BJP Misleading People with False Allegations over Indira Canteens – U T Khader

BJP Misleading People with False Allegations over Indira Canteens – U T Khader

Udupi: “BJP MLA Ramdas made false allegations against the Indira Canteen Scheme. He has alleged of Rs 150-crore scam during the implementation of the Indira Canteen project. Of the total amount, Rs 50 crores were paid as a kickback to a national party. There is no truth in his allegations, the BJP is intentionally misleading the people of Karnataka”, said the State Urban Development and Housing Minister U T Khader in a pressmeet held in Inspection Bungalow Udupi here on July 14.

Addressing the mediapersons U T Khader said,d “A total of 4 Indira canteens have been sanctioned for Udupi district. Out of the four two canteens have already opened and the remaining two will open soon. The previous Congress government had allotted Rs 211 crores for the construction of Indira canteens across the state. The government has already spent Rs 110 crores for the canteens. Due to the Assembly elections, the construction work was delayed, the work of the remaining canteens will start soon”, he said.

The Urban Development Ministry has allocated Rs 118 crore for underground drainage and water supply in Udupi city under the Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environment Management Project (KUDCEMP). The work is approved and the tender process will begin soon.

Rs 50-crore underground drainage project for Kundapur town Municipality has also been sanctioned but there is objection from the locals. The district administration will convince the locals and start the work.

500 houses for the poor have been sanctioned for four slum areas in Udupi city, including Kodankur Balram Nagar, Kodavoor Palekatte, and Indira Nagar. These houses will be constructed for the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana. The project will be financed by the Union and the state government, he said,

Speaking about the state budget Khader said, “Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy presented a good budget by continuing all the schemes announced by the previous government. It is a good budget. Whatever the previous government led by Siddaramaiah had promised in the last budget will continue”.

On the criticism that Coastal districts have been ignored by the government in the recent Budget, Khader said, “The Congress government had earmarked a sizable amount for the development of the coastal districts in the previous budget and this budget was the continuation of it. Development of tourist spots, the introduction of the boathouse, floating restaurant, construction of high-security jail and construction of a bridge cum barrage across the river Netravati at a cost of Rs 174 crore were announced in the previous budget. The budget presented by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has all the schemes that former chief minister Siddaramaiah mentioned in his budget. Similarly, all schemes announced for the scheduled caste, scheduled tribes, backward and minority classes in the previous budget will continue,” Khader said.

“The BJP MLA’s are showing concern about fishermen and saying that our government has neglected their community in the Budget. During Siddaramaiah’s government it was promised that the loan provided by fishermen cooperative societies to fishermen would be made interest-free which will continue. If the BJP MLA’s have real concern for fishermen then why did the Union government stop the supply of Kerosine for fishing boats in Karnataka?”, he questioned.

AICC member Amrith Shenoy, District Congress president Janardhan Tonse, vice president Prakyath Shetty and others were present.