The Hindu : Karnataka News : Dharam Singh keen on discipline among officials

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Dharam Singh keen on discipline among officials

By A. Jayaram

BANGALORE, OCT. 5. Though the general perception prevails that the coalition Government in the State is fragile, the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, has been egging on the civil service to show results and making it clear that he is not the one to tolerate indiscipline.

In an interview to The Hindu , Mr. Singh said the holding of 20-odd portfolios had burdened him and he was more than willing to shed most of them. He was only waiting for the October 13 byelection to the Bidar Lok Sabha seat to pass for the expansion of the Cabinet, he said.

A certain seriousness in approach to matters of administration is evident, though the Chief Minister is hard pressed for time. He receives hundreds of people every day and holds several official meetings. Assurances are held out only after verification with the officials concerned about the feasibility or desirability of the request.

Denies charge

Mr. Dharam Singh denied having removed officials who were prominent when the previous Government was in power. "The only case one can cite is that of the former BDA Commissioner, Jayakar Jerome." Coming out candidly on the matter, he noted that Mr. Jerome had held the post for four years and eight months, "not a small period." When the Government stayed the tenders accepted for works in the proposed Arkavathi Layout , Mr. Jayakar made it a "prestige issue" and proceeded on leave. However, after the Government appointed Vidyashankar as the BDA Commissioner, Mr. Jerome returned to work "without permission and informing him or the Chief Secretary," Mr. Singh said. "It was a breach of discipline which could not be tolerated."

About the statements of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President, B. Janardhana Poojary, which are often critical of the Janata Dal (Secular) and in variance with the conciliatory approach of the Chief Minister, Mr. Singh said: "It is Mr. Poojary's nature to speak in that vein."

Problems

Those who were critical of the coalition arrangement must note that the Government had to face problems right from day one in office. "Problems that we never expected came up. For example, on the sharing of Cauvery waters and the CET issue," Mr. Singh said. Luckily for the State, the Kabini Reservoir became full and water could be released to Tamil Nadu. The same thing happened with regard to the Krishna waters. As much as 270 tmcft. of water flowed into Andhra Pradesh, "not officially but because the reservoir became full."

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