K'taka to seek more funds for rural development: Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, Aug 3 (UNI) The Karnataka government will seek additional funds from the Centre for taking up more rural development works, including Suvarna Grama Yojana' when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reviews the agricultural status of the state at a meeting, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said today.

Talking to newspersons at the airport here, he said the Centre had announced a special package of Rs 2689.64 crore for six districts in the state, where a large number of farmers committed suicide during the last five years.

The Chief Minsiter said major component of the Centre's special assistance package was related to various irrigation projects, which cannot be implemented immediately unless the inter-state river disputes were settled.

However, the state would submit a memorandum seeking more funds to take up rural development works, including 'Suvarna Grama Yojana' and other projects to create infrastructure at the village-levels.

''During the review meeting the state government would also appeal to Dr Singh to take initiative on the proposed ambitious Rs 25,000-crore ONGC project at Mangalore in Dakshina Kannada district.'' On the demand of people of the five districts in Hyderabad-Karnataka area, the most backward region of the state on according special status for development by bringing amendment to Article 371 of the constitution, Mr Kumaraswamy said 'the issue is unlikely to be raised during the review meeting.'' UNI