Govind Rao panel to assess development in Kalyana Karnataka region next month
Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) Chairman Ajay Singh addressing presspersons here on Tuesday said that the Govind Rao committee will visit the region on August 7 and 8 to ascertain the number of taluks that are still backward, more backward and most backward and also to examine various aspects of development, using a range of indicators to assess progress and identify areas needing improvement.
Reiterating that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has approved a ₹5,000-crore action plan for 2025-26 submitted by the KKRDB, Dr. Singh expressed happiness over the early approval for the action plan this year.
Earlier, the 2023-24 action plan was cleared in December 2023. Despite a delayed approval, the board has spent ₹2,009 crore in 2023-24. Similarly for 2024-25, the approval came in August and by the end of March 2025, the board has spent ₹3,158 crore, he said.
In total, the KKRDB has taken up development works worth ₹5,167 crore over the last two years, he added.
New programmes
Giving details about the various new programmes to be taken up by KKRDB during 2025-26, Dr. Singh said that an industry hub will be established to promote small-scale industries in Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts with an investment of ₹200 crore from the board and the Small-Scale Industries Department.
A sum of ₹100 crore will be allocated for increasing green cover under Aranya Avishkara programme in collaboration with the Forest Department.
Under Akshara Avishkara programme, 50 Karnataka Public Schools are being established by the board in the region, besides the 100 KPS schools being built by the State government in the seven districts of the region. The board will also allocate adequate funds for setting up dialysis centers in each district of the region, he said.
Replying to a query, Dr. Singh said that the KKRDB has reserved ₹1,500 crore under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Scheduled Tribes Sub-Plan (SCSP/ TSP).
The board will also introduce Jala Bhagya scheme in collaboration with the Minor Irrigation Department to help the farming community. Both the KKRDB and the Minor Irrigation Department will spend ₹100 crore each this year. A sum of ₹400 crore will be spent in 40 taluks of the seven districts in the next two years, Dr. Singh said and added that the board will construct warehouses in all the 40 constituencies of the region at a cost of ₹1.5 crore each.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Show proof of 'vote chori': Rajnath Singh to Rahul Gandhi
PATNA/NEW DELHI: Defence minister on Saturday slammed Congress neta for claiming to have an "atom bomb of evidence of vote theft" against , and dared him to detonate the explosive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At an event organised by a media house in Patna, Singh also likened the upcoming state polls to a crossroad, with one path (under ) leading to further progress and another (under the INDIA bloc) taking Bihar back to its old era of lawlessness and caste strife. "Rahul Gandhi says he is in possession of an atom bomb. If it is so, he should detonate it at once. He should just ensure that he is himself out of harm's way," Singh said. Gandhi had Friday said that his party has an "atom bomb" of evidence to prove "vote chori" by EC for BJP, remarks that evoked a sharp response from the poll panel. The commission termed Gandhi's remarks as "baseless and wild allegations". Singh also said the nation remembers his past rhetoric. "Rahul had threatened Parliament of an earthquake, but when he spoke, it turned out to be a damp squib." Singh said EC is an institution that enjoys a reputation for unquestionable integrity. "It is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the upcoming assembly polls in the state are held in a free and fair manner. It does not behove the leader of the opposition to make frivolous statements about a constitutional body," the BJP MP from Lucknow said. The defence minister reminded the LoP that his own party has blood on its hands, having tried to murder democracy in 1975 with the imposition of the Emergency. The defence minister also criticised the Congress-led opposition for raising questions about Operation Sindoor instead of paying tributes to the valour displayed by the Indian armed forces. The former BJP president alleged that the Congress had been soft on insurgency while in office, and tried to frame innocent people by spinning the theory of saffron terror because of vote bank considerations.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Like a slap on face: For drivers of BluSmart, a tough afterlife
