Bengaluru, March 12: Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced in the Legislative Council on Thursday that all crest gates of the Tungabhadra Dam will be replaced by May this year.
Shivakumar, who also serves as the state’s irrigation minister, stated that the replacement of the gates is underway. Each gate takes approximately seven days to replace. As of March 10, 14 gates have already been replaced, and the remaining work is on schedule to be completed.
He revealed that a contract was signed with a hardware tools and machinery project company based in Ahmedabad on June 10, 2025, to replace all crest gates at a cost of ₹34.48 crores over 15 months. Construction of 25 gates has been completed, while two are still under construction. Currently, 14 gates have been replaced, and work on three more is ongoing. Shivakumar assured that all necessary steps are being taken to finish the project by May.
The Deputy Chief Minister also expressed concern over the Andhra Pradesh government’s lack of engagement regarding discussions on the Navali Balancing Reservoir. He noted that while some have proposed alternative plans, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has not allocated time for discussions. Decisions cannot be made unilaterally; they require collaboration among the three riparian states. He emphasized that water is currently flowing into the sea, which could be utilized with political support.
In response to questions from BJP MLC B.G. Patil regarding compensation for landowners, Shivakumar assured that he would ensure immediate action by retrieving files from the officials.
During the question hour, Congress member Aarti Krishna raised concerns about the usability and cleanliness of several public toilets in the Greater Bengaluru area, suggesting the use of artificial intelligence for monitoring. Shivakumar responded that 441 new toilets are being constructed alongside the existing 388.
He detailed that there are currently 380 public toilets in the city, with 65 managed by retired municipal employees and 20 operated by persons with disabilities. Under the Shubhra Bengaluru initiative, 60 new toilets will be built, and 191 are under construction. The central government has allocated ₹13.5 crores under the Swachh Bharat Mission for the construction of 90 toilets. Additionally, 100 more toilets, primarily for women, are being constructed under the Brand Bengaluru initiative.
Shivakumar stated that a total of 441 new toilets will be established, complementing the existing ones. He encouraged the public to inform them if there is a need for toilets in specific locations, promising to assess land availability for new constructions.
BJP member Bharti Shetty raised questions about the use of AI in state administration. Shivakumar acknowledged that the world is entering a new era, with global discussions on AI. He mentioned a significant conference organized by the Prime Minister on this topic and noted that courts are considering the use of AI, with recommendations for its inclusion in the curriculum for grades 3 to 8 by CBSE.
He stressed the importance of thorough research before implementing AI in administration, clarifying that AI cannot create new information but generates results based on provided data. Sharing a personal experience, he mentioned using ChatGPT at his daughter’s suggestion instead of consulting his assistant, which yielded a wealth of information. He acknowledged the need for improved accuracy in AI outputs.
In conclusion, Shivakumar stated that information cannot be digitally accessed until documents are uploaded into the computer system. For instance, court information is only available when previous decisions are uploaded, but decisions cannot be written solely based on those records.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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