'Officials should have concern for poor'

By Our Staff Correspondent

TUMKUR, AUG. 24. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, has said that he is ``disgusted'' at the mindset of government officials. Speaking after laying the foundation stone for various development works estimated at Rs.27 crores at Huliyurudurga town in Kunigal taluk on Friday, he admitted that he was perturbed after touring the drought-hit areas in Raichur, Bidar and Gulbarga districts. He said he gained first-hand knowledge of farmers' suffering and added that ``I am disheartened at the gravity of the situation, howevermuch I am courageous and confident.''

He also inaugurated the new crest gates of the Markonahalli Reservoir and launched the Vana Vikasa Yojana.

Stressing that transparency and accountability were essential in administration, Mr. Krishna said officials should change their mindset. They should have concern for the poor and the needy and cultivate commitment to their duties.

Mr. Krishna said his efforts at changing the mindset of the officials was only ``human.'' Divine blessings should be there to reform the State's administration.

Mr. Krishna expressed worry at the lethargic bureaucracy. He reiterated his determination to complete the Hemavathy Canal up to Doddakere in Kunigal town and said funds would be provided on priority.

He said he was keen on getting Hemavathy waters released into the Markonahalli dam, from where it could be taken to several parts of Maddur taluk in Mandya District. He asked officials to ensure quality and implement the work within the scheduled time.

He said he was happy that religious heads had joined hands under the leadership of Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of Adi Chunchanagiri Math to take up planting of five crore saplings. Afforestation was considered a panacea for drought as trees were expected to bring rain and keep ecology intact.

Taking a dig at the Department of Forests, he said since 1972 the department had planted lakhs of saplings under the Social Forestry Scheme. But the plants were ``only just countable.'' He said he was sure that there was ``rampant misuse of funds in the implementation of the scheme.''

Mr. Krishna and a number of swamijis planted saplings in the Huliyurudurga and Hemagiri hills. The Vana Samvardhana Trust of the swamijis had jointly sponsored the programme with the Government. Over three lakh saplings were planted in 36 village panchayat areas by the evening.

Mr. Dharam Singh, Minister for Public Works, said the Government had fulfilled almost all its promises made during the last election. Of the 41,000 km. of roads, 10,800 km. were converted into State Highways and improved. Work on the stretch of 132 km. road from Kibbanahalli Cross in the district to Hiriyur in Chitradurga District would be started in September.

He said work had been started on linking the Kunigal- Maddur Road to the Bangalore-Mysore Highway at Channapatna at a cost of Rs.14.78 crores.

Mr. Dharam Singh said he had sanctioned Rs.12 crores (from out of the HUDCO funds) for repair of roads in Tumkur District and Rs.24 crores (from out of NABARD funds) to build 11 bridges in the district.

He said the work on four-lane highway from Nelamangala to Tumkur and a bypass road on National Highway No. 4 at Sira town in the district had started.

Mr. Y.K.Ramaiah presided over the function. The ministers from the district, Mr. T.B.Jayachandra, Dr. G.Parameswar, and MPs, MLAs and MLCs were present. The swamijis of Adi Chunchanagiri Math, Moorusavira Math of Hubli, Dambala Math of Gadag, Belimath and Kolada Math of Bangalore, Rev. Fr. Dr. Naronha, and 35 other swamijis of various maths participated.

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