independence day celebration at karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday unfurled the tricolour flag and reviewed the guard of honour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bangalore to mark India's 67th Independence Day (I-Day) amid tight security. He addressed the public after unfurling the national tricolour for the first time as Chief Minister on the 67th Independence Day. Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Government will take measures to generate 4,000 MW of power in the State in the next three years to meet present and future needs of electricity. Of the 4,000 MW, the chief minister said 2300 MW would be generated in the public sector and 1700 MW in the private sector. He said the willingness of the Central government to provide 382 million tonnes of coal supply to thermal power plants in Yermarus, Yedlapura, Gonda and Bellary has raised hopes in the power sector and the Government was confident of fulfilling its target. In an 18-page printed Kannada speech that the Chief Minister read out, he said the government would soon implement the Rajiv Chaityanya scheme to ensure employment to over two lakh rural unemployed youth and the scheme would cover 40 to 50 youth in each Gram Panchayat. The Chief Minister said government would spend Rs 50,000 crore on the irrigation sector with the target of bringing 9.25 lakh hectares under irrigation in the next five years. Promising the unveiling of a new industrial policy next year, he said the third Global Investors Meet would also be organised next year. English would be taught as a subject from the first standard commencing next academic year to ensure that the rural children were not denied job opportunities merely because of their lack of English knowledge. Coming down heavily on the anti-social elements and other outfits, which indulged in unlawful activities like attacks on churches and minorities, fomenting communal clashes, moral policing and such other sinister moves, the chief minister said the police have been asked to take measures to prevent all such anti-social and undemocratic activities along with attempts to weaken the secular fabric in school textbooks. The government initiated measures to implement 60 of the 160 assurances made in the election manifesto, he said and listed out major schemes, including Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya, and Krishi Bhagya and Sooru Bhagya (housing), implemented by the Government. In view of the implementation of the election model code of conduct in 11 districts, he said “it is not possible for me to dwell upon my government’s future programmes in detail on this occasion.” The Chief Minister limited his speech to the decisions, which have already been taken to implement various programmes in the State. He warmly appreciated the contributions of two leaders - Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and architect of the Constitution B R Ambedkar in his speech. To ensure that the celebrations are held without any hitch, the city police had put in place elaborate security arrangements. This time, arrangements were made to accommodate an additional 2,000 people and there were a total of 12,000 seats available for VVIPs, VIPs, Defence personnel, freedom fighters, government officials and the general public. The Bangalore city police commissioner raghavendra auradkar was present, who invisilated the entire police security for the event. The traffic was also diverted and maintained by B Dayanand additional commissioner of traffic. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan, who is also the chairman of the Independence Day Celebrations Committee, was supervising the entire event jointly by the civic body, city police and the office of Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore Urban) since almost 25 days and the rehearsals were being held at the parade grounds for the past three days. The celebrations witnessed participation by around 2,600 schoolchildren. The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived at the parade grounds at 8.58 a.m. and hoisted the National Flag at 9 a.m. An IAF helicopter showered flower petals during the flag hoisting. As many as 56 contingents, including those from police, Bharat Scouts and Guides, National Cadet Corps, Home Guards and Seva Dal were participated in the march past and receive the guard of honour from Mr. Siddaramaiah. This was followed by cultural programmes by schoolchildren. The on-site and off-site disaster management cells were set up to prevent any untoward incidents. There were 20 ambulances on site with 50 doctors, 40 nurses, 10 pharmacists, 40 drivers/ assistants and 10 gangmen. Around 120 beds were reserved in 28 hospitals. The city police made the programme successful with tight security. As Mr. Kamal Pant, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said that 1,200 police personnel, including two Additional Commissioners of Police, three Joint Commissioners of Police and nine Deputy Commissioners of Police, were posted on security duty. There were 23 door-frame metal detectors and 85 hand-held metal detectors to screen those attending the celebrations. As many as 40 CCTV cameras had also been installed around the parade ground. He already urged all those attending the I-Day programme to come at least one hour early and cooperate with the police, who will frisk them at the gates before the event took place. No helmets, bags, umbrellas and crackers were allowed inside the grounds. The passholders were strictly being checked with their identity cards. The entry was also capably managed As many as 2,000 seats were eserved for VVIPs and defence personnel (entry from Gate One); 2,000 seats for dignitaries and government officials (entry from Gates Two and Three); 3,500 seats for freedom fighters, retired defence personnel, BSF personnel (entry from Gates Four, Five, Six, Seven and Eight); and 4,000 seats for the general public (entry from Gates Nine and 10). The Chief Minister felicitated 22 public servants, including Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola, for safeguarding the lives of several people during the recent flood-hit Uttarakhand. Among the 22 employees, three are IAS officers, one IPS officer, six government employees and 12 members of the medical team. Kharola was the nodal officer of the rescue team, while IAS officers Naveen Raj Singh and Pankaj Kumar Pandey were assistant nodal officers. IPS Officer Hemanth Nimbalkar was the team coordinator. IAS officers are Pradeep Singh Kharola, Naveen Raj Singh, Director, Karnataka Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, and Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Managing Director, BESCOM and Nimbalkar, Joint Police Commissioner, (DIGP). The Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimappa, Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy, MLA Roshan Baig, BBMP Commissioner and Independence Day Celebrations Committee chief M Lakshminarayana, Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner G C Prakash and top IAS and IPS officers attended the programme.