The Hindu : Karnataka News : Packages only on paper, says BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Packages only on paper, says BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, DEC. 7. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday ridiculed the Government for announcing packages for some districts. The Government was deceiving people by announcing packages, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, D.H. Shankaramurthy, said here.

He told presspersons that all the special packages had remained only on paper. The special packages were announced for Bidar, Gulbarga, Mysore, Hassan, Kodagu and Bellary districts. He demanded that the Government implement development work in all the districts.

Mr. Shankaramurthy referred to the Rs. 107-crore package announced for Kodagu district by S.M. Krishna, when he was the Chief Minister. After almost a year, the Minister of State for Labour and Wakf, Tanvir Sait, who is also in charge of the district, announced the cancellation of the package announced by Mr. Krishna.

Mr. Shankaramurthy and the MLAs from Kodagu, Bhopaiah and Basavaraju, demanded that the Government issue an order to implement the package.

The BJP would stage a demonstration in front of the Chief Minister's residence in the first week of January if the Government failed to release funds to implement the package, Mr. Bhopaiah and Mr. Basavaraju said.

In 1999, the previous Government had announced the Rs. 3,000-crore mega package for Bellary district for all-round development. But so far no major work had been implemented there.

Mr. Shankaramurthy wanted to know what was the necessity of announcing packages without releasing funds to execute them.

He said the Government had taken loans from the World Bank to take up the project. But the progress of work was tardy.

Admissions

On the admissions to professional courses through the Common Entrance Test (CET), he said the Government should announce a policy on seat matrix and fees before the end of January 2005.

On account of differences with managements of professional colleges on seat matrix and fee structure, the Government had postponed CET counselling three times this year. He asked the Government to start a dialogue with the managements in advance to find a solution to the problem.

He wanted the Government to call a session of the State legislature to discuss many important issues.

Take-over opposed

V.S. Acharya, MLC, opposed the Government's move to take over the Sri Krishna Temple in Udupi.

The temple had contributed to the academic and cultural fields. Baseless statements on the demolition of the "Kanaka Gopura" by some leaders had created a controversy.

Construction work on the "Kanaka Gopura" would be completed soon, he added.

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