The minor irrigation portfolio has come as a blessing to Eshwar Khandre, who represents one of the driest taluks in the state, without irrigation facilities.
A mechanical engineer from PDA college in Kalaburgi, Mr Khandre is among the few leaders in the district who discusses issues in detail in meetings with officials. He uses statistics in his speeches, indicating an academic interest in governance. He won from Bhalki in 2008 and 2013, after facing defeat in 2004.
People from the district are excited about the district getting a representation in the state cabinet after eight years. We hope the minister focuses on providing irrigation facilities across the state, especially drier area like Hyderabad Karnataka, Vishwanath Patil Koutha, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha leader said.
Mr. Khandre said he would focus on expanding irrigation facilities across the state. He said he would think of innovative strategies to fuse ideas of rain water harvesting, ground water recharge using impounding techniques and conserving soil and moisture through watershed development methods. We will explore possibilities of using satellite data and advanced technologies to build tanks, bund and check dams and improve existing structures, he said.
Mr. Khandre is the second leader from the Khandre clan to be a minister and fourth leader to be MLA. His father Bheemanna Khandre had served as a transport minister in the cabinet of Veerappa Moily. His elder brother Vijay Kumar and cousin Prakash Khandre have served as MLAs from Bhalki earlier.
His wife Geeta is a MBBS doctor.
