Review of Development

(photo/ news: mangalorean)
BANGALORE November 18, 2008: Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa expressed dissatisfaction over tardy implementation of several development works and welfare schemes announced in the State budget for the year 2008-09.
Only about 40 per cent of the budgetary allocations have been spent on various developmental works and welfare schemes till October end.
Speaking at a periodic review of various departments' schemes at a meeting of the principal secretaries and secretaries at the State Secretariat in Bangalore on Tuesday, Mr Yeddyurappa said the government would not tolerate indifferent attitude of officials towards slow implementation of budgetary schemes.
Issuing stern directions to the top brass of the officialdom, the Chief Minister said cent per cent growth could be achieved only effective executing of these schemes by the end of this financial year. The BJP government had taken up budgetary programmes which would have a significant impact on the lives of people.

Departments such as Minor Irrigation, Water Resources, Health and Family Welfare, Education, Medical Education and Public Departments spent 50 per cent to 70 per cent of the budgetary allocations. Departments such as Social Welfare and PWD and Rural Development shown only 30 per cent progress, he said. Delay in the presentation of the budget was one the reasons for the slow execution of the programmes.
The meeting decided to direct the Food and Civil Supplies Department to issue biometric bar-coded ration cards for all eligible below poverty line beneficiaries before December end.
Other major decisions taken at the high-level meeting are:
==Rs six crore will be sanctioned for implementing developing works such as road and drinking water in Gulbarga. President Pratibha Patil and Tibetan Buddhist religious leader the Dalai Lama visiting Gulbarga in January, 2009.
==Proposal to cover an additional 1,000 villages in the State under the Suvarna Gramodaya Scheme. Already 1185 villages had been covered under the scheme. The Cabinet meeting held at Gulabrga had decided to include 200 villages.
==Repair rural roads before commencement of the monsoon.
==Call for fresh tenders for purchase of bicycle manufacturers so that the distribution of bicycles would start. The Government has been distributing bi-cycles to students of 8th standard in government and aided schools.
==Distribute Rs. 1,000 to small and marginal farmer family who is dependent on dry land farming in the next two weeks.
==Officials told to finalise a list of progressive farmers for a study tour to China and Israel.



Karnataka to set up new police stations
UNI, Wednesday, 19 November 2008:Bangalore: Karnataka Home Minister V S Acharya today said the state goverment is planning to set up 41 police stations exclusively to handle offences under Excise and Lotteries in the state. Talking to reporters here, Dr Acharya said the police stations would be set up by creating two new divisions for south and another for north with headquaters in the city and Hubli.The proposal came before the government at a review meeting held today for taking stringent action against the sale of illicit and spurious liquors in the state. The proposal would be placed before the next cabinet for its approval, he said.The new police stations would be manned with the redeployment of the existing staff in the Excise department and recruitment of 500 additional staff, he added.

Air India facilitates Haj pilgrims from Bangalore
UNI, Wednesday, 19 November 2008:
Bangalore: Air India will be providing ground handling facilities for chartered flights carrying Haj pilgrims from here to Jeddah. Karnataka Home Minster V S Acharya flagged off the first flight of the season at the Bengaluru International Airport today.The Saudia flight SV 5143 operated by the wide-bodied Airbus A-300 will be carrying the first batch of around 300 pilgrims to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, an Air India release said. Air India has made elaborate arrangements at the Haj camp in Idgah maidan in the city for the convenience of the pilgrims.Pilgrims can comfortably complete their check-in formalities and hand over their baggage to Air India officials posted at the camp. The check-in counters will be kept open for longer duration to enable individual attention and avoidance of rush. This year 23 Haj charters will be operated from Bangalore to Jeddah starting from today. Outbound flights will be operated till Dec 29. To facilitate their return, equal number of flights will be operated beginning December 31, the release said.
(courtesy: sahilonline)