Karwar: Former Minister Anand Asnotikar said that corruption, which has never been seen in the history of Karwar – Ankola Constituency, is rampant in the present Administration.
Addressing a press conference at Pathrakarthara Bhavan here on Saturday October 15, he said that there is no industry in the Constituency and the youth are struggling without jobs. Contractors registered in Seabird and Kaiga projects as well as in various other places are carrying out works with MLA’s funds. Many of our small, young contractors have suffered a lot because of them. Today if there is no commission, people’s representatives will not come to lay the foundation stone. He alleged that a 20 per cent to 40 per cent commission has been fixed to get a project to roll.
Alleging that the BJP is known as the 40 per cent commission party, he said the important thing is that this 40 per cent word originated from our Karwar Constituency. The President of the local contractors’ association and I together enquired about why the foundation stone was not laid for Rs. 160 Crore worth a 450-bed hospital building, it was found that it was not initiated due to commission not being paid, he alleged. Post this incident, we started a fight which has become a State-wide movement today. This stigma is also there for the people’s representatives and people of our Constituency,” he noted.
The District needs a super speciality hospital. However, with the Assembly elections just around the corner, people of the District are being fooled in the name of a multi-speciality hospital in the district. The paperwork for the land has not been done yet. By then, the code of conduct will come. Therefore, the issue is used for election purposes. Health Minister Dr. Sudhakar has come to the District and made an announcement. It is just that and nothing else, he alleged.
He said, “When I was the Minister In-Charge of Raichur District, Telugu signboards were also installed on roads in the border Town. Konkani signboards should also be installed in Karwar with an emphasis on the local language. We love the land of Kannada. We will remain Kannadigas but our mother tongue is Konkani. Therefore, Konkani signboards should also be installed in Devanagari script wherever konkanas are present, he said.
Further, he said, The cancellation of environmental clearance for Kaiga Unit is a good development. We don’t want the Kaiga Project which is causing health problems for the people here. This has been made possible by the blessings of Pejavar Seer, who fought in this regard. The efforts of Shanta Bandekar, a local representative of the people, too are significant. Seabird and Kaiga projects have not been of any use to the District, even as far as local employment is concerned, he stressed.
