Latest news with #Centre
Hans India
38 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Telugu states should use Godavari water together
Vijayawada: Responding to Telangana's objection over the Banakacharla project, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu suggested that both Telugu states should use Godavari waters together, especially the waters that would otherwise flow into the sea. Addressing the media here, he said: 'Both states are already using Godavari water. Apart from Polavaram, other projects haven't received formal approval. As per the AP Reorganisation Act, Polavaram is under construction. So, we are transferring water to another basin from the last reaches of the Godavari stream'. He recalled previous disputes between officials of both states over the Krishna Barrage and how they were resolved through discussions with the Governor. 'It's not beneficial to fight over the limited Krishna waters. Let us continue with existing project-wise allocations until the new tribunal finalizes fresh allocations. I started many projects in united Andhra Pradesh, including Devadula and Kalwakurthy. We fought in the Assembly over Yellampalli. I never objected to Kaleshwaram.' He questioned why there should be disputes over water usage that would otherwise flow into the ocean. 'If legal clarity is required, we can discuss it with the Centre. Creating conflict over such usage is unreasonable. No one benefits from water disputes between the two states - it only misleads the public. There is no need for conflict. Telangana can build the projects and use the water—who's stopping it?', he pointed out. The Chief Minister reiterated that his vision is for both Telugu states to emerge as number one.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Business
- Hans India
Minister slams Centre over denial of permission for US visit
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday criticised the Centre for denying him permission to travel to the US to interact with multinational companies to attract investments to the state. According to sources, Kharge was slated to lead a delegation to Boston for Bio 2025 and San Francisco for Design Automation Conference. However, due to denial of permission, he was forced to cut short his ongoing trip and returned from Paris to Bengaluru on Wednesday night. Kharge vowed to raise the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs and seek its response for denying him permission. 'It seems that somewhere Centre is trying to curtail the fame of Karnataka,' the Minister, who holds Information Technology and Biotechnology portfolio, told reporters here. He acknowledged the union government's authority to decline permission but stressed the need for a justification for the decision. 'Rejecting my official tour is improper,' Kharge added. The minister said he would take it up with the Centre. 'We will not leave it just like that. I am going to write to the MEA seeking a valid explanation on why there was a denial of our delegation and a support from the Government of India,' Kharge said. He also requested the Chief Minister to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kharge also said that he was visiting the US not to discuss politics but to attract investments. 'People in the USA have no time to listen to our politics. We are going there to invite them to invest in Karnataka. The investment that comes to Karnataka will not only benefit the state but also the Centre,' the Minister insisted.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Cabinet to press Centre for relief for mango farmers
Bengaluru: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to exert pressure on the central government to provide relief for the state's mango growers, who are facing severe distress due to a sharp decline in market prices during the current harvest season. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the cabinet discussed the plight of mango growers, especially concerns raised by Ministers from Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru rural and Mumbai-Karnataka region. 'There have been huge losses and the Chief Minister has been advised regarding providing relief. The CM has instructed Agriculture Minister Cheluvarayaswamy to discuss with the Union Minister once again,' he said. The state Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy has been instructed to visit Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in New Delhi if required and 'put pressure on the Centre to get as much higher relief possible'. Asked whether the state government has committed to providing any relief to mango growers, the Minister said, 'No, we are putting pressure on the central government and if our share has to be there in that, it will be considered.' Regarding CM Siddaramaiah's letter to his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu to withdraw the ban on entry of 'Totapuri Mangoes' into his state, he said the issue was raised by Minister K H Muniyappa, but there was no detailed discussion on this. Siddaramaiah had also written to the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivaraj Singh Chouhan last week, seeking an urgent Price Deficiency Payment and Market Intervention Scheme for mango farmers in Karnataka.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Reservation for minorities under housing schemes hiked to 15%
