From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 27: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday promised to take tough decisions for the comprehensive development and solving the problems facing Bengaluru. He declared that he will not be cowed down by protests and opposition.

Participating in the Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations, he said, "The entire city has not been systematically developed or all the areas were not properly planned. Traffic congestion, maintenance of roads and infrastructure, garbage and slums as well as drinking water problems plague the city. Civil society as well as industry leaders must join hands with the government for solving the city’s problems and make it world-class."

Shivakumar, who is heading the Bengaluru Development portfolio, pointed out, "The previous Congress government led by Siddaramaiah had decided to build a steel bridge and following widespread protests and allegations that the project was aimed at looting money, Chief Minister Siddaramiah and Minister K J George had dropped the project."

"If I was there, I would not have budged from the government’s stand. Even now, there are differing voices when I have invited suggestions from the public for the Brand Bengaluru initiative," he said, declaring that he will not deviate from the works taken up after all consultations.

He said, "When former Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah, who built Vidhana Soudha, was heading the civic body, the population of Bengaluru was hardly 16 lac which has now jumped to 1.6 crore. In the past, satellite towns of Kengeri, Yelahanka, etc., were planned to decongest the city. There are similar proposals and efforts necessary to ease the traffic congestion with proper planning."

Shivakumar said, "I believe in work rather than on mere erection of statues. Previous governments had taken decisions based on their priorities." He made these comments without mentioning the erection of the Kempegowda statue at Kempegowda International Airport and other places.

"I want to carry forward the work of Kempegowda and build Bengaluru," he said, making it clear that it was wrong to confine the founder of Bengaluru just to the Vokkaliga community as he was a true secular and farsighted leader who had established 52 different Petes in the city in which different communities were predominant.

The Deputy Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the three Ks – Kempegowda, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, and S M Krishna – who had contributed a lot to the development of Bengaluru. "We should remember the contribution and farsightedness of our forefathers and leaders. If we forget history, it is not possible to create history. We are given opportunities in our life and how we utilize them is more important," he added.