Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Jun 13: H D Revanna, newly-elected leader of the JD (S) parliamentary party in the state on Friday June 12, participated in an elaborate function held to take over charge of his new position in the office located in Vidhan Soudha here. Speaking to the media later in his office, he welcomed Yeddyurappa's call for mutual cooperation between the government and the opposition parties but said, he will bare the failures of the government without any hesitation.
He accused the government of having failed to make any headway in the Rs 4,800 crore World Bank scheme for the development of 4,000 kms of state highways. "The sanction was received when our government was in the office. The state government has failed to utilize the funds for developing the highways," he charged.
"When I was the PWD minister, sanction for the World Bank’s financial assistance was obtained by bringing pressure on the union government. The World Bank expressed its readiness to release funds a year back. But, the government has not made any efforts to avail of the money," he charged. The government, instead of getting the first installment of Rs 800 crore released and develop the roads, is showing more interest in developing 12,000 kms of road which can be used by only by paying the toll charges, he criticized.
The World Bank had decided on the roads that are to be developed by making use of the funds and had got the studies conducted. The government has totally neglected this plan, and is concentrating on toll roads, which is not justifiable, he said. He clarified that he is not against the collection of the toll, but wanted rural roads to be exempted from toll levy.
"I do not believe in friction. I will point out mistakes as and when committed by the government to bring it back on the track," he said. He also concurred that Siddaramaiah, opposition leader in the assembly, is an experienced leader close to him and that he will work honestly with mutual cooperation with Siddaramaiah.
JDS MLAs Bandeppa Kashempur and Abdul Azim were present.