Date:06/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/06/stories/2004120606300300.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Govt.'s performance disappointing: MLA

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR, DEC. 5. Rajendra Verma, Hulsoor MLA, has said that the coalition Government's performance over the past six months has been disappointing.

He was speaking at the meeting called to review development works in Hulsoor on Friday.

Mr. Verma said that the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, had belied the hopes of development of the people from the Hyderabad Karnataka region. He alleged that the Government had failed on all fronts and was preoccupied with Ministry expansion.

Mr. Dharam Singh's action of announcing packages to all districts he visits and the attempt of the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, to dissociate from them raised doubts about the validity of the packages.

"I suspect whether the Chief Minister obtained the approval of the Finance Department before announcing the special packages for the various districts," he added.

Mr. Verma, who is also the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Morcha, alleged that after the coalition Government took charge, officials had become insensitive to the problems of the people. He alleged that the assurances made by the officials regarding the waiving of farm loans and safeguarding the interests of farmers had remained unfulfilled. He also said that the problem of power scarcity had not been solved.

`Anti-people policy'

He said that the Government was trying to enforce "anti-people policies" by withdrawing the ration cards issued to families living Below Poverty Line.

Mr. Verma urged the Government to expedite work on the Karanja Irrigation Project and ensure that the families displaced by the project get adequate rehabilitation. He also wanted the Government to provide 100 per cent subsidy on sprinkler irrigation to horticulturists in Bidar, ensure that the Bidar Sahakari Sakkare Karakhane returned farmers' deposits with interest, and sugar factories paid at least Rs. 1,050 per tonne of sugarcane to farmers.