Govt will fight crime, govern better, assures CM

Mangalore homestay attack and growing crime against elders worry Shettar

The rising crime rate in the State was at the top of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar’s mind as he attempted to allay citizen’s fears during his Independence Day address on Wednesday.

In his maiden Independence Day address at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds, Shettar admitted the government’s initiatives to maintain law and order in the last four years were not enough.

Shettar said the recent incident in Mangalore where revelling young men and women were beaten by a fringe group and Bangalore’s increasing crime, were a “cause for worry.”

He assured the people that the government was committed to creating a secure and peaceful environment in the State.

“Strict instructions have been given to the police to prevent any untoward incidents in future,” the chief minister said.

The attack on young men and women at a homestay in Mangalore allegedly by activists of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike, a right-wing fundamentalist group, had received widespread condemnation.

Besides, Bangalore has witnessed a spate of murders - mostly of senior citizens - and kidnappings in recent weeks.

Focus on governance

With Assembly elections around the corner, Shettar also used his speech to highlight the progress of populist programmes launched by the government.

Shettar is the third chief minister of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to deliver the Independence Day address in the last four years.

“I have the responsibility of expediting the implementation of various developmental and welfare programmes launched by my predecessors (Yeddyurappa and Sadananda Gowda)”, Shettar said, adding that department-wise action plans have been prepared to hasten the implementation process.

The chief minister pointed out that while there have been rains during the last few days the State was still in the grip of a severe drought.

He said the recent rains had led to farmers involving themselves in agricultural operations.

“Kharif is almost a failure. Now only short term crops can be grown. Considering this, the government has given special attention to continue drought relief measures.

Employment for the needy, supply of water and fodder for people and animals will be our priorities,” he said.

Fiscal outlay

Dwelling on the state finances, Shettar said the government had fixed a plan of Rs 42,030 crore for fiscal 2012-13 which is 10 per cent more than the previous fiscal.

For the first time a budget with a total size of more than Rs one lakh-crore had been presented, he added.

The CM  also said the Cauvery Drinking Water Scheme Stage IV Phase II works are near completion and additional 500 Million Litres per Day (MLD) water would be supplied from the end of August.

“With the completion of the project, drinking water supply in new areas under BBMP would be improved considerably.”

The phase-I of Bangalore Metro Rail would be completed by 2014.

Approval has been given for the II phase of 73 kms of Metro.

The second phase of Metro to be taken up at a cost of Rs 26,045 crore is expected to be completed by 2018, he said.

Kolar-Chikkballapur, Kadur-Chikmagalur, Shravanabelagola-Hirisave, Nelamangala-Solur and Ramanagara-Mandya double track would be completed by the end of the year, Shettar said.

Earlier, Shettar unfurled the tricolour and received the guard of honour at the Parade Grounds under tight security.