HUBLI: Veteran journalist and president of the Karnataka Development Forum Patil Puttappa has urged the State Government to take up the issue of comprehensive development of north Karnataka during the legislative session to be held in Belgaum.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, Mr. Puttappa said the session would be of no use if the issue was not taken up. The Government should make an announcement on the implementation of the recommendations of Dr. Nanjundappa Committee. "Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has been saying that the financial position of the State is good. Let the Government make use of funds for the development of north Karnataka," he added.

Referring to the low sales tax in Maharashtra, Mr. Puttappa said businessmen and merchants in the border areas of Karnataka were shifting their business to that State. Karnataka should keep its sales tax structure on a par with that of Maharashtra. He urged the Government not to go ahead with establishing factories in the industrial area being developed between Belgaum and Khanapur. According to the Mahajan Committee report, the area where the proposed industrial estate was situated should be handed over to Maharashtra, he said. On the border row between Karnataka and Maharashtra, he said that it was Parliament which had to take a final decision on the issue and not the Supreme Court. Ministers from Maharashtra should not be included in the committee entrusted with the work of finalising the affidavit to be submitted to the Supreme Court.

He urged the Government to establish an agricultural university having its jurisdiction over Belgaum at Halaga. He underscored the need for developing the Karnataka Institute of Mental Health (KIMH) in Dharwad on the lines of NIMHANS in Bangalore.

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