₹10,000 crore for road development in rural Karnataka: Khandre

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Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Eshwar Khandre addressing presspersons in Mysuru on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre said here on Wednesday that the State government has announced an allocation of ₹10,000 crore for the development of rural roads across Karnataka, the largest-ever allocation for the purpose.

Speaking to reporters, he said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had announced the allocation under the Rural Road Connectivity Scheme and added that there was no shortage of funds for development.

The Chief Minister had also announced grants ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore for every gram panchayat to facilitate development works and provide basic infrastructure, the Minister said.

On rural drinking water requirements, Mr. Khandre said the government had earlier released ₹117 crore for rural drinking water projects. The Chief Minister had now allocated ₹1 crore each to all rural Assembly constituencies, taking the total funds available for drinking water projects to ₹306 crore, he added.

The Minister said the government had already issued a draft notification for holding elections to taluk and zilla panchayats and would soon submit a proposal to the State Election Commission. The elections were expected to be held by the second week of January, he added.

Asked whether the elections would be conducted using the new or existing electoral rolls, Mr Khandre said the Cabinet would take a decision on the issue at its meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Defending the increase in milk prices, the Minister said rising petrol and diesel prices had pushed up the cost of essential commodities, while dairy farmers were also facing financial difficulties. The State government had increased milk prices to extend support to dairy farmers, he said.

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