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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Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government has selected Senior Journalist D. Umapathy for the Vaddarse Raghuram Shetty social justice journalism award. The award, started this year by the Department of Information and Public Relations, was announced by Department Commissioner Hemanth M. Nimbalkar.
Nimbalkar highlighted that the award aims to recognize and honor journalistic contributions focused on social justice. It was announced in the 2024 state budget by the Chief Minister Siddarmaiah in memory of senior journalist Vaddarse Raghuramshetty.
The selection committee, chaired by Justice Ashok Hinchigeri, unanimously chose D. Umapathy for the prestigious award. The honor includes a cash prize of ₹2 lakh and a memento.
D. Umapathy was Born in Chitradurga district on March 18, 1959, and holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and Journalism from Maharaja's College, Mysuru, and a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Mysore, where he secured second rank.
With a career spanning 27 years, Umapathy gained prominence for his work as the Delhi correspondent for Kannada Newspaper ‘Kannada Prabha’ a publication under the New Indian Express group.
He covered a range of topics, including parliamentary proceedings, election analyses, Supreme Court river water tribunal cases, national political developments, and foreign affairs. He also has extensive experience in diplomatic reporting, often accompanying ministers on international visits.
Additionally, Umapathy, who is based in Delhi, has contributed as a columnist for several prominent Kannada newspapers, including Andolana, Raitha Chalavali, Vijaya Karnataka, Prajavani, Samyukta Karnataka, and Vartha Bharati.
Currently, he serves as a guest editor for the web journals ‘Nyayapatha’ (Gauri Media) and ‘Eedina.’
He is also an accomplished author, with two notable works, Delhi Nota and Padakusiye Nelavilla.