Overview
- Siddaramaiah, who met Modi on Wednesday in Bengaluru, delivered a five-page, 18-point memo requesting urgent central action on long-pending approvals and dues.
- The memo seeks large releases to Karnataka, including Rs 17,554 crore under Jal Jeevan Mission, Rs 5,495 crore in revenue deficit grants, Rs 2,860 crore for gram panchayats, and a Rs 6,000 crore special grant for Bengaluru.
- Transport asks include reviving the Kolar railway coach factory with 1,123 acres already allotted, adding Mysuru to a high-speed rail link, advancing a Bengaluru–Mumbai corridor, funding Bengaluru Suburban Rail, and clearing new national highway proposals after a 12-year lull.
- Water and energy priorities feature Mekedatu’s appraisal for Bengaluru’s drinking water and 400 MW power, Rs 5,300 crore and national project status for Upper Bhadra, wildlife clearance for the Kalasa Nala diversion under the Mahadayi award, and notification of the Krishna tribunal award, plus clearances for the 2,000 MW Sharavathy pumped storage project.
- Regional and social measures request Rs 5,000 crore a year for Kalyana Karnataka with new PSUs, an AIIMS in Raichur, Ninth Schedule protection for the state’s 56% reservation policy, and consideration of some OBC groups for the Central ST list, with no immediate response from the Union government reported.