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.

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.



Mangaluru: A fee payment issue faced by a section of students using the Unified University College Management System (UUCMS) has been resolved, according to the authorities of P.A. First Grade College. The matter, which affected 27 out of 768 students from the institution, had caused confusion and allegations, prompting the college to issue a clarification.

The UUCMS, introduced in 2021 by the Government of Karnataka, requires students to pay their examination fees directly through the portal. Previously, students paid fees to their respective colleges, which then transferred the amount to the university. While most students successfully processed their fees through UUCMS, the payment status for 27 students showed as "INITIATED," even though the amount was deducted from their bank accounts. The issue, however, was not isolated, reportedly impacting around 3,000 students across various institutions affiliated with Mangalore University, read the release.

It further stated that following complaints, the university circulated a Google form to gather details of affected students. Subsequently, during an online meeting on November 28, 2024, the university directed colleges to ask students to pay their fees again to ensure their data would be reflected in the portal for hall ticket generation. Failure to do so would prevent them from appearing in the exam. The directive, communicated to the students, led to dissatisfaction among them, with some expressing resistance to paying the fees twice. A few parents and students sought clarification from the college, which explained that the issue was from the UUCMS system by the Government of Karnataka and not the college.

However, one second-year B.Sc. student, Ayisha Afna, filed a police complaint at Konaje station, alleging illegal fee demands by the college. Following the complaint, students and parents met with the Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University, seeking resolution. The college, meanwhile, continued to engage with university authorities and the UUCMS team to address the issue.

According to the statement, on December 7, 2024, the university authorities informed the college that the issue had been resolved. College staff were directed to submit the necessary student details to the university, ensuring that all students, including those who had filed complaints, would receive their hall tickets. The college principal contacted the complainant's father to inform them of the resolution and reiterated the same during a meeting at the university premises.

Despite the resolution, a press conference held by Aysha Afna, Reshna Misiriya, Parent Abdul Khader and advocate Saheed Badduron December 9, 2024, reportedly alleged that the college and university authorities were pressuring students to withdraw the complaint and denying hall tickets.

The college principal has categorically denied these allegations, asserting that the matter was resolved by the university on December 7, 2024. It was clarified that hall tickets could only be generated from December 9, 2024, as per the university's update.

The college has assured students that their hall tickets will be distributed on the day of the examination to save them unnecessary travel.

Additionally, the college authorities have urged the public to disregard baseless allegations.