The State Cabinet on Thursday approved in principle a ₹450-crore project for filling 250 tanks in Chickballapur and Kolar districts through supply of treated waste water from Koramangala–Challagahtta Valley (KC Valley) in Bengaluru, as the second phase of the project.
Tanks would be filled only to improve the groundwater table in these districts and not for drawing water for agriculture and other purposes. In the second phase, 250 tanks would be filled by supplying treated water from the valley.
First phase
In the first phase, 121 tanks in the parched Kolar district and five tanks in Chintamani taluk of Chickballapur district were identified and only 20 tanks were filled with treated waste water, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Krishna Byre Gowda told reporters here after the Cabinet meeting.
The former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had launched the ₹1,342-crore project on May 30, 2016. It is aimed at increasing the groundwater level, which sunk to more than 1,200 feet.
Counselling for transfer
The State government has decided to introduce counselling system for transfer of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees.
A computer-based counselling process would not only help in cracking down on corruption in the transfer of lower-level officials but also ensure transparency in the administration, Mr. Gowda said.
The State Cabinet took a decision to undertake the counselling process by following merit-cum-roster system. A Bill would be introduced in this regard during the coming session of the State legislature, Mr. Gowda said.
The Cabinet also decided to provide retirement pension to about 400 lecturers whose services have been regularised by the Higher Eduction Department. This would cost the State exchequer around ₹45 crore.
The Minister said the government had decided execute lease-cum-sale land deal with JSW Steel in Ballari and there was no truth in the allegations made by the Opposition BJP.
