BJP demands White Paper on status of implementation of promises for development of North Karnataka

Asking the Congress government not to shed crocodile tears over the problems of North Karnataka, the BJP has demanded a White Paper on assurances by the government for the development of the region in the last two legislature sessions in Belagavi and the status regarding their implementation, including details on financial allocation.

Participating in a debate in the Assembly on issues related to the development of North Karnataka, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok recalled that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had made a slew of promises in the last two legislature sessions in Belagavi. “He should now tell people of North Karnataka how many promises have been fulfilled through a White Paper,” he said.

Review meetings

Though the Chief Minister had directed Ministers concerned to hold fortnightly reviews of implementation of the promises and projects announced for North Karnataka, most of them had not even held a single review meeting, he alleged, and demanded that they be sacked from the Cabinet.

Describing the State government’s commitment to increasing the Almatti reservoir’s height from 519.6 to 524.26 metres by acquiring 73,603 acres, as crucial to the development of North Karnataka, Mr. Ashok said the government had run out of funds to take up this project. The Finance Department had reportedly proposed to raise funds by either stopping the guarantee schemes or effecting a 20% cut in the budgets of all departments, he claimed.

Education status

“In 2024-25, in Kalyana Karnataka, 53 degree colleges and five Morarji Desai residential schools have reported zero results. The Chief Minister said he would fill up 21,000 teacher posts, but that hasn’t happened. In this region, 50,244 children are malnourished. While the per capita income in Bengaluru is ₹7 lakh, in Kalaburagi it is ₹1.43 lakh,” he said, and wondered where the funds allocated for the region went.

He said that several areas in North Karnataka were reeling under floods when southern Karnataka was celebrating Dasara. Instead of trying to understand the seriousness by travelling by road, the Chief Minister had taken up an aerial survey of the affected areas then, he said.

Distress sales

Later in the day, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra spoke about the distress of farmers and the government’s indifference. He said that though a MSP of ₹2,400 per quintal has been fixed, farmers were selling their produce at ₹1,600 to ₹1,700 per quintal.

Expelled BJP member Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal took objection to the Chair permitting only members from South Karnataka to speak on North Karnataka issues.