Karnataka - Bangalore

Work for results, top officials told

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

A STERN MESSAGE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa (second from left) addressing Deputy Commissioners and other top officials at a meeting at Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore on Saturday. Home Minister V.S. Acharya (left) and Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao are seen.

BANGALORE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has set the schedule for IAS and IPS officers in implementing welfare schemes announced in the State Budget and has directed them to activate the administration for a time-bound execution of development works.

In his address to the top brass of the two services at separate meetings here on Saturday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said: “I want action and results…that too positive results.” This is the first meeting that the Chief Minister held with all senior officials of the State Government after assuming charge.

He told them to take steps in advance to ensure timely distribution of seeds and fertilizers to farmers and below poverty line ration cards to eligible families.

In the wake of 55 per cent shortfall in the supply of fertilizers to the State, Rs. 150 crore had been released to the Karnataka Cooperative Marketing Federation to buy and distribute fertilisers among farmers.

On the law and order, he said there should be no compromise in providing security to people of all communities. The police had to book anti-social elements under the Karnataka Organised Crimes Prevention Act. The State intelligence and district disaster management cells would be strengthened for their effective functioning.

Mr. Yeddyurappa told the senior Secretariat officials that 100 taluks out of 176 received 22 per cent deficient rainfall. The State had received 366 mm of rainfall as against a normal 472 mm of rainfall from June 1 to August 1. Rainfall was deficient in north interior Karnataka and the situation could improve in the coming days, he said.

He took note of frequent complaints in the implementation of the Bhagyalakshmi, Sandya Surakasha, Karnataka Rural Employment Guarantee, housing and pension schemes. “We have failed to identify eligible beneficiaries for schemes,” he said and instructed the officials of all departments, Deputy Commissioners and Chief Executive Officers to visit taluk headquarters once a week to monitor the progress of the schemes.

The Chief Minister made it clear to the officials that they should not hesitate in providing good administration. The people were expecting responsive administration from the Government. It was the responsibility of civil servants to deliver the goods without delay, he said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa, who spoke on almost all departments’ schemes, said construction of 3,90,460 houses for the poor would be completed in 2008-09. Work on 2,93,423 houses was in progress. There was no dearth of funds. But delays could cause cost escalation.

He expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress of housing schemes in Mandya, Ramanagara, Chamarajangara, Hassan and Chikmgalur districts. Work on houses under the Indira Awas Yojana in Mandya, Chickaballapura, Ramanagara, Uttara Kannada, and Chitradurga was not up to the mark. He told Deputy Commissioners and CEOs of respective districts to expedite the progress.

Referring to infrastructure, he said the Government had been working on providing air connectivity to all districts and Rs. 150 crore had been set aside for it. A plan had been prepared to build airports in 12 districts and airstrips in 10 districts.

A decision had been taken to provide airstrips in Davangere, Raichur, Chikmagalur, Udupi, Kushalnagar, Gokarna, Chitradurga, Bagalkot, Haveri, Gadag and Kollegal.

The district administration concerned had to identify 100 acres of land for the airstrip and the Deputy Commissioners should give priority for the land acquisition.

He said Rs. 350 crore had been earmarked for the seven city corporations, except Bangalore, for providing basic infrastructure.

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