Mangaluru : The First year of Modi Government has brought ’Bahut achche din” (better days) for all the people of our country. The achievements of the NDA Government in one year, the Minister said economic empowerment of the poor is taking place through PMJDY and social security schemes. Next in the agenda is housing for the poor where four crore and two crore houses would be built n rural and urban areas respectively starting this year. Government would guarantee employment through housing and infrastructure projects to the poor, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar said.

Speaking to the press persons on Thursday he said that, his Ministry will issue directions to Karnataka government and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) not to allow any kind of sewage to lakes and other water-bodies in Bengaluru.

Mr. Javadekar told presspersons here that a team of officials from the Ministry has already visited Bengaluru following reports of fire in lakes. One more team is on the visit. Directions would be issued in a fortnight, he said.

Regarding implementation of Kasturirangan Committee Report on eco-sensitive zones, Mr. Javadekar said the process will be completed by the end of this year. While Karnataka is yet to submit its comments, Kerala has already done and remaining five states would submit the report in a fortnight. People’s aspirations would be taken into account along with concerns for environment protection.

On former TRAI Chairman Pradeep Baijal’s revelations about 2G spectrum allocations, Mr. Javadekar said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh owes an explanation to the nation.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak, Ganesh S Rao, Sureshchandra Shetty and others were present.