Change in portfolios a concern in twin dists

Moily had promised to bring industries and Muniyappa had assured of new railway lines

Union Ministers Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa, who are representing Chikkaballapur and Kolar constituencies have been allotted new posts at a recent reshuffle of the portfolios in the in the Congress-led UPA government on Sunday.

K H Muniyappa was elevated as the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Micro and Small Industries. Whereas Veerappa Moily has given the responsibility of Department of  Petroleum and Natural Gas (cabinet rank).

Both the ministers have expressed their support to Foreign Direct Investment. But, people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur are concerned over their promises of bringing in change and development in the twin districts

Veerappa Moliy, who was the Minister for Corporate Affairs had promised to get industries to the district. Moily, when he was sworn in as Company Laws and Corporate Affairs Minister, had assured the implementation of permanent irrigation system in the districts within five years. But later, he even stopped talking about it, instead started speaking on Yettinahole project. But now, even future of Yettinahole project looks bleak.

“He had promised to generate employment to local people. But, except for organising job fairs two time, no other effort was taken. Moreover, most of the people who got jobs in these job fairs were from other States including Jammu-Kashmir, New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and Kannada speaking people were not given preference,” said a retired teacher M Srinivasaiah, speaking to Deccan Herald.

 Whereas, Muniyappa, who was the Minister of State for Railways had declared opening of new railway lines in the district, including the Madanapalle-Srinivaspur-Kolar route, Mulbagal-Bethamangala-BEML-Bangarpet route, Kolar-Whitefield route and a direct route from Marikuppam to Andhra Pradesh. The change in Muniyappa’s portfolio, however, has turned people skeptic about the continuation of such railway works in the district.

In reality, as the officers at the Railway Department say, tracks have not been laid for a project which would connect Chintamani and Kolar railway lines. It might take some more months before it is completed. As there is no one to press for the work to be completed, even this might remain a distant dream,” says Manjunath Achari, a businessman in Chikkaballapur.

No visit

Ministers Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa has not visited the districts from one and a half month. Congress workers say, it is the work pressure did not allow them to pay a visit. But sources say that in fighting in Congress was the reason behind them not visiting Kolar or Chikkaballapur.

Sources say that protest on permanent irrigation, results of Zilla Panchayat polls and other issues are holding them back as they do not want to address these problems now.

Cold War

Differences of opinion between Union Minister K H Muniyappa and legislator M C Sudhakar, N H Shivashankara Reddy might have played important role in change of portfolio, say the sources.

“Muniyappa was expecting a cabinet berth when Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi was made to resign.  But his dream did not come true as Mukul Roy was given the responsibility of the Railways Department. Muniyappa again was sidelined when recently there was reshuffling of the Cabinet as he did not get any promotions.

Now, he has been given an independent portfolio of  Minister of Stat for Micro
and Small and Medium Industries. The delay might be in the lights of complaint by M C Sudhakar, N H Shivashankara Reddy to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and All India Congress Committee, say political experts.