Date:04/04/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/04/stories/2004040403880300.htm

Karnataka - Bellary

`People's faith in Congress renewed'

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELLARY, APRIL 3. M. Diwakar Babu, Minister of State for Cooperation, who is seeking re-election for the third time in succession from Bellary city, today expressed confidence that Congress would return to power. In a chat with presspersons here today, Mr. Babu said that the achievements of the Government and its efforts to take up more development works had renewed faith in the Congress among the people.

On party "rebels" in the fray in Assembly constituencies, he said that the senior leaders were looking into the problem and trying to persuade the rebels to withdraw from the contest. Some of the rebels had been party members for long and they should not tarnish their image by disobeying the decision of the party leadership, he added.

Mr. Babu apprehended that the city might face a drinking water crisis in summer. Water levels in reservoirs were going down, and in summer, supply of water might be reduced to once a week from twice a week, he warned.