Only lip service to drought and power crisis?

BANGALORE: The Congress on Friday came down hard on the BJP government for its inefficiency in implementing relief works in drought areas of the state.Claiming that funds were not released for any such works, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dr G Parameshwar demanded that a Legislature session be convened immediately to discuss the issue.Addressing the media here, he said: “An inquiry from the officials concerned revealed that the state government has merely declared many taluks as drought affected.”He averred that designated nodal officers to all taluks must monitor the relief works in concordance with a task force involving elected representatives. Parameshwar also expressed concern at the shortage of fodder, temporary relief camps and funds to provide employment to those affected.“Sheer mismanagement has resulted in the power crisis in the state,” was his take on the acute power shortage, while terming the government’s tendency to purchase power in the last three years as a “facade”.“The same amount could have been utilised to build a new power plant of over 1500 MW capacity.” During the course of his address, Parameshwar said that the government had swindled a lot of public money in the guise of purchasing coal for various thermal power plants.The impact of the crisis on the economy, too, did not escape his attention.“Over 20 lakh IP sets across the state remain non-functional, drinking water schemes powered by electricity are hit and the farm and industrial sectors are suffering a lot, due to apathy of the government,” he said.He seemed surprised that this was the situation despite the government having a majority, and suggested that the state lead a delegation to the Centre.Refuting charges that Union ministers representing Karnataka are not coming forward to the rescue of the state, he countered that they have always rallied from behind to protect the cause of the state.