Belagavi / Hubballi: The state government intends to make Karnataka open defecation free by October 2, commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, said rural development and panchayat raj minister Krishna Byre Gowda He spoke after inspecting the ongoing work of a multi-village drinking water scheme in Anigol gram panchayat in Bailhongal taluk on Tuesday.The minister hailed Fakiravva , a resident of the village for constructing a toilet by removing one of the rooms in her small house. “Fakiravva is a model for all. The state would be free from open defecation if everybody develops a mentality like Fakiravva,” he added. He also spoke about the importance of toilets and interacted with villagers.Earlier in the day, Gowda inspected the construction of a jackwell near Nayanagar bridge in Bailhongal taluk, water purification plant and lake development work at Pattihal (KB) village. He said he had instructed officials to complete the drinking water project taken up at a cost of Rs23 crore by December.The minister said 2,490 drinking water units have stopped functioning due to various reasons and work to rectify them is on. So far 950 units have been repaired and the rest will be made functional within 15 days, he said.Local MLAs Mahantesh Koujalagi and Mahantesh Dodagoudar, ZP president Asha Aihole, principal secretary of RDPR department Atik Ahamed and ZP CEO R Ramachandran were present. BJP miffed by third front unity: KBGAs leaders of the third front are uniting, BJP is getting disappointed and that is why it is making baseless allegations against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi , alleged rural development and panchayat raj minister Krishna Byre Gowda. Speaking to reporters here at Airport on Tuesday, Gowda said BJP has not fulfilled its assurances made to its alliance partners. “Irked by BJP’s move, its partners like TDP and Shiv Sena are shunning the NDA. In the wake of such developments, BJP leaders are losing their sleep and making false allegations against Congress,” the minister added.Taking Dharwad M P Pralhad Joshi to task, Gowda challenged him to move a privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi. “Let there be a debate on the motion, for which Congress party is always ready,’ he added.When asked about the Amar Lal locker case and the alleged involvement of Rakesh, the late son of former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Gowda said it was not good to make allegations against the wards of politicians without sufficient evidence.

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