Controller and blacklisting of Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical that supplied the solution and also to prosecute the company.

Meanwhile, BJP led by former Minister B Sriramulu is holding a protest in Ballari, accusing the government of not taking the deaths seriously, and holding it responsible.

Targeting Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, he said the Minister is visiting Ballari today, only to save his face when the opposition raises the issue during the Assembly session in Belagavi next week.

Demanding that the government ensure that such deaths don't recur, Sriramulu said, "Is Rs 2 lakh compensation enough? Such deaths should stop... Rs 1 crore compensation should be given to the families of each deceased."