Mysuru, Jan 5 (NationPress) Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday that there has been a remarkable increase in the state’s tiger population, especially in the Mysuru area. He revealed that officials have been directed to capture and relocate the tigers to safer forest regions.

His remarks came in response to recent reports of a tiger sighting near the Mysuru Airport.

“The rise in tiger numbers has led to their presence near human settlements. I have instructed the relevant authorities to safely capture the tiger and transfer it to a different forest area,” Siddaramaiah stated.

He further noted that as the tiger population grows, combing operations are being put in place, and plans are underway to move these animals to various forest locations. A meeting with Forest Department officials is scheduled for Tuesday to deliberate on the matter.

Regarding a potential cabinet reshuffle, Siddaramaiah mentioned that it is necessary and that he will confer with Rahul Gandhi about it. “I plan to discuss this in January. I will respond whenever he calls,” he indicated.

On the preparations for his 17th budget presentation, Siddaramaiah confirmed that initial groundwork has begun, with plans to present the budget following the Sankranti festival.

When questioned about the investigation into the tragic Ballari clash that resulted in a Congress worker's death, the Chief Minister indicated he would consult the Home Minister on whether to hand it over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He expressed confidence that the truth would surface after the police investigation.

“Let the investigation unfold, and the facts will be revealed,” Siddaramaiah added.

In response to allegations regarding the postmortem of the deceased Congress worker Rajashekar being conducted twice, Siddaramaiah stated he was not informed. He commented that while there are calls for a sitting judge inquiry, the police are currently overseeing the investigation, and he would address the issue once more information is available.

On the Central Government's actions, including GST-related decisions and the implementation of the VBG Ramji scheme, Siddaramaiah highlighted that Karnataka incurs an annual loss of Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 crore due to GST, which he termed a significant injustice by the central authorities.

He remarked that under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Centre fully funded the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). However, the curtailment of this scheme has led to a reduction in available workdays for laborers and vulnerable communities, which he claimed infringes upon their fundamental rights and is unconstitutional.

According to the Act, development activities are meant to be financed by both the Centre and states at a 60:40 ratio, placing an additional financial burden of around Rs 3,000 crore on the state.

Additionally, Siddaramaiah announced that families of the women who tragically lost their lives in the balloon explosion outside Mysuru Palace will receive compensation of Rs 5 lakh each.