Kodagu inseparable part of Karnataka: CM

Madikeri, Karnataka, Aug 19 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said Kodagu was an inseparable part of Karnataka and the ruling JD(S) and BJP coalition government will fulfill their demands but not a separate state.

Speaking to newspersons, after launching various developmental projects taken up at a cost of Rs 231 crore in Kodagu, he said, ''the present coalition government has responded to the pulse of Kodagu people. We have withdrawn the controversial 'Jamma Bane' circulars issued by the revenue department. Shortly we will withdraw the controversial forest department circular also to safeguard the interest of Kodagu people.'' Mr Kumaraswamy assured that he would visit Kodagu again during September and stay in villages.

Referring to the elephant menace, he said a meeting of all the Western Ghat region representatives would be convened and the problem sorted out. The Sainik School project was already started at Kudige at the sanctioned amount of Rs 6.5 crore, he added.

Minister for PWD and Power H D Revanna said that Kodagu-Sampaje Highway would be developed soon. The construction works at an estimated cost of Rs 104 crore would be taken up at the earliest, besides releasing Rs 85 crore for Virajpet-Makutta-Siddapur and Konanur road improvement.

However, Rs 54 crore was sanctioned for Kodagu Rural Electrification work and the line would be upgraded from 33 kv to 66 kv between Kushalnagar and Madikeri, he added.

UNI