The police firing on the agitating farmers protesting against the shortage of fertilisers gave some sleepless nights to the newly-formed BJP government in the state. The June 10 incident claimed two lives and left 82 injured, including Deputy Commissioner P S Vastrad and other police officers.
The state government has sanctioned more than Rs 100 crore for the over all development and welfare programme earlier in the district. Rs 17.50 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of Government Engineering College in Haveri, Rs 20 crore for the upgradation and renovation of District Hospital, Rs 7.50 crore for philosopher and poet Kanaka Das’s native place Bada and work place at Kaginelle under Kaginelle Development Authority and Rs 2 crore for philosopher and saint Shishuvinal Shariff ’s village, Shishuvinal in Shiggon taluk.
A government ANM Training Centre was established in Haveri. One Bala Bhavan and one toy train in the town, three trauma centres and 74 high school class rooms with Rs 370 lakh were constructed in the district, besides several w e l f a r e schemes.
For t h e first time, the BJP came to power in both Haveri and Ranebennur CMCs along with Savanur, Hangal and Byadgi TMCs.
In the Assembly polls held in May, out of six seats, BJP won five and Congress managed to bag one only. Kanaka Sanskriti Utsav was held first time at Kanaka Das’s birth place at Bada village in Shiggonandhis work place at Kaginelle village in Byadgi taluk on November 15.
A grand and colourful three-day Haveri Utsav was celebrated from December 5 to 7 in Haveri town.
Several national and state-level artists, musicians and janapada singers took part in it. Hukkerimutt Senior pontiff Shivalinga Swamiji, who was popularly known as ‘walking God of North Karnataka’ passed away on December 13. A home guard, M C Melahalli of Shiggon, lost his life and KSRTC driver Govindappa received injuries when a bear attacked them while they were on duty for Madhugiri byelection on December 26