Bangalore gets passing reference in governor's address

Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj's maiden address to the joint session of the state legislature Monday under the new Congress government had only a passing reference to Bangalore with no specific plans to improve its crumbling infrastructure and worn out civic amenities.

"Development of Bengaluru would be focused through proper coordination between all service providers such as BBMP, BWSSB, transport, housing and power corporation. My government is committed to the completion of metro phase-I and will take up phase-II immediately thereafter," is all that Bhardwaj told the lawmakers in his hour-long speech in English.

The reference to the development of India's tech hub of 10 million denizens also came much later in the address when the governor referred to the rapid growth of urban population, accounting for 38 percent of the 60-million people across the state.

Admitting that the development of infrastructure had not kept pace with the rapid urban growth, Bhardwaj said master plans to provide underground sewage, solid waste management, housing and drinking water in all urban areas will be prepared on top priority.

Reflecting the ruling party's election manifesto, released ahead of the May 5 state legislative assembly poll, the address focused more on the farm sector, social justice, education, health, welfare of scheduled castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), backward classes and minorities.

"I seek your cooperation in realising our collective goal of making Karnataka a model for other states and countries to follow. My government accords high priority to the growth of IT and biotechnology (BT) sectors, particularly in tier-two cities. The state accounts for one-third of the country's export revenues from these two sectors," Bhardwaj said.

Assuring the knowledge sector of setting up the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) at Devanahalli on the city's outskirts and for which the central government had given in-principle approval, the governor said equal importance would be given to the development of the electronics sector and hardware sector in phase by implementing the Karnataka ICT group report.