Bengaluru: In a significant development, the Karnataka government has decided to convert the Coastal Development Authority into a Coastal Development Board. The announcement was made by Planning, Program Coordination and Statistics Department Minister D. Sudhakar in the Legislative Council.
According to Minister Sudhakar, the rules for the conversion are being prepared, and the board will come into existence soon. The decision to create a Coastal Development Board was taken as the current authority does not have all MLAs as members. The new board will have all MLAs as members, ensuring comprehensive development of the coastal districts.
Congress MLA Ivan D’Souza had raised a question about the steps taken by the government to convert the authority into a board during the question-and-answer session. In response, Minister Sudhakar explained the rationale behind the decision and the progress made so far.
The Bill for the conversion was approved by the Legislature in December last year and received the Governor’s consent. A notification has also been issued in this regard. The government is now in the process of preparing the rules, and the board is expected to become functional soon.
The conversion of the Coastal Development Authority into a board is expected to give a boost to the development of the coastal districts in Karnataka. The new board will have more powers and resources to undertake development projects in the region, and the participation of all MLAs will ensure that the needs of the local population are addressed effectively.