Sorake threatens to protest against UPCL

UDUPI, May 20, 2015

Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, said on Tuesday that he would launch an agitation against the thermal power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL) at Yellur in Udupi district, if it failed to pay taxes to the Yellur Gram Panchayat and use its funds under Corporate Social Responsibility for the welfare of the surrounding villages.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Sorake said that the salt water discharged by the thermal plant had damaged the fields of farmers in a couple of surrounding villages. UPCL should pay compensation to these farmers, he said.

UPCL, which is now under the Adani Group, wants to expand the capacity of the thermal plant.

For this purpose, it is planning to buy land in neighbouring villages up to Inna and Belman. “But we will fight against such mega expansion plans of the UPCL,” he said.

Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar had called him for a meeting with the officials of UPCL in Bengaluru on May 19. But Mr. Sorake had refused to attend it. He had briefed Mr. Shivakumar on the problems faced by people due to the thermal plant, e said.

On the K. Kasturirangan Panel’s Report on the Conservation of the Western Ghats, Mr. Sorake said that the State government had urged the Centre only to include reserve forests and wildlife areas for conservation and to avoid all human habitations. The State government had already sought the relaxation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. The CRZ norms, in existence in Goa and Kerala, should be extended to the State. This would help in promoting tourism along the coastline, he said.

Mr. Sorake said that ever since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power, the funds sanctioned to his Urban Development Ministry had been drastically reduced. The previous United Progressive Alliance government had provided Rs. 6,400 crore for implementation of various schemes. But the NDA government had provided only Rs. 82 crore.

The NDA government had also changed the ratio of funding for construction of fisheries harbours. Earlier, the Centre used to provide 75 per cent of amount, while the State bore the rest. Now the State government has to bear 60 per cent of expenses on construction of a port, while the Centre pays the remainder, Mr. Sorake said.

‘The plant should pay compensation to farmers’

Udupi: UPCL takover by Adani - Sorake slams Modi

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB) Udupi, May 19: Urban development minister and district incharge Vinay Kumar Sorake on Tuesday May 19 lashed out at the union government, particularly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that Modi's 'right hand' industrialist Gautam Adani's group had come forward to purchase UPCL as part of a 'strategy' to acquire farmers' land. Addressing a press meet here, Sorake said, "Prime Minister Modi’s right hand Adani's group has come forward to purchase UPCL by investing Rs 6,500 crore. The central government is plotting a strategy to acquire land belonging to poor farmers. This is the achievement of one year of Modi-led government." "I have always been against the 1,200-MW UPCL power plant. The authorities should have sorted out all the problems faced by the famers before acquiring their agricultural land in Kaup," he added. "Rs 6,400 crore had been sanctioned by the central government for three projects, but Modi cancelled the sanctioned amount of Rs 3,000 crore and there are no other grants sanctioned by the centre except the MP fund. The centre has released only Rs 82 crore under Swachch Bharat Abhiyan scheme. Modi says his dream is 'Make in India', but he has not even prepared guidelines for achieving this," he said. Condemning MP Shobha Karandlaje's statement that Congress government in the state has been a 'big zero', Sorake said, "If she is concerned about development of her own city, she should have asked sought IIT for her own constituency instead of Raichur district. She has no confidence in her ability to make contributions to society." Sorake, describing the two successful years of the Congress administration, said that the first phase of the most-awaited Varahi irrigation project, totally worth Rs 596 crore, has been started. "Foundation was recently laid for the Rs 141.38-crore advanced research center at Belapu. The state has completed more than 100 promises made to the public," he added. He further added that before commenting, BJP members should look at their own track record when they were in power in the state. He further said, "The state government has sanctioned Rs 123 crore for the development of coastal fishing and other basic infrastructure. The diesel subsidy was increased from Rs 300 to Rs 400 and the banking loan closing term was increased from 12 to 24 months for women. A proposal has been sent to the central government for the construction of Hejamady port. Approximately, 244 sea walls have been constructed and work amounting to Rs 2,730.24 lac of work is in process. Total Rs 168 crore worth of the sea wall project (from Ullal) is under process as per the ADB scheme and the third phase of Malpe port is under way. Udupi district has achieved 99.23 percent of success in revival of 116 lakes at an expense of Rs 413.78 lac." Sorake said he felt happy about Udupi and Dakshina Kannada achieving good results in SSLC and PUC exams, and praised the toppers hailing from the twin districts. Speaking about Ksheera Bhaggya and other government schemes, he said that 2,03,734 students were provided milk three days in a week and 21,621 bicycles were distributed to the students. Construction of Mini Vidhana Soudha "A Mini Vidhana Soudha building is to be established and an amount of Rs 5 crore has been released. A 25 acre site has been identified at Uppoor for a new police training school and 10 acre of land has been reserved for the establishment of a University center," he informed. "Nearly 32,638 Anthyodaya cards and 1,2,373 BPL cards have been distributed till now. In this term 1,471 people received old age pension, 6,981 widow pension and 2,016 received disability pension. A total Rs 85 crore grant was sanctioned to the City Municipal Council, Udupi," said Sorake. Regarding the upcoming gram panchayat elections, he said, "The preparation for gram panchayat elections is going well and we have been conducting meeting in every block office to strengthen the party's unity."

