Southern States - Karnataka   

Govt. happy with Plan outlay: Krishna

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE APRIL 26. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, said today that the State Government was happy with the Plan outlay for 2003-04 and the Planning Commission had promised a higher ceiling if needed.

Speaking to presspersons at the Bajpe Airport here on his way to Dharmasthala, Mr. Krishna expressed happiness over the meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, K.C. Pant, and said the Rs. 9,620-crore Plan outlay for Karnataka was adequate for achieving a higher growth rate. He appreciated the gesture of the Planning Commission to extend the ceiling on the outlay if the State was able to spend the present outlay within the year.

Mr. Krishna said the Deputy Chairman and members of the commission were keen on the State's financial needs and development plans and the offer for extending the outlay ceiling was a positive sign. He had made it clear to the Deputy Chairman that the State's growth rate of 4.4 per cent during the first year of the 10th Five-Year Plan would not come in the way of achieving the growth perspective stipulated by the Planning Commission for the Tenth Plan. Asked if the Government had plans to improve power production, Mr. Krishna said that it had a long list of power companies interested in starting production in the State. But at this juncture, the State was looking for companies that gave "affordable power" to the people, and the technology that afforded production of power at a lower rate. The State should set right its priorities regarding the power sector now. On the CET issue, Mr. Krishna said the Government was firm about its commitment and it would conduct CET on May 30. The Government's goal was to bring higher education on the social justice platform. Therefore, there was no compromise on the CET issue, he added.

Asked what the Government would do if the managements of private professional colleges approached the Supreme Court, he said they had the right to do so and the Government could not do much about it. But the Government would go ahead with the CET. On the release of water into the Bheema from the Ujani Dam in Maharashtra, Mr. Krishna said the State was getting one tmcft. water. The Supreme Court's verdicts on sharing river waters could not be questioned.

Denying that there was confusion over naming the first women's university in the State, Mr. Krishna said the Government had appointed Jamadar as officer on special duty and once his report was received, a decision would be taken on the matter. Mr. Krishna along with some ministers and MLAs proceeded to Subramanya where he had the darshan of Lord Subramanya. He then proceeded to Dharmasthala where he was received by the Dharmadhikari of the Sri Kshetra, D. Veerendra Heggade. On Sunday, the Chief Minister will inaugurate new facilities at Dharmasthala, and commission a substation of the KPTCL at Guruvainakere.

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