Ministers rain promises ahead of monsoon

Flush with victory and brimming with optimism, there was a fresh influx of promises from the offices of new ministers on Tuesday.

Be it the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister or the Labour minister, they had a solution for major problems faced by their respective departments.

For instance, H K Patil, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister, who has taken the initiative to provide potable water to some villages in Gadag district, said that the government is now chalking out a plan to set up pure drinking-water units in about 5,000 villages with a population of over 2,000 people each.

“The project aims to provide safe and clean drinking water to the rural population. Priority will be given to villages where ground-water is contaminated with excess fluoride. The project will be implemented with the assistance of non-governmental organisations.”
However, promises aside, the government is uncertain as to how much money will be needed to implement the project. “If necessary, the Centre's help will be sought to fund the project,” Patil said.

He added that his department will take steps to supply drinking water to about 30,000 anganawadis in the State. “Though the previous BJP Government had a plan to do this, they could not implement the plan,” he said.

Patil told reporters that he had directed the officials in his department to clear all pending files within 10 days. “The decision on a file should be take in 10 days and the people concerned should be informed about the decision through SMS alerts. Information on the status of every application received will be posted on the department website.”

Help for mine workers

P T Parameshara Naik, Minister of State for Labour, said that his department would come to the rescue of labourers who were rendered jobless due to the ban on mining in Bellary district.

Speaking to reporters after assuming office in Bangalore, Naik, who is from Bellary district, said he would soon hold a meeting with top officials to chalk out an action plan. “The department would also put in place a mechanism to ensure optimum utilisation of grants provided by the Centre for labour welfare,” he said.

There was a tug-of-war between the Centre and the previous BJP government during the last four years with the former blaming the latter for not utilising Central grants efficiently especially for the health- care of labourers. “My another priority is to completely eradicate child labour,” he added.

Textile park in Yadgir

Textile Minister Baburao Chinansoor said the government is planning to set up a textile park at a cost of Rs 1,000 crores at Gurmitkal in Yadgir district. Chinchansoor is MLA from Gurmitkal.

He told reporters that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has already about 3,500 acres of land in its possession in Gurmitkal. “The proposal is to have the park set up on 1,000 acres at Kadechur village. The project is expected to generate 5,000 jobs.

The Minister said the government will soon come out with a new textile policy  (2013-18) based on the current market requirements. The officials have already prepared a draft policy.