Land to UPCL ruled out till problems are solved

Udupi, May 19, 2015, DHNS:

UPCL Company, presently owned by Adani group, is up to acquire thousands of agricultural land for the extension of the company. But, the government will not allow the company to do so, until the problems caused to the local people, farmers and fishermen, by the company are solved, Udupi district in-charge Minister and Minister for Urban Development Vinaykumar Sorake said.

Briefing reporters, in Udupi, on Tuesday, he criticised that the greatest achievement of the Centre was the purchasing of UPCL company by Adani, who is considered to be the right hand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for Rs 6,500 crore.

Responding to the remarks made by MP Shobha Karandlaje that the State government’s achievement is zero, Sorake alleged that the BJP MPs were lobbying to get the IIT sanctioned for Raichur. If Shobha is concerned about the State, let her make efforts to bring IIT to Udupi.

During the regime of UPA government, 75 per cent grants were provided for the development of ports. But, after the NDA government took over, the grant has been brought down to 60 per cent.

Also, the Central government has cut as many as Rs 3,000 crore grants to be sanctioned for the department of urban development.  Altogether, the State government has been bequeathed a shortage of Rs 16,000 crore, by the Central government, he said.

Vinaykumar Sorake said in a period of two years of administration by the Congress government in the State, Udupi district is witnessing an overall development. Rs 1,002 crore has been utilised towards the development works so far, he said.

Water is being supplied to farmers’ lands after 60 per cent of completion of Varahi irrigation project. Twelve crore has been released for Brahmavar sugar factory and the amount has been utilised towards the payment of arrears of labourers and liabilities with cooperative societies. Every legislative assembly has been provided with Rs 18 crore under Namma Grama Namma Rasthe scheme.

As many as 32,000 Antyodaya and 1.27 lakh BPL cards have been provided to beneficiaries. Rs 312 crore has been provided for drinking water and UGD works under ADB scheme.

Special attention has been given to the development of fisheries roads. The quantity of subsidy diesel has been raised to 400 litres from 300 litres. Also, the installments towards the repayment of loans by fisherwomen have been risen to 24 from 12.

He said the foundation has been laid for Science Research Centre in Belapu and the Chief Minister has assured of sanctioning a Post Graduate Research Centre.

MLA Pramod Madhwaraj said that a medical college is expected to be sanctioned for Udupi in the next budget. A College and a police training centre will also be built near Uppur. Congress General Secretary Narasimhamurthy was present among others.

Siddaramaiah Inaugurates Varahi Irrigation Project

THE HINDU -05th MAY 2015

KUNDAPUR:The promise of providing water to agricultural land was  partially fulfilled in Kundapur after 35 years with the official launch of Water Irrigation Project from Varahi river.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah formally inaugurated the project at Hole Shankaranarayana on Monday.

The work on the left bank canal (LBC), which is laid up to 30 kilometres, has been completed till Bidkalkatte, and the work on the right bank canal (RBC) was completed for 18.72 km from the diversion weir, which is constructed across Varahi River at Horiyabbe near Siddapur.

Also, a 1,645-metre-long tunnel, an 806-metre-long aqueduct and other works at RBC are completed and this would irrigate about 312.64 hectares of agricultural land, the CM said.

Later, during a programme held at Government High School Ground in Siddapur, Siddaramaiah claimed that 60 per cent of the work on the project was completed after the Congress came to power in the state.

He said Varahi Irrigation Project has a vision to irrigate the agricultural land in the region, however the project was stalled for about three decades.

The Chief Minister said the project is aimed at irrigating 40,000 acres of agricultural land, while in the first phase, it will irrigate  6,000 acres. 

After the remaining works on the distribution channels are completed, the entire 40,000 acres of agricultural land will be irrigated within two years, he added.

Siddaramaiah said the state government will set aside Rs 50,000 crore for taking up or completing various irrigation projects across the state in five years.

Water Resources Minister M B Patil, Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes, District Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake and others were present.

Budget Increased by 60 Times

The initial budget of Varahi project was Rs 9.43 crore and the project cost increased to Rs 600.33 crore in 35 years.  The project was approved by the state government in 1979 as a power generation project, but following fears of submerging 1,019 acres of forest land, it was changed to a lift irrigation project in 2001. 

