DKS places wishlist before Amit Shah, seeks President’s Colour award for Karnataka police

Urging the Centre to sanction two more battalions of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) for Karnataka, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday gave the State’s wishlist to Union Home Minister Amit Shah that included upgradation of prisons and the Police Department besides seeking President’s Colour award for the Karnataka police.

The proposal to confer the President’s Colour award to the Karnataka police has been pending since May, 2024, and the Union Ministry has been urged to review the proposal and approve it.

IRB batallions

Seeking the release of ₹243.87 crore to set up IRB battalions at Vijayanagara and Bengaluru South districts, the proposal for which was made in February, 2025, the Chief Minister, in a petition, has sought approval of ₹280 crore to set up command and control centres in four major cities, and installation of CCTV cameras in police stations at a cost of ₹278.26 crore under the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police scheme, 2025-2026.

Mr. Shivakumar has also sought ₹258.53 crore to upgrade infrastructure in police training schools as per guidelines under gap analysis of Bureau of Police Research and Development, and ₹20 crore for modernisation of prisons, including purchase of CCTV cameras, walkie-talkies, and other security equipment.

Karnataka is also submitting a proposal to allow access for the police to seek CSR funds under Schedule VII of Companies Act, 2013.

The State has also sought extension of deadline to implement Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989’s Rule 52 A that pertains to mandatory scrapping and expiration of government-owned motor vehicles after 15 years from their initial registration date. The State is also set to submit a proposal to set up Karnataka Cyber Crime Control and Coordination Unit at a cost of ₹360 crore for which funds have been sought from the Centre.

Water resources

Meanwhile, Mr. Shivakumar, who was accompanied by Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy, met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil seeking resolution to pending irrigation issues.

Among those included delay in providing approvals to Mekedatu drinking water project, delay in notification of Krishna River Water Dispute Tribunal II award, ₹5,300 crore in Centre’s funding for Upper Bhadra project, delay in approvals for Kalasa -Banduri drinking water scheme, and just allocation for Karnataka in inter-linking of river projects.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Shivakumar met President Draupadi Murmu and Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan as part of courtesy visit.