Siddaramaiah warns officials of strict action for laxity

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Monday assigned districts to his ministers to ensure proper implementation of policies and warned officials of severe action for laxity.

Each of his 29 ministers -- 21 of cabinet rank and eight ministers of state -- has been made in charge of a district, a practice in place in the state for a long time to ensure effective functioning of administration at district level.

The charge of the state showpiece of Bangalore city has been given to Ramalinga Reddy, who is a cabinet minister looking after transport portfolio.

The allocation of the districts to his ministers came on the day the chief minister held a meeting of senior officials from across the state and told them there should be tangible improvement in the administration in a short period.

He warned of severe action against laggards. He said people throng to Bangalore to meet senior officials or ministers only when their work is not attended to at district level. "This should stop," the chief minister told the officials.