Bengaluru: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to enhance the reservation for minorities under various housing schemes in the state from 10 to 15 per cent. According to the government, this enhanced quota will benefit all minorities including Muslims, Christians, and Jains. The move follows a recent government initiative to introduce a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts, which has come under criticism from opposition BJP. The saffron party has accused the Congress dispensation of 'undermining' the Constitution through religion-based reservations. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar defended the decision, saying its primary objective is to help poorer sections of the society. Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, state Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said, 'Under various housing schemes being implemented by the Housing Department across the state, in both urban and rural areas, it has been decided to enhance the reservation for minorities from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.' 'The decision was taken-- as the central government observing the inadequate housing among them (minorities) has given certain instructions, and the state government too has observed the high number of homeless among minorities in the state,' he said. Responding to a question about scientific basis for the increased reservation, the Minister said there are reports on the total number of homeless among SC/STs, general category, and others. 'On all that count, we have increased the percentage of reservation (for minorities),' he added. Asked if similar enhancements will be extended to all communities, based on population, Patil said it will be given wherever the number of homeless is high. 'There were also certain instructions from the Centre while allocating certain housing schemes to states, certain instructions are being given by the Centre based on the Sachar Committee report, keeping all this and social justice in mind, this decision has been taken,' he said, adding that this move does not require any amendments to rules and law. Noting that there has been a demand for such an enhancement in quota for housing, especially in urban areas, Patil said hence this decision has been taken unanimously by the cabinet. To a query if this decision will lead to a perception that it is aimed at benefiting Muslims, as other minorities are not in big numbers across the state, he said, 'we cannot respond to those building perceptions and those trying to politicise providing houses for the poor. I can only say that the government's intention is to provide social justice and more benefits to the communities where the homeless are high in is only for housing.' The Minister clarified that this reservation is not applicable to specified housing schemes for SC/STs and others. Criticising the decision, Karnataka BJP alleged that the Congress government is always ready to 'dishonour the Constitution'. 'Although the Constitution clearly states that reservations should not be given on the basis of religion, the Congress government in Karnataka is repeatedly violating it. Providing 15 per cent reservation separately for Muslims under the housing schemes is completely unconstitutional. The Congress, which has been reprimanded by the court for giving reservation to Muslims in contracts, will also be reprimanded in this matter,' it said in a post on 'X'. Defending the cabinet decision, Shivakumar told media that many houses built under housing schemes are vacant. As the minority population is more in urban areas compared to other parts, opportunity is being given to them to utilise. 'Urban areas have a higher population of minorities and their quota under various housing schemes was 10 per cent. Many houses were empty and not occupied, some percentage money has to be paid for these houses,' he said. Noting that the central government's funds for some of these schemes are less, he said, 'So, we (state government) have contributed to the remaining part and built these houses. As in many places the buildings (houses) built are not occupied, as the minority population is more in some areas, to give them an opportunity to utilise (the houses), the quota has been enhanced from 10 to 15 per cent,' he said. Rejecting BJP's allegations, the Deputy CM said, 'Let anyone say anything, we want to help poorer sections, when there are no applicants (for houses) what can you do? Can I keep the buildings vacant? We can't do that.'
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Minister Nara Lokesh urges Centre to help build Sports City in Andhra Pradesh
VIJAYAWADA: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh urged Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, and Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya to extend support to Andhra Pradesh in the construction of Sports City of global standards in Capital Amaravati. As part of his two-day visit to New Delhi, Lokesh met Mandaviya on Thursday. Informing that the Amaravati Capital works are going on at a brisk pace, he sought the support of the Sports Ministry in the construction of the Sports City. The Andhra Pradesh government is giving top priority to sports. The main objective behind the construction of the Sports City is to provide world class training facilities to athletes to enable them to compete in the sports events at the national and international level, he said. Lokesh also urged the Centre to hand hold the AP government in the development of sports from the village level. He appealed to the Sports Ministry to set up a Centre of Excellence for athletics, archery and weightlifting at Acharya Nagarjuna University, and the Centre of Excellence for Hockey and Shooting at the Kakinada Sports Authority Grounds. The AP government has submitted 39 projects worth Rs 341.57 crore under the Khelo India scheme for the development of sports infrastructure in the State, he said, urging the Centre to clear the proposals at the earliest. He also sought the setting up of the Sports Authority of India regional centre in Tirupati. The Centre should establish Khelo India centres in all the 26 districts in AP to promote sports in a big way, and cooperate for the development of ESI Hospital in the State. The Centre should issue railway concession passes to encourage sportspersons across the country, he said. Responding positively to the appeals of Lokesh, Mandaviya promised to extend the Centre's full cooperation to make Andhra Pradesh a sports hub, besides expanding the ESI hospital services.
