Minister lays foundation stone for houses for mining-affected families

Housing Minister and Ballari district in-charge B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan on Sunday laid the foundation stone for houses sanctioned to homeless families from mining-affected villages in Ballari taluk under a rehabilitation programme and later inaugurated a district-level technical workshop and exhibition on millets in Ballari city.

The houses are being constructed under the Environmental Plan for Mining Impact Zone (CEPMIZ) of the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC), in coordination with the Karnataka Rehabilitation Development Corporation and the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony was held at Belagal village. As many as 862 houses have been approved for beneficiaries from 10 mining-affected villages in the taluk and the Minister formally inaugurated the construction works.

The Minister also inaugurated a district-level technical workshop and exhibition on millets organised by the district administration, the Zilla Panchayat and the Agriculture Department as part of the International Trade Fair 2026 on the Municipal College Grounds on Dr. Rajkumar Road in Ballari.

Addressing a gathering, the Minister said that millets offer several health benefits and urged farmers to make use of the technical workshop to gain information on cultivation practices and value addition.

Mayor P. Gadeppa said that increasing pollution of air, water and food has contributed to lifestyle diseases such as heart ailments, hypertension and diabetes. He stressed the need to maintain food quality for a healthy life.

He called upon the Agriculture Department to intensify food awareness programmes, particularly in schools and colleges.

District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority president K.E. Chidanandappa said that the growing demand for millets such as ragi, jowar and bajra, once considered food for the poor, is improving both public health and the livelihoods of farmers.

Agricultural scientists delivered special lectures during the workshop.

As part of the exhibition, stalls showcasing millet-based products, along with agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and farm equipment, were set up at the venue, drawing the attention of farmers and the public.

Officials, agricultural scientists, farmer leaders and cultivators participated in the programme.