Minister Eshwar Khandre
Shivamogga: Rural development and panchayat raj minister Eshwar B Khandre stated that govt is fully committed to conducting zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections by late Dec or Jan. Speaking to reporters, Khandre noted that constituency delimitation and reservation notifications have already been published by the state govt. The final draft notification will be issued following a thorough review of the objections filed, after which the State Election Commission will begin the polling schedule.
He detailed that Rs 117 crore was released initially for rural drinking water, supplemented by an additional Rs 1 crore per rural assembly constituency allocated by chief minister DK Shivakumar , bringing total available funds to Rs 306 crore alongside sufficient reserves with the district administration in the state. Instructions have been issued to officials to arrange alternative water sources or deploy tankers within 24 hours if borewells dry up in any village. The minister received the prestigious Keladi Shivappa Nayaka Award for 2023–24, posthumously conferred upon his father and former minister Bhimanna Khandre.
Referring to the recent Vijayadashami day incident, where tusker Somanna panicked and ran erratically, Khandre said a major mishap was averted through good fortune. On the drought situation and rural water supply, the minister assured that despite rainfall deficits caused by the El Niño effect, there is no shortage of funds to take up relief works. Speaking about public safety during festival celebrations, the minister stressed the need for rigorous training and enhanced precautionary protocols for tamed elephants. He noted that forest minister Ramalinga Reddy has already mandated enhanced training regimens, adding that govt will strictly enforce safety standards whenever domesticated elephants are deployed for public gatherings.