The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Government to ensure supply of haemophilia drug

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Monday, Jun 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Government to ensure supply of haemophilia drug

Special Correspondent

Work on Suvarna Vidhana Soudha to start in two months
Adequate supply of sandalwood to artisans promised

B.S. Yeddyurappa

BANGALORE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday said the State Government would immediately ensure adequate supply of anti-haemophilia factor, a life-saving drug, to government hospitals.

Participating in a phone-in-cum-interaction programme organised by the Bangalore Doordarshan, Mr. Yeddyurappa said he would direct the Minister for Health and Family Welfare as well as the officials of the Department to ensure that adequate quantity of the life saving drug is available in the State-run hospitals.

The Chief Minister gave this assurance to Lakshmamma of Bangalore, whose 19-year-old son Sunil Kumar is a haemophilia patient, when she brought to his notice that the non-availability of the expensive drug at Government hospitals had caused inconvenience to 1,800 haemophilia patients across the State.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that the work on Suvarna Vidhana Soudha at Belgaum would commence in two months. Responding to a query by Chandrakanth Kusnoor of Belgaum, who sought to know the reasons for delay in taking up the work, Mr. Yeddyurappa said he had been holding discussions in this regard with officials and architects for the past one week.

Using the good quality stones available in Belgaum district, the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha would be constructed on the lines of the Vikasa Soudha in Bangalore. Discussions were on to finalise the plans for holding the Legislature session in Belgaum later this year, he said.

Lakshminarayana of Sagar taluk in Shimoga district requested the Chief Minister to ensure adequate supply of sandalwood to artisans. He said non-availability of sandalwood had severely affected the livelihood of several traditional artisans.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said he was aware of the problem and steps had been taken to encourage and increase sandalwood cultivation in the State. Restrictions on sandalwood cultivation have been removed and the Forest Department has been instructed to provide free saplings to farmers.

As this would be a long-term measure, the Government would take steps to ensure sandalwood supply from other States, he said.

Irrigation project

The Chief Minister told Manche Gowda, a farmer from Malavalli taluk in Mandya district, that he would instruct Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited to take up a lift irrigation project at Nittur tank for the benefit of the farmers of the region.

Gopal Bhat of Shivapura village, situated near the pilgrim centre of Ulvi in Uttara Kannada district, urged Mr. Yeddyurappa to get a hanging bridge constructed at the village as people have to use boats to cross the backwaters of Kodasahalli dam.

The Chief Minister said the work on the bridge was in progress and it would be completed at the earliest.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that his Government would give equal importance for infrastructure development in both the urban and rural areas. During the 120-minute programme, he shared with the audience his vision for the all-round development of the State.

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