North Karnataka needs industrial development, says Dharam Singh

North Karnataka needs industrial development, says Dharam Singh
The Hindu

TRIBUTE TO FOUNDER: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh with Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, the Ministers S.R. Morey, R.V. Deshpande and H.K. Patil, and KCCI president Shankaranna Munavalli after unveiling the bust of KCCI founder Murugaiah Swami Jun gin in Hubli on Monday.

HUBLI: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh on Monday said that although north Karnataka has made progress with respect to education, much needs to be done to promote industrial growth.

Inaugurating the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here, he stated effective measures are being taken for the development of north Karnataka based on the recommendations of the D.M. Nanjundappa committee.

The Chief Minister said the State Government will focus as much on the development of the regions in north Karnataka as on Bangalore.

Referring to the circuit Bench of the Karnataka High Court, for which the foundation stone was laid at the WALMI complex near Dharwad recently, Mr. Singh said the State Government is planning to make the Bench functional by November 1.

He also referred to the various initiatives being taken by the State Government for the development of north Karnataka. He said the Forest Department has been directed to take immediate steps to obtain clearance for the Hubli-Ankola railway line. The Rs. 176-crore project for the improvement of drinking water supply in Hubli-Dharwad will be cleared very soon.

Earlier the Chief Minister unveiled the bust of KCCI founder Murugaiah Swami Jungin at the office of the chamber.

Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash called Jungin a great visionary. He released a souvenir brought out to mark the occasion.

Welcoming the gathering, KCCI president Shankaranna Munavalli traced the history of the organisation and listed its social activities. A memorandum calling for the development of north Karnataka and various other issues to be addressed by the Government was submitted to the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Noted entrepreneurs Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Vijay Sankeshwar and R.N. Shetty were felicitated by the Chief Minister.

Mayor Hanumantappa Betageri; the Ministers R.V. Deshpande, S.R. Morey, H.K. Patil, Basavaraj Horatti and Jabbar Khan Honnalli; Pralhad Joshi, MP; the former Minister A.M. Hindasgeri; Vinay Kulkarni, MLA; Viranna Mattikatti, MLC; and industrialist Baba Kalyani were present.