DKS places wish list in front of Amit Shah, seeks Karnataka President's Police Award

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Friday. | Photo credit: special arrangement

Urging the Center to approve two more battalions of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) for Karnataka, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar handed over the state’s wish list to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, which included modernization of jails and the police department, besides a request for the President’s Color Award for the Karnataka Police.

A proposal to award the President’s Color to the Karnataka Police has been pending since May 2024 and the Union ministry has been asked to review and approve the proposal.

IRB battalions

Seeking to release ₹243.87 crore for setting up IRB battalions in Vijayanagara and Bengaluru South districts, the proposal of which was submitted in February 2025, the Chief Minister has sought approval of ₹280 crore for setting up command and control centers in four major cities at the cost of installing police CCTV cameras in the petition. ₹ 278.26 crore under the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Police Modernization programme, 2025-26.

Mr. Shivakumar also demanded ₹258.53 million for upgrading infrastructure in police training schools as directed by the Police Research and Development Authority’s gap analysis and ₹20 million for upgrading jails, including purchase of CCTV cameras, walkie-talkies and other security equipment.

Karnataka is also coming up with a proposal to allow the police to access CSR funds under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.

The state has also sought an extension to implement the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, Rule 52 A, which deals with compulsory scrapping and expiry of state-owned motor vehicles after 15 years from the date of their original registration. The state is also set to submit a proposal to set up a Cyber Crime Control and Coordination Unit in Karnataka 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 CR Patil and sought solutions to the outstanding irrigation issues.

These included delay in granting approval for Mekedatu drinking water project, delay in notification of Krishna River Water Dispute Tribunal II award, ₹5,300 crore in Upper Bhadra project funding by Centre, delay in approval of Kalasa-Banduri drinking water scheme and mere allocation for Karnataka in linking river projects.

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

Published – 12 Jun 2026 22:36 IST