Funds to be sought for Malaprabha project

Funds to be sought for Malaprabha project

Staff Correspondent - The Hindu

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Meeting on August 12 to discuss water woes of Hubli-Dharwad

A sum of Rs. 160 crore needed for improving drainage system in the twin cities

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DHARWAD: A high-level meeting will be held in Bangalore on August 12 for finding a permanent solution to the drinking water problem in Hubli and Dharwad, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani has said.

Addressing presspersons after chairing a district review meeting here on Wednesday, he said that the meeting would discuss issues regarding finding a permanent solution to the drinking water problem and funds mobilisation.

The State Government had released Rs. 50 crore for the Malaprabha Third Stage Drinking Water Project in the last financial year, and work was under way.

In the budget presented recently, the Government had earmarked Rs. 136 crore for it. But the amount was insufficient for finding a permanent solution to the problem, he said.

Mr. Nirani said that the meeting would discuss the issue, and added that he would urge the Chief Minister to release additional funds for the project.

To a query, he said that Rs. 160 crore was needed for improving the underground drainage system in the twin cities.

He said he would make efforts to get funds for it.

The Minister said that the Government was planning to acquire 500 acres of land for expanding the Belur Industrial Estate near Dharwad. The Government was contemplating on taking back land allotted to those who had failed to set up industries.

Survey for four-lane road project begins

Survey for four-lane road project begins

Staff Correspondent - The Hindu

HUBLI: Minister for Public Works C.M. Udasi has said that survey for the four-lane road between Hubli and Dharwad has begun.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Udasi said that it was the stretch between Hosur Circle in Hubli and Jubilee Circle in Dharwad that would be made four-lane.

The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited allotted the work to L.S. Kadiyali Associates, New Delhi, on July 7. The survey would cost Rs. 16.35 lakh.

The firm had been asked to submit report in four months, Mr. Udasi said.

The Minister said that the survey had begun on Tuesday and engineer A.T. Patil of Kadiyali Associates had conducted first round of discussions with officials of the Public Works Department.

According to the initial assessment, the four-lane road would be around 42 to 44 meters. Two flyovers would have to be constructed at Hosur Circle in Hubli and Court Circle in Dharwad, he said. Mr. Udasi said the State Government had plans to construct peripheral ring roads in five cities, including Hubli, in the State.

With reference to the consultant company, which was entrusted with the task of finalising alignment of the half-ring road, proposing an alignment that passed through two proposed railway stations, Mr. Udasi said he would look into the issue. The proposed half-ring road connects National Highways 218, 63 and 4 and was granted approval by the Union Government in 2005. Accordingly, work on conducting a survey and finalising an alignment were entrusted to SWIN Consultancy Company. But the alignment proposed by the company passed through the land acquired in 2004 and handed over to the Railways for construction of railway stations.

Pralhad Joshi, MP from Dharwad North, has urged the Government to recover the amount paid to the consultancy firm.