Development authorities: Karnataka govt mulls evaluation

Bengaluru: The government told the Assembly on Wednesday that it would consider evaluating the functioning of at least 7 statutory authorities set up over the years to develop heritage sites across the state.

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said this during the passage of seven Bills that allow any minister to head authorities instead of CM. This is to ensure that the authority’s work is not affected given that the chief minister’s workload is heavy. 

These are: Basavakalyan Development Board, Kaginele Development Authority, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Heritage Site Development Authority, Kittur Development Authority, Kudalasangama Development Board, Banavasi Development Authority and Sarvagna Kshetra Development Authority.  

BJP’s Suresh Kumar asked the government to explain how these authorities had performed. 

“Some authorities have done some good work. Others haven’t done satisfactorily. Most authorities were set up due to local pressures,” Gowda admitted.

“When so many development authorities are established, they lose prominence. About eight months ago, we created a new Bagewadi Development Authority from the Kudalasangama Authority,” he laughed. 

“All of us know what’s left in the government’s administrative capacity. How we can meet more responsibilities that we take on is debatable. May be we can set up an team to look at the authorities or carry out an evaluation. We’ll examine this,” Gowda said.