Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Kalaburagi district in-charge Priyank Kharge has reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to ensuring the comprehensive development of Kalaburagi stating that a detailed blueprint has been prepared to address both present and future urban needs.
Speaking after laying foundation stone for various development works under the Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority (KUDA) here on Monday, the Minister said that the initiatives will be implemented in a structured and time-bound manner to benefit citizens across generations.
The projects include development of parks in 17 wards at a cost of ₹3.16 crore, improvement of four major city circles at ₹5 crore, renovation of 18 burial grounds at ₹3.58 crore and infrastructure upgrades to the KUDA office at ₹25 lakh. In total, 40 development works have been taken up.
Mr. Kharge added that several citizen-centric and tourism-related projects, including the development of Appa Lake and Kalaburagi Fort, will be taken up in the coming days, aiming to transform the city into a model urban centre.
He reiterated that the Congress-led State government is committed to building a new Kalaburagi city through sustained infrastructure development and planned urban growth. He also criticised the Central government for financial discrimination against the State stating that Karnataka has not received adequate funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission forcing the State government to utilise its own resources for continued implementation of the scheme.
Mr. Kharge also raised concern over rising prices of essential commodities, including LPG, stating that common citizens are struggling with cost of living. He questioned the effectiveness of the Centre’s economic policies saying that benefits are concentrated among a few large corporate sectors while ordinary people are facing financial stress.
He highlighted Karnataka’s contribution of ₹6.5 lakh crore in annual taxes to the Centre stating that the return to the State remains disproportionately low. He also referred to the role of Congress governments in the implementation of Article 371(J) and the establishment of institutions such as ESI Hospital in the region crediting senior leader and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge for key development in Kalaburagi.
KUDA chairman Mazhar Alam Khan promised that the authority is committed to strengthening basic infrastructure, including circles, parks and civic amenities.
Legislators Allamprabhu Patil and Jagdev Guttedar, Mayor Varsha Jane, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ikram Shariff and City Corporation Commissioner Avinash Shinde were present.