The Hindu : Front Page : State to stick by Mahajan report

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Monday, Dec 05, 2005

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State to stick by Mahajan report

Staff Correspondent

Sonia Gandhi apprised of State's stand on superseding BCC, says Dharam Singh

GULBARGA: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh on Sunday said that Karnataka will remain committed to its stand that the Mahajan Commission report is final on the boundary issue.

"I met United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday, and explained to her the reason for the State Government's stand on the superseding the Belgaum City Corporation (BCC). I will also be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue," he told presspersons.

Mr. Singh said that this is not the first time that the BCC is dissolved. A similar resolution was passed by the BCC in 1971, and the BCC was dissolved then too for the same reasons, he said.

More than 50 per cent of the people in Sholapur and 80 per cent at Akkalkot are Kannadigas. "These local bodies can also pass resolutions for their merger with Karnataka. But they have behaved responsibly, and have not acted like the Belgaum City Corporation," he said.

Ore processing

The State Government is considering keeping the ore processing facilities at Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited active, even after mining is stopped in the Western Ghats to ensure that the 20,000 workers of the company will be thrown out of jobs.

"The Supreme Court has ordered stopping of mining in the area. But the move will affect the livelihood of many labourers. We are thinking of starting iron ore mining in Bellary and Tumkur districts, transport the ore to Kudermukh and process it there," Mr. Singh said.

He said the Government considers the naxalite problem in the Western Ghats as a socio-economic issue. "We want to provide all facilities for the welfare of tribal people living in these forests. We have written to the Centre to amend the Forest Act to provide a space of five hectares in the forest to provide basic amenities for the tribal people," he said. The package for naxalite supporters who have surrendered is not yet finalised.

On the proposed airports at Gulbarga and Hassan, Mr. Singh said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed with the Union Government shortly. He said the MoU for the construction of the Mysore airport has been signed.

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