‘Welcome constructive criticism, but not bothered about extreme targeted remarks’: DyCM DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday indirectly lashed out at some Bengaluru-based industrialists for their alleged unwarranted caustic remarks about Bengaluru’s urban infrastructure.

“Some of the industrialists who owe their success to Bengaluru are today criticising the city. They are forgetting their humble beginnings in Bengaluru and how the city helped them grow. I believe that we should not forget our roots,” the DCM said, speaking to reporters after participating in ‘Walk with Bengaluru’ initiative at Koramangala.

This comes after Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon chief, expressed frustration over Bengaluru’s infrastructure woes, citing poor road conditions and garbage management issues.

She emphasised the need for timely garbage clearance and road resurfacing, holding government ministers accountable for the city’s state. Shaw stated, “We are in this dire situation because of past Govts’ failure to act in time.”

“For the first time in the country, we have created a mechanism in Bengaluru where citizens can identify and report potholes to the authorities. I welcome constructive criticism as they are an integral part of democracy. But I don’t care about extreme criticism. People have given us the opportunity and we are serving them,” he said.

He said that the state government has completed two years in office, and no government has taken as many decisions as they have taken.

“The people are aware, and so is the Opposition. They control the media, but we have given complete freedom to the media in the state. They can go to Delhi or Mumbai and verify the conditions there,” he added. We have formed GBA to decentralise administration. GBA will take care of mega projects in the city, while corporations will handle smaller works and maintenance. The population has reached 1.40 crore, and the floating population is about 70 lakh. Three thousand vehicles are registered every day in Bengaluru,” he said.

“We have increased the spending limits to speed up the process. The spending limit for corporation commissioners has been increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3 crore. The standing committee spending limit has been increased from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore. The BJP leaders are happy about this decision too, but they are not saying it in public,” he added.

He further said that about 180 citizens have submitted their grievances and suggestions, including a metro line to Koramangala, a direct airport connection, and flooding, among others.

“We need public support to resolve issues in Bengaluru; the government alone can’t do much. For the integrated development of Bengaluru, we have taken up tunnel roads, elevated corridors, double-decker flyovers, buffer roads, etc., at a cost of Rs 1.04 lakh crore. We have formed five corporations to take governance closer to people,” he added.

He further said that some of the citizens have raised the issue of CA sites.

“Our government is formulating a new policy on the CA site. The GBA will now handle CA sites,” he informed.

“We have introduced guarantee schemes to reduce the burden of inflation and price rise. Our government is spending Rs 52,000 crore for this scheme. We are spending Rs 20,000 crore to provide free power to farmers. On the whole, our government spends more than Rs 1 lakh crore,” he said.

Responding to the Walk with Bengaluru initiative, he said, “We are reaching out to people ourselves to listen to their grievances and suggestions. Our officials will address all the concerns raised.”

He said that the Ejipura flyover would be completed very soon.

He further said, “I would hold a meeting with CEOs of IT/BT companies. IT Minister Priyank Kharge and Industries Minister M B Patil will also hold a separate meeting with them.”

Responding to RSS events in the state, he said, “We have not formulated any special rules for RSS in particular. We are only implementing the rules introduced during Jagadish Shettar’s government in 2013.” (ANI)