Dharwad
District-level officials from various departments faced criticism from Minister Santosh Lad for their lack of preparedness and incorrect information at a quarterly review meeting of the Karnataka Development Programme. The Minister was upset when he found that officials were unable to provide accurate statistical information about their department’s progress.
Minister Lad questioned why officials came to the meeting without proper information despite being instructed to come prepared. He expressed frustration, noting that proposals are based on the information provided by these officials, yet they failed to have the correct data.
The Minister asked agriculture department officials about the cost of production for cultivating green gram and urad dal per hectare, the possible yield, and profit. He also inquired about the feasibility of collecting samples from more farmers to assess crop loss and provide insurance. The officials had no answers. When the sericulture department was asked about the expenditure and possible profit in sericulture farming, an officer said he would provide the information later. This response led the Minister to criticize the officers, questioning their seriousness.The meeting was attended by MLAs NH Konaraddi and MR Patil, Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer TK Swaroop, Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar, Superintendent of Police Gopal Byakod, and Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ishwar Ullagaddi.
