Terming the meeting historic, Chief Minister of Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa said the special cabinet meeting at Gulbarga had decided to form a new district in Northern Karnataka and also provide sops to solve the problem of regional imbalance.

A special Cabinet meeting was convened by the BJP government at Gulbarga after cries of step-motherly treatment by the people of North Karnataka became louder.

The meeting further decided to urge upon the Union Government to accord special status to North Karnataka.

Yeddyurappa told mediapersons after the meeting a new district with Yadgir as the district centre had been proposed. He said a committee headed by the revenue minister would look into the issue and finalise it.

Among the other major sops announced for North Karnataka is a Rs 136 crore grant for the overall development of Bidar district.

Additional land acquisition for the Hubli and Bellary airport, thermal plant at Kudagi and Gulbarga, dialysis centres at district hospitals among others. The meeting also decided to take up road and rail works in all parts of North Karnataka.

Further, the meeting also decided to celebrate Bhaktha Kanakadasa Jayanthi on November 15 as a state festival which means that it would be declared as government holiday.

On a special status for North Karnataka, the Chief Minister said that an all-party delegation would meet with the Prime Minister soon and urge him to accord special status for this region.

Similar gesture was shown in case of Vidharbha and Telangana should be shown to Northern Karnataka, the CM said.