BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said there was pressure from leaders such as Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, former Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh, Anekal MLA B Shivanna, and others to include Anekal in Bengaluru, and that discussions are currently under way in this regard.
Speaking after the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremony for nearly 78 works in the Hennagara Gram Panchayat limits of Anekal taluk on Friday, he also said that Cauvery water connections and Metro lines will be extended to Anekal.
“Discussions are under way to include Anekal in Greater Bengaluru. We will consult all MLAs and take a collective decision. Suresh and Ramalinga Reddy are pressuring us to supply Cauvery water to this area. A tender has been floated to provide 30 MLD of water to Anekal taluk.
A discussion on this will be held with MLA Shivanna. A detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared to extend the Metro rail line to Jigani, Anekal, Sarjapur, and Bannerghatta,” he said. He said the government is committed to the development of this constituency.
Reacting to the Opposition’s criticism that development work has been stalled due to the guarantee schemes, he said, “Our government has presented a budget of Rs 4 lakh crore, and a Bhoomi Puja was recently held in Kalaburagi for a road development project worth Rs 1,100 crore in rural areas.” He also noted that Rs 16 crore has been allocated to Anekal taluk.
He urged the public to support the Congress party candidate D K Suresh. “Some of you may have defeated Suresh earlier, but he has continued working with great commitment for Anekal,” he said.
He congratulated Hennagara Gram Panchayat members for achieving Rs 25 crore in tax collection against a target of Rs 40 crore. He even praised the Panchayat for offering an incentive of Rs 5 per litre, on par with the government, to dairy farmers.
Lashing out at BJP, he said that the rise in prices of essential commodities is the result of the increase in petrol and diesel prices, for which he held the Centre responsible.