
"Guarantee schemes will continue as long as Congress is in power": Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Vijayanagara (Karnataka) [India], May 20 (ANI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday announced that the Bhu Guarantee scheme is the sixth would be the sixth in the Congress government's flagship series of guarantee initiatives. He stated that the initiative is a gesture of gratitude, aimed at repaying the trust and support of the people who brought the party to power in the state.
'We are giving the Bhu Guarantee scheme as the sixth guarantee to repay our debt to the people of the state who blessed us with power. As per the directions of the AICC President, the guarantee schemes will not be stopped as long as the Congress government is in power,' Shivakumar said at the 'Samarpana Convention', held to mark the Congress-led state government's completion of two years in office.
He clarified that the event was not a celebration of tenure but a reaffirmation of the government's commitment to public service.
'We are not here to celebrate completing two years in office. We are here to repay the debts of the people of Karnataka and rededicate ourselves to the service of the people. You have blessed us with 136 MLAs under the leadership of Mallikarjuna Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. As promised, we delivered the five guarantees. We are now launching the sixth guarantee in the Bhu Guarantee scheme,' he added.
Highlighting the Bhu Guarantee Scheme, Shivakumar noted that the initiative would provide khatas (land ownership documents) to people who had been waiting for over 50 years.
'Our government is giving the khata system to people who did not have it for the last 50 years. I would like to congratulate Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and his team for making this historic scheme possible. I am announcing the seventh guarantee scheme of digitising all the khatas in urban areas. Our government has put the brakes on corruption in the last two years. Indira Gandhi started the steel plant in this district. Sonia Gandhi started RTPS here. The Congress party has won in all the places where our leader, Rahul Gandhi, conducted the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Kalyana Karnataka has given us 6 MPs from the region. We are happy to be giving Rs 5,000 crores to the region for development,' he said.
He also took the opportunity to underscore the government's efforts in reducing corruption, bringing developmental projects.
'Opposition parties are criticising us. Criticisms die, but good work lives on. Our schemes are proof of that. We have plans to fill tanks in the state while we are discussing the Navali dam. We are planning to utilise our share of 24 TMC through lift irrigation. We are committed to protecting your interests.'
Shivakumar also addressed the economic investments in the state, noting that industries have pledged Rs 10 lakh crore in investments during the Congress tenure.
'Industries have come forward to invest Rs 10 lakh crore in our state during our tenure. We have launched the Kalyana Patha scheme to develop roads in rural areas. All other departments are also coming out with new schemes. We follow the philosophy of Basavanna, and we have kept our word accordingly. The Opposition is criticising us as they can't digest our accomplishments. Irrespective of criticism, we will continue to do good work,' he added. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Print
20 minutes ago
- The Print
Delayed again, why the ambitious Gorakhpur nuclear plant project in Haryana is yet to gather speed
Khattar told mediapersons Saturday that the 2,800-MW plant, comprising four 700-MW units, will be rolled out in two phases: 1,400 MW by 2031, and the remaining 1,400 MW by 2032. He attributed the delays to the sandy terrain and technical complexities, adding that nuclear power plants typically require 13 years to complete. This revised timeline marks a significant delay from the original target of 2020-21 and the more recent projection of 2028, highlighting the challenges plaguing this ambitious project. Gurugram: The completion of northern India and Haryana's first nuclear power plant, the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP), has been pushed back again, with Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announcing that the first two of its four 700 megawatt units will now commence operations only in 2031. The announcement came during a visit by Khattar and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to GHAVP, a flagship project of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, in Fatehabad district's Gorakhpur Saturday. 'Today in Fatehabad, Haryana, along with Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri @NayabSainiBJP, I reviewed the progress of North India's first nuclear power plant — the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP),' Khattar posted on X following a meeting with senior NPCIL officials and a tour of the site. 'This ambitious project will not only meet the long-term energy needs of Haryana and North India, but will also strengthen India's commitment to clean and sustainable energy solutions,' he added, underscoring its alignment with India's net-zero emissions target by 2070. The project cost, initially estimated at Rs 23,502 crore in 2014, has now escalated to Rs 42,000 crore. Haryana will receive 50 percent of the generated electricity, with the central government taking the rest. Rs 80 crore is being allocated for development works in nearby villages. Also Read: Haryana govt cracks whip: 80 irrigation officials in soup over quality of concrete used in projects A project mired in challenges GHAVP, envisioned as a cornerstone of India's nuclear energy ambitions, has faced a litany of hurdles since its inception. As of May 2023, ground improvement work was 74 percent complete, with critical components, like end shields and steam generators already on site, according to a state government review that projected operations by June 2028. The latest delay pushes the timeline further, raising questions about the project's execution amidst India's pressing energy needs. Jivendra Kumar Jain, project director, and H.K. Nigotia, Chief Engineer (Civil) of the project, did not respond to ThePrint's phone calls. Parveen Jora, Fatehabad district BJP president, who accompanied Khattar and Saini on the inspection of the project site, told ThePrint Saturday that Khattar discussed in minute details the progress of the project and the challenges they were facing. 