Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar praised tunnel road project, but no funds assured: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar praised the tunnel road, flyover, and B-Khata conversion initiatives of the state government during a meeting of urban development ministers of southern states here.
“We have presented before him our demands for the state, but he has not assured any funds,” the Deputy CM said in a statement on the meeting.
Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru development portfolio, is locked in a legal and public dispute with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on the tunnel road project.
BJP leader Tejasvi Surya is waging a legal battle against the project by appearing on behalf of actor Prakash Belawadi, who has opposed it.
At a press meet post their Wednesday meeting, Surya said this "cost-intensive project" worth Rs 43,000 crore will serve no purpose and advocated the public transport system such as Metro Rail, suburban rail, buses of all sizes and even trams.
Hitting back at Surya, Shivakumar said, “Who is Tejasvi Surya to say that the tunnel road is not needed? He can ban all tunnel projects in the country once he becomes a Union Minister. Out of respect, I gave him time or the meeting, but now he is talking utter nonsense. He does not know how the world works.”
Mocking Surya's push for public transport, he asked, “Why is he travelling by car? Let him and his family travel by metro and government buses. Let the MLAs of his party travel by metro and auto rickshaws. Why do they need cars? He has to realise that there are about 1.3 crore vehicles in Bengaluru and we can’t tell everyone to use public transport.”
Highlighting the Congress' role in bringing metro rail to Bengaluru, Shivakumar questioned BJP’s contribution when it was in power in the state.
“What have they got for the state from the Centre? Centre gives only 11 to 12 per cent of funds for Namma metro and the rest is borne by the State government,” Shivakumar said.
The Deputy CM dismissed Surya as a "waste material and an empty suitcase."
"If the senior leaders from the BJP like R Ashoka, Ashwathnarayan and Jagadish Shettar ask questions, I am willing to reply because they understand the ground realities. Where is the land for BRTS? Is he (Surya) even aware of the costs involved in acquisition of lands for these projects?”
Shivakumar said Union Minister Khattar echoed PM's praise for the city and was briefed on urban reforms, administration of local bodies and formation of Greater Bengaluru Authority.
He noted that urban-centric projects have been discontinued and the 15th Financial Commission's promises remain unfulfilled.
"We have communicated our requirements to the 16th Finance Commission," Shivakumar said in the statement.
At the meeting, Karnataka ministers Byrathi Suresh and Rahim Khan raised concerns about municipal reforms.
The meeting chaired by Khattar, was held in Bengaluru on Karnataka government’s request, which was attended by urban development ministers from five southern states participated.
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Prasidh, Kuldeep limit South Africa to 270 after De Kock's hundred
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India fought back gallantly through Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav after Quinton de Kock struck his 23rd hundred, keeping South Africa to a manageable 270 in the third and series-deciding final ODI, here Saturday.
India won the toss after judging the spin of the coin incorrectly 20 times in a row. They had little hesitation in inserting the Proteas into bat, a clear indication of dew factor dominating the thought.
After Arshdeep Singh sent back Ryan Rickelton early, De Kock (106, 89b, 8x4, 6x4) struck his seventh century against India and put on 113 runs off 124 balls with skipper Temba Bavuma (48, 67b) as the visitors moved to a healthy position.
De Kock was severe on Prasidh (4/66), who erred on length continuously in his first spell (2-0-27-0). The left-hander biffed the pacer for 6, 6, 4 in his second over to milk 18 runs.
The 32-year-old quickly pounced on anything that was short, and pacers Prasidh and Harshit offered him plenty of feed on his pet areas.
Bavuma was more sedate, and made runs through those typical dabs and jabs, occasionally unfurling a drive of elan.
De Kock moved to fifty in 42 balls, and never let the tempo down reaching his hundred in 79 balls.
India found temporary relief when Ravindra Jadeja induced a false slash from Bavuma to get caught by Virat Kohli at point.
The tourists got another move on through a 54-run partnership between De Kock and Matthew Breetzkle for the third wicket, and at 168 for two in 28 overs they were in a good position to press on.
But Breetzke's punishment of part-time spinner Tilak Varma forced a rethink in the Indian camp, as skipper KL Rahul brought back Prasidh for a second spell.
What a masterstroke it turned out to be! The Karnataka man broke the back of South Africa’s top and middle order in an exceptional second spell (4-0-11-3).
Breetzke was the first man to go, trapped plumb in front with a straight one and four balls later Aiden Markram uppishly chipped a fuller delivery to Kohli at short covers.
Prasidh soon castled De Kock, whose ugly cross-batted swipe failed to connect a full length delivery from the pacer.
All of a sudden, SA found themselves at a shaky 199 for five, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
Once Prasidh was done away with the top and middle-order, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (4/41) took over and mopped up the tail as SA fell short of even a par total on this track.
