Hubballi: Did Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy deliberately ignore Badami where former chief minister Siddaramaiah had won by a whisker in the Assembly elections though the senior Congress leader had written as many as five letters to the government to implement various projects?
The failure of the CM to make any mention of any development project for Badami has caused much resentment among people as well as Congress leaders in the Assembly constituency. Many of them contend that it is an insult to their leader as Siddaramaiah had assured, during the election campaign that he would turn Badami into a model constituency by announcing a special package if he was elected legislator.
Siddaramaiah had written to Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, industries minister K.J. George and tourism minister Sa Ra Mahesh before the budget was presented. He had urged them to establish a cotton textile park and power loom and garment industries in Guledagudd town coming under his constituency. This was expected to enable the dominant weavers to improve their skills apart from preventing their migration to cities in search of jobs as this community has been reeling under various problems.
The Congress leader had also appealed the government to take up filling of water in three major lakes- Hirekere, Ganjikere and Parvatikere. He had urged the government to provide special grants for a 24X7 permanent drinking water project at Guledagudd and for tourism development. But, the letters have failed to secure the attention of the government though Siddaramaiah heads the coalition co-ordination committee.
"We had expected a lot of development works as Siddaramaiah had assured to change the constituency entirely if the Congress party came to power. Badami is known for Chalukyan architecture and for the world heritage site at Pattadakal. The tourist hub needs immediate attention as the constituency is facing infrastructure problems. But, the former CM has been sidelined by the government though he has presented a record 13 Budgets", Bagalkot district Congress general secretary Muttanna Bannur said.
Meanwhile, many local Congress leaders argue that the development projects can also be taken up in Badami without referring to them in the Budget. Sources said that the government has sought a detailed proposal from the irrigation, commerce and industries departments based on Siddaramaiah's letter to take up projects like filling the lakes and setting up of industries. But, the long-pending demand to establish a university exclusively for fine arts at Badami has not been fulfilled.
Bad roads and the drinking water problem is a major cause of concern for tourists. Supply of Almatti dam water to Badami town, construction of a hanging bridge and boating facilities at Agastya Theertha tank, making Badami-Banashankari-Aihole-Pattadakal-Mahakuta one tourist circuit and establishment of Chalukya Development Authority have been major projects which are awaiting a special package.
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