Development, welfare programmes continue despite criticism, says CM

“In the face of criticism by the Opposition that the State government has run out of funds, we continue to take up development and welfare programmes together on a large scale,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in Karwar on Sunday.

“The BJP that has been constantly criticising our administration, did not take up any development work for Karwar or for Uttara Kannada when it was in power. It ignored the infrastructural needs of the district. But we are working towards equitable development of all regions of the State. I would like to inform you that the Congress government has spent around ₹1.18 lakh crore for the five guarantee schemes. Of this, around ₹2,954 crore have been spent on schemes in Uttara Kannada. At the same time, development works, including infrastructure projects, health and education schemes, livelihood and industrialisation initiatives, have not stopped. They are progressing along with welfare programmes like the guarantee schemes. The criticism can continue, but the people of the State know very well about our development programmes,” the Chief Minister said.

He was speaking after inaugurating a multi-speciality hospital built on the premises of Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KRIMS) and launching other programmes.

The Chief Minister said that Karwar will get a super-speciality hospital in the next Budget. “Work on the super-speciality hospital will start soon and I will inaugurate it. The State government is committed to starting government medical colleges in each district. We have 22 government medical colleges already. In the coming years, we will start such institutions in Kolar, Puttur and Vijayapura. We approved KRIMS in our first term in 2016. We set aside ₹200 crore for a 450-bed hospital for the college. It has been completed now. It will help the people of this district who were earlier forced to travel long distances to Mangaluru, Udupi or Hubballi to get medical treatment,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that he is working with legislators and officers to find solutions to the problems of the people in all districts.

“I strongly believe that serving people is serving God. We will continue to serve the people, irrespective of what others say,” he said.

The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated a new bridge on the Khanapur-Talaguppa State Highway in Yellapur taluk and the new building of an Inspection Bungalow in Yellapur town and the government guesthouse in Mundgod.

Ministers Sharanprakash Patil, Mankal Vaidya, MLAs R.V. Deshpande, Shivaram Hebbar, Satish Sail, Bhimanna Nayak and others were present.