Take up Mulawad lift irrigation project, K'taka Govt told

Hubli, July 14 (UNI) Veteran journalist and Karnataka Development Forum chief Patil Puttappa today urged the State Government to take up Mulawad lift irrigation project of Krishna basin immediately to help irrigate nine lakh acres of land in Bijapur district.

Addressing a press conference here, he wanted the Members of Parliament and Legislators to take up the matter and pressurise the Government. Any further delay would encourage Andhra Pradesh to seek more water from river Krishna, he said.

Accusing the successive Governments of neglecting the Northern Karnataka region, Mr Puttappa said there was not only a need for medical colleges, but also for setting up hi-tech hospitals in the region. He wanted the Government to upgrade the Karnataka Institute of Mental Health at Dharwad.

He urged the Government to appoint Vice-Chancellors to universities in the Northern Karnataka region from the region only.

Reiterating the Forum's demand that two more railway divisions - Gulbarga and Mangalore - be formed in the South Western Railway zone, he said class three and four jobs in SWR should be reserved for Kannadigas. He stressed the need for upgrading Gadag, Arsikere and Belgaum railway stations.

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