In a significant move, the Karnataka cabinet, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, approved development projects worth ₹3,647.62 crore during a meeting held at Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) in Chamarajanagar district. Among the key announcements, Siddaramaiah also said that steps will be taken to develop the tomb of Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya at Anegundi in Koppal district, highlighting the government’s focus on preserving the state’s rich heritage alongside modern development.
The 78-point agenda covered major sectors like irrigation, health, infrastructure, and tourism, with special attention to the Old Mysuru region and efforts to remove the ‘backward district’ tag from Chamarajanagar.
Siddaramaiah’s home district, Mysuru, received a host of approvals, including land acquisition for the Mysuru airport runway expansion, white-topping of roads, and an international cricket stadium at Yelawala. ₹70 crore was also sanctioned for constructing a polytechnic building.
Refuting opposition claims of a lack of funds, the CM asserted that the government is pushing development in both urban and rural, including tribal, regions.
Of the total package, ₹1,787 crore has been allocated for irrigation, with ₹475 crore for 110 tank-filling projects in areas like Gundlupet, Saligrama, and Kadur. However, the Kabini Stage II project was not discussed, clarified the CM.
The cabinet also approved the formation of Manteswamy, Rachappa, and Siddappaji development authorities and sanctioned ₹40 crore for the development of the historic khadi village of Badanavalu.
The government will set up an art and culture museum at the Old DC office in Mysuru at ₹30 crore and has earmarked ₹300 crore for other tourism initiatives. Additionally, ₹210 crore has been allocated to address rising human-animal conflicts.
Health sector investments include ₹50 crore for an endocrinology department at Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences and ₹228 crore for new hospitals in Kollegal and Hanur. ₹15 crore has also been allocated for the Chamarajanagar stadium.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar confirmed approvals for check dams and canal works across regions like Chamarajanagar, Srirangapatna, and KR Nagar.
Siddaramaiah also stated that the government is considering permanent jobs for families of the 24 patients who died in the 2021 oxygen shortage incident at the Chamarajanagar district hospital.
Regarding a land ownership dispute involving Pramoda Devi Wadiyar in Chamarajanagar, the CM assured that small and marginal farmers tilling the land would not be displaced, affirming, “The tiller is the owner.”