Dakshina Kannada dist police to be strengthened soon

Mangalore, Dec 7: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today said the State Government would finalise steps within the next 15 days to strengthen the police force in Dakshina Kannada district by providing all required facilities to cope with any situation.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that as the district was developing fast next to Bangalore and Mysore, there was an urgent need to strengthen the police force here. Though the establishment of a Police Commissionerate in Mangalore was vital, the Government would focus on strengthening the police force with more facilities, including filling up of vacant posts. There was no dearth of funds for setting up the commissionerate here.

Mr Yediyurappa said the Government had decided to make a financial provision of Rs 50 crore for the vented dam project in the city. The revised plan was expected in three days from the district administration. As soon as the revised plan was received, the Government, without waiting for the Rs ten crore share from the Mangalore Municipal Corporation, would make provision for the entire project cost to ease the drinking water problem in the city, he added.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who also held the finance portfolio, said the process for the preparation of the next budget would commence from the month-end. He would begin talks with the Finance Ministry, financial experts and the members of the chambers of commerce from January next.

Mr Yediyurappa said that in terms of revenue growth, Karnataka stood first with a record growth of 30.34 per cent from March till November 26 with a collection of Rs 14,883.43 crore compared to Rs 11,422.46 crore during the same period last year. He said 80 per cent of all budgetary programmes have been implemented and orders have been passed to all departments to implement the remaining 20 per cent programme in the balance four months. The fourth review meeting of the implementation of budgetary programmes would be held from December 12 with various ministries.

He said that due to the negligence of the officials, the process of releasing bonds to girl children under the Bhagyalaxmi scheme had been delayed. However, one lakh beneficiaries have been identified for depositing Rs 10,000 each in the child's name. Within an year, the bonds would be distributed to all beneficiaries, he added.

Rejecting the Union Petroleum Minister's appeal to reduce the sales tax on petrol and diesel, Mr Yediyurappa said that as the coalition Government had neither levied any fresh tax nor increased the sales tax on petrol and diesel, there was no question of reducing it.

On the Government's stand on the proposed coal-based thermal power project near Padubidre in Udupi district, he said all the required clearances were given by the previous Government and the present dispensation had made budgetary allocations for it. The project would go ahead as it was the Government decision to set up a plant to meet the power requirements of the state. If there was any opposition by the locals and environmentalists, the Government would convene a meeting of all aggrieved parties and convince them about the need for the plant, he added.

UNI