'Congress government didn't fund twin cities'

HUBBALLI: The non-cooperation of the previous Congress government is the reason for the backwardness of the twin cities, alleged former chief minister Jagadish Shettar. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the cleaning of a Raja Nala here in Lingaraj Nagar on Friday, Shettar said the Siddaramaiah-led government did not release a single paisa for the development of Hubballi-Dharwad. "It even refused to release Rs 136 crore of pension amount. This step-motherly treatment has delayed the progress of the cities," he said.
He lamented that though Prime Minister Narendra Modi released Rs 800 crore to Hubballi, the state government could spend just Rs 12 crore out of it. "One cannot expect development from the current JD(S)-Congress combine too,' he added.

On the ongoing works, he said cleaning of the storm water drain has been taken up under the Smart City Project. "Sante Maidan and Tolanakere works will be completed within a year," he said.