`GIM, image-building & wasteful exercise to cover up failures,’ says Siddu
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, June 5: In a first public criticism on the B S Yeddyurappa regime’s just concluded Global Investors’ Meet, Congress opposition leader in the Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah charged that it was nothing but an image-building and wasteful exercise cover up poor governance, charges of corruption, land and mining scams and power shortage.
Siddaramaiah alleged that all development works in the statde h come to a standstill for the last one month as all departments were busy in making arrangements for organising the event and issuing lavish advertisements.
The BJP government organised the GIM by spending crores of rupees to give a face- lift to its tarnished image following internal differences within the ruling party, the Reddy brothers’ revolt against the Chief Minister, frequent transfer of officials, and charges of corruption against a few ministers, the Congress leader alleged.
The Government claims that a record 361 MoUs were signed and an unprecedented Rs 4 lakh crore worth investment proposals poured in during the two-day GIM, he said and urged the chief minister to come out with precise details of the sector-wise investments generated, the locations and the kind of facilities or incentives that were offered so that the public and all interested parties can keep track of the progress, Siddaramaiah said.
All agreements signed with the investors during the GIM would not materialise due to severe infrastructure bottlenecks as also severe power and water shortages, he said pointing out that the
government cannot acquire lands from farmers indiscriminately to meet the requirements of entrepreneurs.
"How would the Government meet the water requirements of industries that are supposed to come up around Bangalore when the City was facing 40 % shortage in drinking water,” Siddaramaiah asked.
The State Government signed MoUs for 361 projects involving investment of Rs 4 lakh crore. The Government has to acquire nearly 3 lakh acres of land for realising all investment proposals. Delay in identification of lands, cumbersome procedures in the land acquisition and release of compensation, inadequate rail and road networks would come in the way of implementing projects.
Acquisition of farm lands would lead to unrest among the farming community and sharp drop in food production in the coming years.
A clear cut policy was required for land acquisition and compensation, he said.
Noting the negligible share of projects in the manufacturing, power and agro-processing sectors, he said many entrepreneurs signed agreements for setting up of mining, steel and IT/BT sectors.
The Congress leader demanded a survey of mining areas to assess the requirements of minerals for various industrial purposes and save minerals for the next generation.
The Government had wasted huge sums of money for installing hoardings, issuing advertisements in the media and hosting the GIM besides expenditure on air travel and five-star hotel stay.
Instead of spending the money on the GIM, the government could have used the resources for construction of houses for the people affected by last year’s floods in north Karnataka.
Even if the Government’s claims on the total investment generated are accepted at face value, it was obvious that a large chunk of investment projects came from Indian companies and domestic entrepreneurs. ``In such a situation, it is meaningless to term the event as a Global Investors’ Meet,” he said.