Need funds for B’luru, irrigation projects from Centre, says DK Shivakumar

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar reiterated his stand that Bengaluru deserved robust grants from the Centre in the upcoming Union Budget set to be presented on February 1. The statement came a day after Shivakumar wrote to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman requesting funds for key infrastructure projects in Bengaluru for the urban tunnel to alleviate the traffic congestion, elevated road along with Metro viaduct and 17 major fly-overs. Shivakumar suggested that BJP’s National Democratic Allies (NDA) allies JD(U) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were getting a better deal for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh respectively.

“We have done our duty. Our state is the second place in the country in terms of tax collections. Bengaluru has become a global city and it is important that the Centre allocates funds for our city. I have appealed to the Union Ministers and the Prime Minister to allocate funds for Karnataka too instead of excessive focus on Bihar and Andhra Pradesh,” he said. Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for Large and Medium Scale Irrigation, said that he was hopeful Karnataka would get grants for major projects such as the promised Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra project.

“Let’s wait and see. Karnataka has so many MPs in Delhi. I believe Karnataka will not get a raw deal. Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy had claimed that they would get approval for Mekedatu from the Prime Minister in one day, but we are still waiting. We are also waiting for Pralhad Joshi and Jagadish Shettar to get us environmental clearance for the Kalasa-Banduri project. We are doing our best,” he said.

Meeting with Kharge routine: DKS When pointed out to his meeting with All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge, he quipped: “Can’t I peacefully sit and have coffee in the building that we built for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC)? Do you discuss internal matters of the family in public? The CM has already clarified that there are no differences in the party.”