CM launches tank-filling project in Haveri district

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaking during the launch of tank-filling works in Akki Alur of Haveri district on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: SANJAY RITTI

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched two works to fill Varada river waters in 239 tanks and lakes in Haveri district on Sunday.

The plan includes filling Balambid and 162 tanks and Hirekounshi and 77 tanks in Hangal taluk. The Chief Minister inaugurated the pump houses built in Balambid and Hirekounshi.

He also launched various development programmes taken up at an estimated cost of ₹650 crore.

Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister D.K. Shivakumar, district in-charge Minister Shivanand Patil, MLA Srinivas Mane and others were present.

Mr. Siddaramaiah described Haveri as a district with literary, cultural and spiritual heritage. He said that the State government has taken up several development projects, including the restoration of heritage sites associated with Bhakta Kanakadasa.

“We have won all the Assembly seats here and are surely going to win the Haveri Lok Sabha seat the next time,” he said.

“The development work taken up by Mr. Srinivas Mane in Hangal constituency is visible. Compared to that, Basavaraj Bommai, who has won the Lok Sabha polls from Haveri, has done next to nothing for Haveri district,” Mr. Siddaramaiah claimed.

He said that the State government is implementing several development works and welfare schemes through most of the departments at a cost of over ₹1.33 lakh crore.

“We have respected your mandate by fulfilling the promises made to you before the polls. Your vote has gained value as it was cast in our favour,” he said.

“Has any development or welfare activity stopped in the State? Have salary and allowance payments suffered in any departments? Has any social security pension been stopped or delayed? No. How can then, anyone say that Karnataka’s fiscal health is not good enough?” he asked.

“The BJP and the Janata Dal(S) leaders are going around spreading lies and propaganda against us. They are falsely claiming that the State Treasury is empty in view of the free schemes being implemented. I urge you not to believe in such blatant lies. The Treasury is not empty. On the contrary, The budget size this year is ₹3,800 crore more than last year’s budget size. Not only that, this time the capital expenditure has been raised to ₹83,000 crore. This is an increase of ₹31,000 crore compared to last year. We have spent over ₹50,000 crore for the guarantee schemes. The Opposition cannot tolerate such development and is spreading lies against us,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has not kept any of its pre-poll promises. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a master of telling lies. He is also a master of effecting price rise,” Mr. Siddaramaiah claimed.

“Mr. Modi came to power by promising Achche Din. Where are they? You cannot find them even after using binoculars,” he said.

“The wrong policies of the BJP government aimed at helping their rich friends have made life hell for the poor. The Manmohan Singh government kept fuel prices in check by providing subsidies. The Union government has steadily erased all subsidies. For example, the price of petrol was ₹50 per litre when international crude oil prices were over 120 U.S. dollars. But now, when international crude prices are less than 62 U.S. dollars, petrol prices are over ₹100. The dollar price has increased from ₹59 to ₹85. Gas has increased from ₹400 to ₹879. The Modi government has increased the prices of petrol, diesel, fertilizers, medicines, gold, rice, pulses, oil, pulses and others,” he said.

“Is this Achche Din? Mr. Modi promised to provide two crore jobs to youth per year. By that count, 22 crore jobs were to be created in these 11 years. It did not happen. That is why I keep saying that the BJP has lied to the people and betrayed their mandate,” he said.

“Is there a single example of the promises made by Mr. Modi in his speech that has been implemented? No. They are only good in blaming the Congress for all their failures. The BJP leaders are also hypocritical. They are conducting Janakrosh rallies to protest against price rise and are blaming the Congress government in the State. If they have any sense of introspection, they should be protesting against their party government at the Centre,” he claimed.