Karnataka - Bellary   

We have not encroached upon any Government land, says Sriramulu

BELLARY: B. Sriramulu, Minister for Health, while making it clear that Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by Janardhan Reddy, Minister for Tourism, had not encroached upon the land belonging to the State for mining, favoured a joint survey to be held in the matter.

“If it is proved that we have encroached [upon the Government land], we are ready to give up the entire mining area leased to us,” Mr. Sriramulu, who is also one of the directors of the company, said in a brief chat with presspersons in Banapur village in Bellary taluk on Monday.

Mr. Sriramulu said that the Lokayukta report on illegal mining had not mentioned anything about encroachment by the company, but the name of Congress leader, former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh, had figured in the report.

He said that the company was thinking of filing a defamation case against a Kannada daily for publishing a news report against the company.

About the opposition of farmers over acquiring agriculture land for construction of a new airport, he said that all efforts would be made by him and Mr. Janardhan Reddy to convince the farmers of the need for land for the airport and get their consent in the matter.

Earlier, Mr. Sriramulu set in motion various development works, including construction of roads in various villages in Bellary Assembly constituency represented by him, at an estimated cost of around Rs. 11 crore.

He said that instructions had been given to officials to ensure quality of work failing which action would be initiated against them and the contractors.

He also said that funds had been released to complete all pending works of Health Department, including hospitals in rural areas.

Mr. Sriramulu said that the process of recruiting doctors had been completed and soon, all vacant posts in public health centres and other government hospitals would be filled.

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We have not encroached upon any Government land, says Sriramulu

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