CM seeks bureaucracy's cooperation in implementing programmes

At a meeting here to review progress of some key departments, he also sought the bureaucracy's cooperation in implementing programmes and earning "good" name to his government.

Shettar, in his second interaction with top officials in the last four months after he assumed the office of chief minister, reminded them that the BJP government's tenure will come to an end in another few months.

Assembly polls are due by May next year.

"In the remaining months, all the programmes announced in the budget has to be implemented before our term ends. If you do a good job, the government will get good name", Shettar told the officials.

Shettar, who is the third chief minister of the first BJP government that came to power in the South in 2008, referred to red tape in administration that has been delaying decision making at several levels.

"Instead of depending upon correspondence, try to sit across the table and find a solution. Red tapism should end", he said and narrated a story of a woman who has been struggling to get compensation for ten acres that was acquired by the government in Jamkhandi taluk about 30 years ago.

Shettar said there is no resource crunch in the government for development.

The government has to face challenges on various fronts including on tackling the worst ever drought that battered 157 taluks out of 176, recent bird flu, garbage menace and Cauvery water sharing row.

Deputy Commissioners in some districts have handled the drought situation well while in others, it was not so, he said.

He wanted officials to address problems like payment of pension under social security schemes and issue of BPL cards at the local level.

'Sakala', the citizen charter scheme, has brought good name to the government, he said.

Programmes of Urban Development Department, Planning, Social Welfare, Agriculture, Horticulture, Revenue and Rural Development were reviewed at the day-long meeting.