As the lift irrigation project would affect only 129.60 hectares of forest land, the project was found feasible.

The irrigation project, on completion, is designed to irrigate 40,000 acres in Kundapura and Udupi taluks. The project aims at supplying water to farming land in 180 villages.

Government upgrades 56 village panchayats

THE HINDU BENGALURU, May 3, 2015

The State government has upgraded 56 big village panchayats in various districts.

While 42 of them have been upgraded as Town Panchayats (TPs), 13 have been re-designated as Town Municipal Councils (TMCs) and one has been declared as City Municipal Council (CMC).

Announcing this at a press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday, Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said the village panchayats having a population of more than 15,000 had been declared as TPs while those with a population exceeding 20,000 and 50,000 had been upgraded into TMCs and CMC respectively. The upgraded panchayats would be removed from the list of other rural local bodies going to polls shortly as they have been converted into urban local bodies, Mr. Sorake said.

The upgrading would help the erstwhile village panchayats to get more funds for planned infrastructure development, including drains, and drinking water facility, the Minister said. Presently, the State has 11 city corporations, 41 CMCs, 94 TMCs and 68 taluk panchayats.

Mr. Sorake said Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala had given clearance for the government to go ahead with the process of regularisation of unauthorised constructions on government lands in urban areas (other than Bengaluru).

The Revenue Department was in the process of evolving rules for this legislation which would soon be implemented.

He also made it clear that the government would only collect the applications seeking regularisation of unauthorised constructions in Bengaluru city under the Akrama Sakrama scheme. But it would not process the applications as the matter was before the court.

64 gram panchayats to be upgraded into taluk panchayats

Udupi, Apr 25, 2015, DHNS:

Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said as many as 64 gram panchayats in State would be upgraded into town panchayat.

Speaking after inaugurating various development projects under Suvarna Gramodyaya Yojane here at Hebri, he said the announcement pertaining to upgradation of gram panchayats into town panchayaths would be made prior to gram panchayat polls. 

He said the Congress government in State has ensured fulfillment of 95 assurances out of 165 assurances, the party made during the poll, which was mentioned in the poll manifesto. He said the farmers and the members of SHGs are receiving loans at concessional rates. The programmes like Revenue Adalath, Pension Adalath, Annabhagya, Akrama-Sakrama are all aiding the idea of poverty alleviation.

Calling upon the people in Hebri and surrounding areas not to panic against the implementation of Tiger Reserve project, he said the project would be opposed. The central government has already approved the implementation of the project in this region, however the project would be opposed strongly. 

He said all measures are taken to eliminate the wrong impression created among mass against the recommendations made in the Kasturirangan report. He said the opinion from villagers in the affected areas is compiled and is sent to the central government. 

He said an appeal is made to the central government over considering the reserve forest area and wildlife reserve forest area to implement the recommendations made in the report, he added. He said the multi village drinking water scheme in Hebri would be completed immediately. He said as many as 100 houses would be built in Chara village, he added.

60% work on Varahi project completed

THE HINDU - April 13, 2015

Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has said that nearly 60 per cent of the work on the Varahi Irrigation Project in Udupi district had been completed.

He was speaking after inaugurating various development works initiated by the Amasebail Charitable Trust along with the Amasebail Gram Panchayat, Karnataka Bank Ltd., Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project here recently.

Mr. Sorake said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would inaugurate the first phase of the Varahi Irrigation Project, which was expected to provide irrigation to about 3,000 hectares of land, on April 20. The Varahi project, for which foundation stone had been laid 35 years ago, progressed at a snail’s pace, but the work has picked up speed in the last two years.

He visited 16 gram panchayats in the district a few weeks ago, to gather the opinions of the people about the K. Kasturirangan Panel’s Report on Conservation of Western Ghats. The State government in its report to the Centre recommended that habitations of people on the borders of the Ghats should not be disturbed. The existing forest area could be conserved, he said.

Mr. Sorake said that gram panchayats had little funds. They were now restricting their activities only to holding gram sabhas for selection of beneficiaries. They should focus on development activities, he said.

Presiding over the function, N. Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta, said that when he was the Lokayukta of the State, he had submitted reports on illegal mining and illegal sand mining. But the State had not taken any action on them. The government should either accept or reject the reports instead of keeping them in a limbo, he said. There were two times more the number of below the poverty line (BPL) cards in the State than the number of BPL persons, he said.

Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC, said the State government should fully implement the Ramesh Kumar Committee Report that had suggested amendments to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act. This would go a long way in strengthening the gram panchayats. Fighting corruption was a tough job no matter which party was in power, he said.