‘Our success story got lost in controversies’

June 26: Higher education minister Dr V.S. Acharya is one of the few members of the state Cabinet, who has no qualms about speaking his heart.

The fact that he is accessible most of the time, is something widely appreciated by even his detractors. This despite his avowed allegiance to the RSS, which has landed him in controversy more than once. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Dr Acharya spoke about various issues including the much anticipated Cabinet expansion, JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s attacks on Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and the image of the first BJP government in the South.

To begin with, let’s talk about the controversy surrounding the chief minister over taking an oath at Dharmasthala. Can the chief minister of a state invite his political rival to face a truth test before god?
I think the media misread the situation. When a person keeps bothering and irritating you every day, a strong believer like Mr Yeddyurappa may tend to hit back saying god will teach you a lesson for bad behaviour.

Then, why did he back out? Will it be a setback for the party?
See what happened later. Pontiffs and seers of several powerful maths and dignitaries spoke out saying Mr Yeddyurappa’s plan to take a vow, was not in good taste. The chief minister positively responded to their sentiments and cancelled his plan. It will not be a setback for him because the person at the other end, can hardly be described as a statesman.

How did the party respond to the latest charges levelled by Mr Kumaraswamy on the involvement of family members of Mr Yeddyurappa in a cement company scam?
The party did not take it seriously because everything happened when the state was under President’s Rule. It is not even worth discussing this in party circles. It is unfortunate that a former chief minister resorted to such tactics. This is because he does not understand the language of democracy.

As a former home minister, what is your view on banning Karnataka Forum for Dignity?
I feel banning such organisations will not help. When the government banned SIMI, activists regrouped under the KFD. When you ban outlaws, they do not cease their activity all of a sudden. Instead, they continue to function under the aegis of a different organisation. I feel filing stringent cases against these people, is the best option. They will then stop their terror activity.

The delay in expanding the Cabinet, has given an impression that the party and government have different views on this. Comment.
You don’t have to read too much into it. We don’t have to expand the Cabinet in a hurry. The thinking in the party is that we should fill 2-3 of the seven vacant Cabinet berths. I don’t think the party top brass is considering filling all seven berths.

How do you view the comments made by senior BJP leader L.K. Advani that the party’s image has taken a beating due to the series of controversies the BJP government landed in?
Image building work is not a one-time measure. It is a continuous process. Mr Advani is the senior most leader of the party and one should not take his comments lightly. Nor is there anything wrong with his view. In spite of implementing so many programmes, controversies sprung up which diverted attention from our work. He has given a piece of advice which we have to strictly adhere to. After Mr Advani made a public observation, Mr Yeddyurappa held a series of meetings and gave a diktat making it mandatory for ministers to attend their offices at Vidhana Soudha.

You claim your achievements are outstanding. So, why is the image of the government bad?
There are two issues. Due to the controversies, we could not highlight our performance. Two, the Opposition Congress and JD(S) are getting disheartened. That’s why they keep making baseless and sometimes silly charges. Of the 28 byelections held since 2008, we have won 19. What other proof do you need to assess our popularity?

Deccan Chronicle

20.06.2011

1. Justice Santhosh Hegde inaugurates the Lok Ayukta office building at Udupi

2. Foundation stone for Extension of Udupi IB, laid

3. Two new bridges across river Swarna, foundation stone laid

(photos by Janardan Kodavoor)

1992: 12th Place, 2010: 2nd Place Karnataka Marches ahead in Development!

Udupi, Nov 1: Accepting the challenge by the union law minister M Veerappa Moily to have a survey/review to bring out the truth of actual funds spent by the state government for the grants released by the central government towards union government sponsored programme, the Higher Education minister Dr V S Acharya on Monday November 1 said that the state government was ready for such a survey.

Replying to the criticism made by Moily on Saturday October 30 at Nitte that the second position given to Karnataka was not really a “Certificate” for the achievements in the developmental activities but only for spending the central grants whereas it's actul utilization will be known only when a survey will be conducted, Dr Acharya asserted that the state which was in 12th position in 1992 had today attained the second position in the entire country after Gujarat state in the successful implementation of 20 point programme of poverty alleviation.

