Blame game erupts over North Karnataka’s problems

Belagavi: A debate to discuss the many problems plaguing the North Karnataka descended into a political slugfest in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, with members of the ruling party and the opposition trading blame for the backwardness of the region.

However, members cutting across party lines acknowledged the need for comprehensive development of the region across irrigation, infrastructure, employment and several other sectors.

Minister for Minor Irrigation and Leader of the House N S Boseraju alleged that the Centre was not extending enough assistance to develop the Kalyana Karnataka region, which had been accorded special status under Article 371 (J).

He also found fault with the Centre for the failure to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) centre in Raichur.

However, Chief Whip of the Opposition in the Council N Ravikumar cited findings from the Dr Nanjundappa report on regional imbalances to highlight the plight of constituencies represented by former chief ministers.

Meanwhile, former minister and senior BJP leader C T Ravi said that Congress MLAs elected from the region were prone to stay at their homes in Bengaluru, ignoring the problems of North Karnataka.

BJP MLC Hanumanth Nirani, who initiated the discussion, stressed the need for a medical college in each district of the region, besides calling for shifting government departments to North Karnataka.

He also underscored the importance of completing the third phase of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP), and called for linking the River Kali with the River Ghataprabha.

Silencing voices seeking separate statehood for the region was possible only if regional imbalance in development was addressed, he said.

Shashil Namoshi, meanwhile, said that, although relatively more developed than Kalyana Karnataka, Kittur Karnataka derived the benefits of the entire region’s backwardness.

He also called for resolutions in both the Assembly and the Council demanding the establishment of AIIMS in Raichur. He also called for sending a delegation to the Centre to plead the state’s case.  

Ravikumar took exception to the fact that only three ministers and very few Congress members were in the House were present for the discussion.

Vishwanath’s take 

Meanwhile, former minister and senior MLC Adagooru H Vishwanath said that the government schemes should be geared towards providing work to those willing to do so.

Vishwanath said, “If the money – more than Rs 1 lakh crore – spent on guarantee schemes had been used for completing the third phase of UKP, it would have helped farmers. I am not calling for the schemes to be stopped. But how have they contributed to the state’s development? During his tenure as CM, S Bangarappa offered free power up to 10HP for irrigation pump-sets. We need schemes such as those.”

Why hadn’t a government college been set up in Davanagere, said Vishwanath, pointing to a ‘private octopus’ dominating the sector in the region.

“We politicians have become a hindrance to development. Politicians and officials are responsible for projects remaining incomplete,” Vishwanath added.