GP polls in April or May: Chief Minister Yaddyurappa

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 03:  Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said his government is committed to conduct elections to Gram Panchayats anytime in April or May.

Talking to reporters at Mangalore Airport on Friday, he said it is the Election Commission that should fix the schedule for the elections, and once the date is announced, the government is ready to carry out the process.
 

 

 

Speaking to media at the Bajpe Air port, he said that Milk price would increased shortly. The neighbouring states have increased the price of milk since few months and we are forced to increase to cope up with the increasing cost of production of Milk in the state. ‘We will take a decision after discussion with the concerned departments and ministerial meeting in a week time.

 

 

Major investors

The Chief Minister, who just arrived from Mumbai after attending a road show for the Global Investors’ Meet, said over 300 major investors have shown their interest to invest in Karnataka in different sectors such as tourism, railways and infrastructure.

“Investors like L&T, Tata, Birla Group, Godrej, Hinduja, Essar and others have responded enthusiastically. They are interested to invest here because of the favourable atmosphere in the State,” he said.

“We had not expected such an overwhelming response from them. We are motivated now. The government feels that the Global Investors’ Meet to be held in July will give a new turn to the development of Karnataka,” he added.

Yeddyurappa said a similar road show would be conducted in Chennai too. “It is important that foreign investors should be invited. But it is equally important that indigenous investors too should be given priority,” he stressed.

Belgaum issue

Answering a query, he said an MLA representing Maharashtra Navnirman Samiti (MNS) had met him in Mumbai regarding the Mayoral elections in Belgaum. “I have told him that they can approach the court anytime if they feel so,” the CM said.

Responding to another question on the unfulfilled demands of the fishermen, Yeddyurappa said the government is fulfiling all the assurances it made to the fishermen community.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mayor Rajani Dugganna, MLAs Yogish Bhat, Padmanabha Kottari, Coastal Development Authority Chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, IGP (Western Range) Gopal B Hosur among others were present on the occasion.

Later, the CM proceeded to Moodabidre to take part in the ‘Savirada Sambhrama’. He also attended the marriage function of the daughter of former minister Gangadhar Gowda in Belthangady.

He stayed in Dharmasthala, and will be proceeding to Dharwad on Saturday morning through a special helicopter.

 

Yaddyurappa promises action on fisheries policy

Talking about action on fisheries policy Yaddyurappa said that this particular promise might not have been fulfilled, but most of the other promises had been fulfilled. “We are interested in fishermen and their development. We will immediately try to implement it,” he said.

The party had in its manifesto promised a comprehensive policy.

Representatives of the fishing community, who have been trying to meet the Chief Minister in this regard for two years, have met with little success. “I even urged the district in-charge Minister J. Krishna Palemar last week to get an appointment with the Chief Minister,” Vasudev Boloor, general secretary of Coastal Karnataka Fishermen’s Action Committee, formed by 60-odd associations of fishermen in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts, said on Friday.

The 2008 manifesto, Sankalpa, stated that a comprehensive fisheries policy would be announced to address issues such as construction of jetties, their maintenance, dredging of harbours, cold storage plants and ice plants, housing for fishermen, loans at 3 per cent interest for the purchase of boats and nets, and encouragement to inland fisheries.

It promised supply of electricity at reduced rates, tax waiver for ice plants, increase in subsidy under Chaitanya scheme for backward classes from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 and more vigorous implementation of the housing scheme Matsyashraya.

Mr. Boloor said that the Government should have announced a policy on fisheries as promised after consulting the fishermen and their organisations. He had stated earlier that the committee had submitted a master plan for the development of 15 fishing harbours in the State and had also demanded a comprehensive plan for stopping sea erosion. They should be considered before announcing a policy, he had said.

Mr. Boloor said on Friday that the most important announcement of the State Government of providing loans at three per cent interest to fishermen had not been implemented yet. It should be done immediately, he said.

Working president of the Karnataka Karavali Sampradayika Nadadoni Meenugarara Okkoota Upendra A. Hosbet had also demanded that the policy should help 80 per cent of traditional fishermen, who catch only 20 per cent of the fish. His contention was that the Government had all along been more concerned about fishermen with mechanised boats, though they constituted only about 20 per cent of the fishing community and landed 80 per cent of the fish.

Courtesy- DHNS-Thehindu