Shettar inaugurates development projects in Karwar; lashes out at Centre for 'playing politics'

Karwar, December 27: Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar inaugurated a host of development projects in Karwar.

Speaking on the occasion, he came down heavily on the Centre for “playing politics” on the issue of development and accused it of not releasing “a single rupee” to the State for the development of roads.

He said over Rs. 1,000 crore had been spent by the State government every year for the development of roads. “The State government on its own developed nearly 50 km road in every taluk,” he said.

Listing the achievements of the State government in the last four-and-a-half years, he said Karnataka faced worst-ever drought last year, but the Centre played politics in providing relief package. “Despite this, the State government waivered the loan of farmers of up to Rs. 25,000 which resulted in an additional burden on the State's exchequer,” he said.

Mr. Shettar said he would present a farmer- and fishermen-friendly Budget next month. He said the government would allocate funds to develop tourism potential of the Uttara Kannada district.

Recalling the achievement of the NDA government led by the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr. Shettar said that India witnessed an unprecedented development in infrastructure during the Vajpayee regime. He described Narendra Modi as a ray of hope for the country.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Shettar had attended the swearing-in of Mr. Modi in Ahmedabad.

Mr. Shettar said he would soon take a decision on the ban which was in force on sand extraction in Karwar and its transportation to Goa. The problem would be solved soon, he said.

Minister for Fisheries, Science and Technology Anand Asnotikar demanded more money for Karwar and Ankola taluk to carry out development work. He said there was no healthcare facility in the district and the government should sanction a medical college for Karwar. If the government medical college was not possible then the permission should be given to open a private medical college, he said. Mr. Shettar laid the foundation stone to different developmental projects, including the new government engineering college in Karwar, Kadwad – Sunkeri bridge, and a mini Vidhana Soudha in Karwar.

He unveiled the statue of Shivaji and Henja Naik at the Municipal Garden here and inaugurated the new KSRTC bus stand. He distributed the Bhagyalakshmi bonds, computers to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes students and gas stoves to the below poverty line families.

C.M. Udasi, Public Works Minister, H.N. Ananth Kumar, national general secretary of the BJP, and Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, district in-charge Minister, were present.