Gurgaon/New Delhi: They were the faces behind the green revolution in India's ride-hailing sector — the drivers who steered BluSmart's fleet of electric cabs to success in Gurgaon, Delhi and Bengaluru. With their crisp uniforms and courteous demeanour, they helped build a loyal customer base that valued punctuality and reliability. Founded in 2019, this all-EV fleet was soon challenging Uber and Ola. But their world came crashing down this April when BluSmart abruptly stopped operations, leaving nearly 10,000 drivers stranded at the crossroads of uncertainty. So sudden was BluSmart's demise that many drivers were still in the middle of rides when the company stopped taking bookings. For many like Amarjeet Singh, the shutdown was nothing short of devastation. Having recently brought his wife and mother to Delhi and invested in a new motorcycle with a bank loan, the BluSmart driver's dreams of a stable family life were shattered overnight. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon "It felt like a tight slap on my face, as if someone was mocking me. I was so stressed. I got married earlier this year and thought I would finally be able to live a happy life with my wife. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo But…," says Singh, who has since found work as a personal driver. Affected by financial turmoil of Gensol, a company it shared founders with and from which it leased EVs, BluSmart recently went into insolvency, dimming hopes that it could bounce back in the near future. BluSmart had positioned itself as a driver-friendly alternative to conventional ride-hailing services. Unlike Ola and Uber, drivers here didn't need to own or rent vehicles. The company provided electric cars, promised weekly payouts, medical insurance up to Rs 1 lakh, and flexible schedules. Most drivers earned between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 a month. The aftermath of the shutdown was brutal for drivers. Mukesh Kumar, who now works as a family driver in Delhi, says, "I made nearly Rs 30,000-35,000 a month, and it was all mine. No EMIs, no CNG costs." He misses the fixed schedules and incentive-based payments of BluSmart. For Kamil Hussain, the transition has been harsh. Now driving a rented car for other ride-hailing services, he has to get used to the cutthroat competition of earning a commission and the trying hours one needs to put in for it. "I pay Rs 1,100 daily as rent for the cab. On my best days, I earn Rs 3,000. But there's rent and fuel. So imagine where my earning has gone. I am not alone. There are so many drivers like me." Deepak Kumar was one of those who had read early signs of trouble at BluSmart. He secured a new job just before the shutdown. "By March, cars had maintenance issues, and roadside assistance had become unreliable. For instance, when we'd go to the BluSmart hub, cars would have punctures or faults, taking hours to fix. Once, my car broke down on the highway. It took four hours to get help from the company," he says. These signs were enough for Kumar to make up his mind. "People were already talking about it. I sensed it was time to move on." In Bengaluru, Mohammad Illyas has been idle since losing his job. "Sometimes, I do odd jobs for private travel, mostly out of station. Otherwise, I don't have a regular job. It's getting difficult to manage expenses in a city like Bengaluru," he says. Drivers recalled being asked to abandon their vehicles in the middle of their shift and make their own way home the day the company stopped taking bookings and a brief communication was sent to them. A six-year relationship was snapped in seconds. "I was in Gurgaon when I got a call saying there would be no more rides from tomorrow. We were told to leave the cab wherever we were and return home. People were in far-off locations. They had to make arrangements to get back on their own," a driver who requested not to be named told TOI. Adding to their woes, many claim their dues remain unpaid, with no company representative available to address their concerns. "The company's registered office in Gurgaon shut down. Phone numbers are no longer in use," says the driver quoted above. Today, BluSmart's website still displays smiling photos of drivers and the tagline, "Drive with BluSmart and be the driver of real change!" But for thousands of drivers like Singh or Illyas, the reality is starkly different. "It distinguished us from the rest. Now, we're back to being like everyone else," says Illyas. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Delhi Police Ban Sub-Conventional Aerial Platforms Ahead Of Independence Day
New Delhi: Delhi Police Commissioner SBK Singh on Saturday ordered a ban on sub-conventional aerial platforms across the national capital from August 2 to August 16 in view of security preparations related to the upcoming Independence Day. According to the order, flying aerial devices such as paragliders, para-motors, hang-gliders, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), UASs (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), microlight aircraft, hot air balloons, small-sized powered aircraft, quadcopters, and remotely piloted aircraft has been banned under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The order said that such aerial platforms may pose a threat to public safety, VIPs, and critical installations in Delhi during the sensitive period around August 15. This is Singh's first order as the new Delhi Police Commissioner. The ban is aimed at preventing their possible misuse by anti-social and terrorist elements, including for para-jumping or launching airborne attacks. The prohibition will remain in force for 15 days, starting from August 2 and ending on August 16, unless withdrawn earlier, the order said. Security agencies are already on high alert across the capital as preparations for the 78th Independence Day event at the Red Fort are underway.
