Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that in an effort to boost tourism in the Vijayanagar district’s Hampi, the Karnataka government plans to introduce immersive attractions, including 3D projections, multimedia displays, and sound and light shows. Similar enhancements will also be introduced at the historic Bidar fort in Bidar city.
Siddaramaiah made these announcements while addressing an event in Kalaburagi, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Kalyana Karnataka Liberation and a decade of Article 371(J) implementation, which provides special status to the region.
Furthermore, the government has allocated Rs 2 crore for establishing a blackbuck sanctuary in Bidar and will invest Rs 3.5 crore in the creation of Janapada Loka, a showcase of the region’s diverse folk art traditions, in Koppal.
Regarding the drought situation in the state, the Chief Minister stated that 161 taluks have been identified as severely drought-affected, with 34 being moderately affected. Measures have been initiated to address drought-related issues, with a focus on safeguarding drinking water sources and pipelines.
Siddaramaiah also emphasized that the government is actively working on a plan to ensure sufficient drinking water supply and prevent water scarcity. He committed to providing crop relief to farmers and preventing migration due to drought, but the extent of crop loss is yet to be determined as ground-level data collection is ongoing.
Responding to allegations by the BJP that Karnataka had released water to Tamil Nadu at the expense of farmers in south Karnataka, Siddaramaiah clarified that due to insufficient rainfall, the state had released only 37.7 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water, far less than the required 99 TMC from June to September 13. He reiterated that there was no surplus water available for release.
Regarding the suggestion of appointing three deputy chief ministers to the cabinet, Siddaramaiah deferred to the party’s high command, stating that he would abide by their decision.
