Excise Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda addressing the gathering after hoisting the national flag at the Independence Day programme in Hassan on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Excise Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, who is also the Minister in-charge of Hassan district, said the State government would ensure progress on the Yettinahole drinking water project, and see that the tanks in Arasikere taluk were filled soon.Mr. Shivalinge Gowda, speaking after hoisting the national flag at the Independence Day programme in Hassan, on Saturday, said the project had been delayed due to land acquisition issues at certain locations. The government would resolve the issues at the earliest and ensure that people benefited from the project. Similarly, he said, the government would give attention to early completion of the lift irrigation projects at different locations of the district.He said the construction of a super-speciality hospital in Hassan was in its final stage and would be dedicated to the public soon.IIT demandResponding to the long-standing demand for setting up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Hassan, the Minister said the land necessary for the institute had been acquired. However, the people who had parted with their land had not received suitable compensation. “We will make all efforts to get an IIT sanctioned for the district,” he said, adding that a delegation would be taken to Delhi to press the matter with the concerned authorities.Later, interacting with the media, Mr. Shivalinge Gowda said he would make efforts to uphold the dignity of the district. The farming community had faced a severe drought, and that the district administration needed to work effectively to relieve farmers from the ordeal.He said he would prioritise the completion of the Hassan Airport project. “Development of the district is the only agenda I wish to pursue. I do not want to engage in vindictive politics,” he said.Member of Parliament Shreyas Patel, MLA Swaroop Prakash, and district officers accompanied the Minister at the Independence Day programme. Achievers from various fields were felicitated on the occasion. Published - August 15, 2026 07:26 pm IST
