CM blames previous govts for power crisis

Basically, the Chief Minister’s 45-minute speech at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds in Bangalore was a department-wise report card sprinkled with announcements and commitments which had already been made or promised.

Illegal mining, an issue taken up by the Opposition to mat the government, did figure in his speech. Yeddyurappa devoted a substantial part of his address to reiterate that the government was committed to curb illegal mining and ban export of iron ore.

He explained in details the steps taken by the government to conserve the State’s natural wealth and at the same time sought to indirectly blame the Centre for not bringing out a national policy to ban export of iron ore.

He painted a rosy picture on the strides taken by every department, be it irrigation, rural development, finance, infrastructure or urban development during the last two years.
However, he did admit that there had been delay in implementation of the Asare scheme, the programme to provide housing facilities to the flood victims of North Karnataka.

“Several factors have led to delay in this scheme. I assure the victims that the work of providing permanent shelters would be taken up without further delay,” he said.
Another admission was that the State was reeling under a severe power crisis.

“Karnataka was a power surplus State in the 1970s by generating power in surplus of its requirement. But today the State is facing a shortage of 2,000 MW”, he said. However, in this case, the Chief Minister blamed previous governments for failing to implement new power projects.

He reiterated that the government had prepared a new infrastructure blue print for Bangalore at a cost of Rs 18,872 crore. The project would be implemented in the next three years.

He said Metro rail will start operation between Byappanahalli and M G Road by the end of the year. Multi-level parking centres would be constructed in various parts of Bangalore.
Bangalore Development Authority will spend Rs 1,000 crore to develop 10 signal-free roads, he added. He said the Government had already released Rs 7,000 crore for implementing D M Nanjundappa Committee report on Regional Imbalances and would earmark Rs 10,000 crore for the next five years.