'The officers told Khattar that the civil work up to the plinth level is a major task, as it has to be given enough strength. However, the local soil, being sandy, posed challenges before the engineers. The officers also told Khattar that the civil work up to the plinth level is complete now, and the progress of the work will gather speed now,' said Jora. The concept of establishing a nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur village took shape in 1984, when the region fell under the Hisar district. Fatehabad emerged as a distinct district in July 1997, and Gorakhpur was deemed suitable for the project due to its low seismic activity and the feasibility of securing land through compensation. The central government gave its preliminary nod for the 2,800-MW nuclear facility in October 2009, prompting Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to set up a project office in Hisar by April 2010. Acquiring land proved challenging. The government secured 1,313 acres from Gorakhpur and neighbouring Kajalheri villages, but faced strong resistance from local farmers. The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan amplified these protests, drawing support from environmental activists and notable figures, like former Army Chief and Union Minister General (Retd) V. K. Singh—now the Governor of Mizoram—who raised concerns about safety and displacement. The agitation persisted until late 2012, when a compensation package of Rs 46 lakh per acre was offered, resolving the farmers' grievances. NPCIL purchased 186 acres in Badopal village in 2011 for a residential complex to house its staff and Central Industrial Security Force personnel. Local opposition, citing threats to the blackbuck habitat, forced NPCIL to scrap this plan in June 2018. Despite these obstacles, the project moved forward, with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laying the foundation stone on 13 January, 2014. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: In Haryana, cops, lawyers & khaps unite to steer youth away from drugs, gangs & 'donkey routes'


Hans India
31 minutes ago
- Hans India
Karnataka Bike Taxi Drivers Appeal For Regulation Over Complete Service Ban
The Namma Bike Taxi Association has made an urgent appeal to Karnataka's political leadership, requesting immediate intervention to prevent the implementation of a comprehensive prohibition on bike taxi services scheduled to begin on June 16. The organization has specifically reached out to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who serves as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, seeking their support in halting the statewide restriction. The current situation stems from a recent Karnataka High Court ruling that supported an earlier government decision declaring bike taxi operations conducted by platforms such as Rapido, Ola, and Uber Moto as legally impermissible. The court's decision was based on the absence of adequate regulatory frameworks governing these transportation services within the state. According to the association's correspondence with state officials, the prohibition directly impacts more than 100,000 gig economy workers throughout Karnataka, with a significant concentration in Bengaluru. These individuals have become entirely dependent on bike taxi operations as their primary source of income and livelihood sustainability. The association's letter provides a compelling portrait of the affected workforce, describing drivers as a diverse group including students, daily wage workers, support staff, and parents who transitioned to this employment sector when traditional job opportunities became scarce, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic's economic disruption. Many drivers maintain grueling schedules, working seven days per week for 10 to 12 hours daily, navigating challenging weather conditions and heavy traffic to provide essential transportation services while supporting their families' basic needs. The workers emphasize that bike taxi driving represents far more than supplementary income for them—it constitutes their fundamental survival mechanism. Through this work, they manage essential expenses including housing rent, children's educational fees, and medical costs. The association stresses that these services require drivers to operate under difficult conditions, including extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and congested traffic situations, all while maintaining the city's mobility infrastructure. Rather than accepting the complete prohibition, the association has proposed an alternative approach involving the establishment of comprehensive regulatory guidelines. They point to successful implementation models in other Indian states, including Delhi, Telangana, and Rajasthan, which have developed structured frameworks covering licensing requirements, insurance protocols, driver training programs, and safety standards. The organization has also highlighted the broader public impact of the prohibition, noting that bike taxi services facilitate approximately 80 million rides annually throughout the state. These services have become particularly crucial in areas where conventional public transportation options remain limited or inadequate, providing affordable mobility solutions for thousands of daily commuters. The association warns that eliminating bike taxi services will create significant transportation gaps, particularly affecting passengers who rely on these quick and economical ride options. They argue that in many locations where bus services are infrequent or absent, bike taxis serve as the most accessible and affordable transportation alternative available to the general public. In their communication with political leaders, the association has called for meaningful consultation with driver communities and the development of balanced policy approaches that simultaneously address passenger safety concerns while protecting the economic interests of gig workers. They advocate for inclusive policy-making processes that recognize both the legitimate safety requirements and the essential livelihood needs of thousands of workers who have built their economic stability around these transportation services.


NDTV
39 minutes ago
- NDTV
"We Could Have...": Siddaramaiah's Son Criticises Opposition To Caste Survey
Bengaluru: Yathindra Siddaramaiah, the son of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a member of the state legislative council, has strongly criticised the non-implementation of the caste census in the state, accusing dominant communities of stalling what he called efforts to empower backward classes. The Congress central leadership has ordered a new caste survey in Karnataka after the last survey conducted in 2015 during Siddaramaiah's previous term sparked controversy with many sections disputing the findings. The data, formally submitted in April this year, deepened the fault lines between the key Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities and other backward class communities. "If this caste survey had been implemented, it would have strengthened the backwards classes, and we could have given more reservations to them," Siddaramaiah junior said at a private event in Mysuru. "But some castes opposed it strongly. We couldn't fully implement it as they claimed it's been 10 years since the survey and raised other minor issues, and ensured it's not implemented. We are now having to do a fresh one," he added. He also pointed out that despite being influential, communities like Vokkaligas and Lingayats are also part of the backward classes and would have benefitted from increased reservation had the report been implemented. He also highlighted a perceived double standard in how demands for reservation increases are treated, stating that proposals for upper caste reservations face little opposition, whereas similar efforts for backwards classes are met with resistance. His comments add to the growing discourse around caste-based data and reservation reform in Karnataka. Last week, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, announced a fresh survey after instructions from the Congress central leadership. They said the decision was taken to take everyone into confidence and ensure a detailed enumeration that will cover everyone and leave no scope for doubts.