Infrastructure is our priority, says Governor

Infrastructure is our priority, says Governor
Bangalore, dhns:
Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur has said that infrastructure development will be a priority area of his government.

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur has said that infrastructure development will be a priority area of his government. Speaking at a seminar, ‘Administrative Reforms for Accelerated Growth’, organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Monday, Thakur said that to sustain and accelerate higher economic growth rate, Karnataka needs to build, upgrade and modernise its infrastructure on an urgent basis.
The governor said that accelerated economic growth would imply effective public delivery systems, speedy industrialisation and infrastructure development, as well as the removal of regional and other imbalances.
Referring to the executive committee’s approval, given recently to create a special cell in the State Planning Board for implementing the Nanjundaiah Committee report, Thakur said that the cell would try address the problem with investment projects for North Karnataka as well.
Participation
Stating that decentralisation was a necessity in the present scenario, Thakur added that the delegation of authority to various levels of the State and district administration will instill a sense of participation in them, as well as holding them directly responsible to the public.
In his keynote address, Administrative Reforms Commission Chairman M Veerappa Moily regretted that the six reports submitted by the Commission just remain on the the website.
“As far as administrative reforms are concerned, we are racing against time. Pressure groups like FKCCI should work in this direction and pressurise governments to implement the recommendations made by the Commission,” he said.
While admitting that transition is difficult, Moily said that it is not impossible.
Citing the success stories of Electronic City industrial area, ITPL and CET, Moily said that all three initiatives had initially attracted criticism. “Today, they have become the success stories of the State,” he added.
Urging the Governor to initiate administrative reforms in Karnataka, Moily said that the State was fertile for such reforms.
“The people are very receptive and any experiment can be done here,” he added.
In his welcome address, FKCCIPresident S S Patil said that the recent political uncertainty in the State had affected the timely completion of projects and also slowed down investments. He expressed his hope that the Governor’s rule would reverse the trend and also restore the sanctity of public office.