DVS' new barometer for depts

Failure to meet at least 70 pc of targets to be deemed zero performance

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has a new barometer to gauge the performance of departments.

Any department which meets less than 70 per cent of its targets would be deemed zero performance. Strict action would be taken against the officials of these departments, Gowda said.

He was speaking at the Karnataka Development Project (KDP) meeting held in the city on Thursday.

“Each department should meet goals set for them within a stipulated period. Else, action will be taken without hesitation,” the chief minister said.

He said officials should redress people’s problems through ‘Janaspandana’ programme. Steps should be taken to ensure that construction work of anganwadi centres, schools and hostels do not suffer a setback.

The buildings should be constructed on sites suggested by the MLAs, he added.

Gowda said the Central team which visited the drought-hit areas of the State had expressed satisfaction with the relief work undertaken by the government.

The chief minister noted that there was neither dearth of funds nor that of cattle fodder to tackle the drought situation.

All efforts would be made to prevent transportation of cattle fodder to neighbouring states, one of the causes for fodder shortage in the State.

All the deputy commissioners have enough funds for drought relief and the respective taluk administrations should take steps to sink new borewells so as to overcome the drinking water problems.

The government was trailing behind the target only with regard to housing projects, he said, adding steps would be taken to provide housing for the poor.
Gowda directed that all officers and government employees should reside in the headquarters and that KDP meeting should not be taken lightly.

Providing solutions to people’s problems would be impossible without co-ordination between people’s representatives and the officials, he added. District incharge minister Balachandra Jarakiholi, MLAs Sriramulu, Anand Singh, Chandra Naika, Somashekhara Reddy, D Nagendra, Somalingappa and others were present at the meeting.

‘Expansion after core panel meet’

Sadananda Gowda said that a decision about the Cabinet expansion would be taken only after the meeting of the BJP core committee in January.

He told reporters at the helipad that the party’s central leadership had asked him not to give any reaction to the political developments in the State, during his meeting with leaders in Delhi on Wednesday. The high command had promised to end the tussle for leadership in the party so as to pave the way for hassle-free governance.

Gowda has new supporter in Jarkiholi
Minister Balachandra Jarkiholi is confident that Gowda will continue till the end of his term. Going a step further, he claimed Gowda will be the chief minister for the next term also, as he has the backing of the party’s MLAs, MPs and workers.

He was speaking at a party meeting on Thursday. Jarkiholi - who had voted for Jagadish Shettar during the election of chief minister in the BJP legislature party meeting - said despite this, he had received full support from Gowda. He said Gowda was doing a good job as chief minister.