Karnataka CM positive of 5-yr term for BJP

Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda here on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that he is a “puppet” of party strongman B S Yeddyurappa, He was very positive about the party getting a five-year term. Gowda has been derided as a puppet of Yeddyurappa by the opposition ever since the latter chose Gowda to succeed him after he was forced to quit following a Lokayukta report indicting him over illegal mining.

The BJP government now has 22 months more to go of its tenure with Assembly polls scheduled for May 2013. Gowda, who assumed charge as chief minister on August 4, said, “I have a desire to get another five years.”

On Opposition comments, Gowda said, “I will reply with my conduct. I am running the administration in my own way.”

Meanwhile, he expressed concern over the mass unemployment arising from the Supreme Court ban on mining in the Bellary district.

Over 100,000 people are estimated to have lost their jobs in the state. The state will also suffer an annual revenue loss of Rs 4,000 crore due to the ban, he added.

He was responding to a query on the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) recently recommending to the Supreme Court to extend the ban on mining to the districts of Tumkur and Chitradurga.

Gowda said, the SC judgement would be accepted and obeyed, adding, “We are a little worried because nearly 100,000 people have lost their jobs across Karnataka and nearly Rs 4,000 crore coming to the state exchequer has stopped.”

“These are things we are little bit worried. But certainly we will look into how to manage all this,” he added. Gowda, however, said the state’s finances were sound. Direct tax collection during April-July period this year had gone up to Rs 14,358 crore, from Rs 11,950 crore during the same period last fiscal, which is a growth of over 20 per cent.

On July 29, the apex court had ordered the suspension of mining and transportation of iron ore from Bellary district after considering CEC’s report which said most miners in the region were indulging in illegal mining causing considerable environmental damage.

Meanwhile, the chief minister said that a committee headed by the additional chief secretary will scrutinise the Lokayukta report submitted to the government regarding illegal mining. On the basis of the study report the future course of action will be taken.

“After scrutinising the report, action will be taken against the officials concerned. As it’s so massive a report, perusing through it will take time,” he said.