Karnataka   

Minister: illegal mining will be dealt with with an iron hand

All ears: Revenue Minister G. Karunakar Reddy receiving a memorandum at a public grievance meeting in Chitradurga on Wednesday.

Chitradurga: Revenue Minister G. Karunakar Reddy has said that illegal mining will not be allowed in the district, and people involved in it will be dealt with with an iron hand.

He was addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, during his first visit to the district after assuming charge of the post.

Mr. Reddy who is also the district in-charge Minister, promised to take action for the all-round development of the district. “I am aware of the backwardness of the district and I willtry my best for its progress,” he said.

Earlier, he heard public grievances at the Travellers’ Bungalow and received memorandums from the people. Later, he chaired the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting.

During the discussion on the National Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Deputy Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas told Mr. Reddy that its implementation in Holalkere taluk was not satisfactory.

Mr. Biswas said he visited the taluk and recommended suspension of some officials connected with the implementation of the scheme.

Mr. Reddy instructed Mr. Biswas to form a technical committee, comprising officials of neighbouring districts, to evaluate the status of the work undertaken under the scheme.

“Based on the committee report, any official found guilty will be dealt legally”, he said. Mr. Reddy added that no lapses would be allowed in the implementation of NREGS.

Challakere MLA Thippeswamy, while raising the issue of disbursement of old age pension, alleged that some officials were not doing their job properly. Taking note of the complaint, Mr. Reddy directed the officials to work sincerely.

On the drinking water projects for Challakere taluk, Mr. Biswas told Mr. Reddy that the proposed projects required Rs. 29 crore and urged the Minister to see that it was incorporated in the budget. He said that a Rs. 75-crore tentative planhad been drawn for under ground drainage for Chitradurga city.

On the shortage of fertilizers in the State, Mr. Reddy said the Union Government had agreed to release the required quantity of fertilizers to the State to meet the demand.

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