“A small portion of grant had been given by the centre, while the state government has on its own had launched several innovative programmes. On the other hand, he said that the centre was yet to release grants under Rural Development (RD) programme. He said that for the first time in the country, the BJP government in the state had this year made available a whopping allocation of Rs 10,503 crore in the education sector. It had also attained the first position in terms of plan expenditure through mobilization of resources without taxing which was at 11 percent of GPDP.

He also stressed the need that besides, awareness about new aspects like financial literacy, computer literacy, web literacy, legal literacy and energy literacy, we need to have cultural and religious literacy to know about the cultural growth of Karnataka.

Referring to power situation, he said that Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) near Padubidri in the district, in its first stage of production had already producing 600 MW power. In the second stage, expected to be commenced by the end of December this year, an additional 600 MW would be added. Out of the total power produced by the UPCL, 10 percent production would be passed on to the national grid and remaining would be supplied to the MESCOM covering four revenue districts.

He said that there was an estimated loss of Rs 28 lakh due to the torrential rains that hit the district during the three days from October 21 to 23 which had severely damaged all major roads and National Highway. The district administration had already received Rs. 8 crore to take up the repair works. He said he had also specially asked the National Highway Authorities to take up the repair works at the earliest along with the ongoing work of construction of new bridges and culverts on the four lane project between Suratkal and Kundapur. Funds had also been released for the Rs 45 crore widening of Padubidri-Karkala (from 7.5 mt to 15.5 mt).

The revenue department had also given its approval for widening work between Kalsanka and Kallianpur
road, he added. The minister said that the work on the Rs 27 crore district administration complex at Manipal under the completion stage and planned to inaugurate by the end of December. In all Rs 22 crore had already been released, he said and added that a proposal is also before the government for the
construction of Circuit House in Udupi and Mangalore at the cost of Rs 3 crore.

23.10.2010: CM @ Udupi District

Pics: Janardan Kodavoor

07.08.2010: Janaspandana

Udupi, Aug 7: Home Minister V.S. Acharya said on Saturday said that the Government was giving priority to providing basic facilities.Speaking at the “janaspandana” at Kaup in Udupi district, Dr. Acharya said that welfare schemes of the Government could reach the people only through complete cooperation of officials. Sea erosion had become more severe in the coastal belt of the district. Nearly 100-m stretch on the Udyavar-Padukere concrete road was damaged due to sea erosion in Udyavar recently. The officials had been directed to take immediate steps to reconstruct the road. Grants for this work would be provided from the Natural Calamities Fund, he said.Dr. Acharya said that free health check-up of students from classes one to 10 studying in government, private, aided and unaided schools had been launched under the Suvarna Arogya Chaitanya scheme. Wherever necessary, medical treatment would also be provided to these students. The Government had set aside Rs. 50 crore for this scheme, he said.Owing to successful conduct of janaspandana in the last two years, the number of applications being received in these programmes had come down. The Hindu/ Janardan Kodavoor

Development in progress: rural areas connected with a suspension bridge

Pethri, Udupi district gets a suspension bridge

(Photo: Janardan Kodavoor/JP)

Udupi, 27 June 2010: The hanging bridge connecting Kamabalamajalu and Petri of Udupi Gram Panchayat area was inaugurated by Home Minister Dr V S Acharya here at Kukkikatte on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Acharya informed that as many as hundred places have been identified in the district for constructing hanging and other small bridges.

Udupi district leads the parameters deciding human development index in the State. Education, sanitation and public awareness on crucial issues is at higher ratio in the district. The allocations made for the basic infrastructure facilities are much greater than any other districts, he added.

The government is supporting measures aiding integrated and all round development of the district, he said. The project is taken up under Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP).

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP D V Sadananda Gowda, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon, Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat, DC Hemalatha, ZP President Gladys Almeida, CEO N Rajashekar and others were present. (DHNS)