Karnataka   

Dharam Singh approves tank revival project with conditions

Prime Minister may visit Shravanabelagola before Mahamastakabhisheka

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh has given his nod for the World Bank programme to rejuvenate over 36,000 tanks provided the rate of interest does not exceed 4.5 per cent with the Union Government providing 50 per cent of the grants.

Mr. Singh said this at a meeting on the Centrally sponsored national project for repair and rejuvenation of tanks, convened by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday. He also urged the Union Government to cover the exchange risk.

He said the Centre has helped major irrigation projects under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, and it should release grants for Karnataka.

Karnataka, he said, has 36,696 tanks with a command area of 6.93 lakh hectares and the State is the first in the country to take up community-based management project with World Bank assistance.

Mahamastakabhisheka

Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

Mr. Singh said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed in principle to visit Shravanabelagola in Hassan district on February 2, about 10 days before the Mahamastakabhisheka ceremony.

Mr. Singh said the Prime Minister expressed his wish to take part in the auspicious event, but preferred to visit the holy site ahead of the event to spare the pilgrims the security problems involved in VVIP visits.

The Prime Minister also promised help in the early implementation of the metro rail project in Bangalore and the Kalasa-Banduri project which envisages diversion of water from the Mahadayi to meet the drinking water needs of Hubli and Dharwad.

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