Karnataka may get more projects before LS poll

Eyeing the coming Lok Sabha elections, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is set to push through developmental projects aggressively in Karnataka, even as the Siddaramaiah-led State government's functioning is likely to be subjected to intense scrutiny by the Congress high command.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday to seek additional rice for Karnataka. Singh immediately contacted Union Food Minister K V Thomas and asked him to help the state on the issue. “The prime minister had called me and asked to help Karnataka on its demand for allocation of more rice. We are studying the proposal and will take steps accordingly,” Thomas told Deccan Herald.

With the State seeking an additional 1.82 lakh tonne of rice per month from the Centre to enable the new dispensation to distribute food grain to poor to fulfil a poll promise, the final decision lies with the prime minister. The Food Ministry is already working to put up a proposal before the prime minister to meet the state's demand.

The UPA government is also expected to clear the long-pending Phase II project of  Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, for Rs 14,774 crore, soon. The project had been waiting for the Centre’s clearance for several months. Another major project—the Mumbai-Bangalore-Chennai Industrial Corridor—announced in this year's railways budget is likely to take shape as the Ministries of Railway and Commerce are to start preparatory works on it soon.

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has already shot off half a dozen letters to Siddaramaiah about the welfare schemes being implemented by his ministry in the State, and sought his co-operation for their early completion. Ramesh has also brought to the chief minister's notice the shortcomings in implementations of the UPA government flagship programme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, in Karnataka. Ramesh has asked the chief minister to address the issues raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General at the earliest.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have advised the chief minister to provide corruption-free administration. When he met her on Friday, she also listed dos and don’ts for the administration, said sources in the party.

Hinting that the State administration would be under intense scrutiny from the party, Sonia reportedly reminded the chief minister about how the previous BJP government had crumbled after many of its ministers were found embroiled in controversies and scams.

While advising the chief minister to accommodate all communities, the Congress high command has also reportedly asked him not to give the impression that the government is working against the upper castes.

As the dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have 46 MLAs in the ruling party this time, the chief minister should strike a balance while taking any decisions to ensure that the powerful communities are not offended at any time, said a senior leader in the party.

The Congress, under siege from the Opposition parties at the national level over the issue of corruption, is looking to garner more seats in Karnataka in the coming Lok Sabha election, as opposed to just the six last time, and it is depending on the new State government to help out by providing able administration and a corruption-free cabinet.

Things to do

- The Food Ministry is already working to put up a proposal before the prime minister to meet the state's demand for 1.82 lakh tonne of rice per month.

- The Centre is expected to clear Phase II project of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, for Rs 14,774 crore.

-Jairam Ramesh has asked Siddaramaiah for proper implementation of MGNREGS
in Karnataka.