Mumbai, July 7 -- Chief minister D K Shivakumar said the state government is opposed to privatisation of power distribution after the Tata group applied to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission for a licence to run parallel supply in parts of the state. He said the application reached the commission rather than the government and that he had instructed all electricity supply companies to file comprehensive objections, informing the commission that the state cannot and will not consent to a parallel distribution layout. He added that had the application come to him directly he would have conveyed the government position without delay.
The government has established a citizen grievance redressal department called Praja Seve and appointed senior IAS officer Harsh Gupta as secretary. The department is tasked with receiving public grievances, routing petitions and directing pain points to the relevant departments, and will be overseen by a dedicated minister while district in-charge ministers must spend two days a month on constituency tours on the first and third Saturdays. Application forms will be distributed at taluk level so citizens can bring pre-filled forms to ministers or local members of the legislative assembly at counters.
The chief minister said the Transport Department has submitted a proposal detailing operational losses arising from rising petrol and diesel prices and that the government has sought a technical report to balance commuter interests and staff welfare before any decision on fares. He said he will conduct surprise single-day tours across various taluks as part of outreach. The administration also reiterated that private and revenue roads in layouts will be declared public roads after site distribution under the Bhoo Guarantee.
Other decisions scheduled monsoon session for early August and formed a cabinet sub-committee under deputy chief minister G Parameshwara. The Akrama-Sakrama deadline was extended to August 15. Several development allocations were approved.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.