Minister for Small Scale Industries and district in-charge Ramesh L. Jarkiholi has asked elected representatives to join hands breaking political barriers to work for the successful implementation of the smart city project.
Launching the project here on Saturday, he said that officials and the people should also cooperate with them for the purpose.
“We need to work together and in coordination with government departments, private organisations and the people to keep pace with the schedule,” Mr. Ramesh Jarkiholi said.
Earlier, the former Minister Satish L. Jarkiholi and Feroz N. Sait, MLA, spoke about the efforts that went into the selection Belagavi for the project.
Mr. Satish Jarkiholi said that during his tenure as a Minister, he could take a decision to allow agencies such as the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation to buy land directly from the people with the consent of the Deputy Commissioner to remove the hurdles in facilitating land for industrial development.
He said that the selection of Belagavi for the project would prompt entrepreneurs to invest here, which would open up job opportunities.
Mr. Satish Jarkiholi said that he kept political differences at bay as a district in-charge Minister. For instance, though the improvement of Old P.B. Road was sanctioned by the B.S. Yeddyurappa government, it was executed by the present Congress government. Yet, the road had been named after Mr. Yeddyurappa. Recently, a proposal had been made to name the airport road after the former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi and the Kanbargi Road after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Mr. Sait said that the project was essentially an old wine in a new bottle. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission launched by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had been given a new name, he said.
Suresh C. Angadi, MP, suggested that works on the long-pending proposal for a ring road be taken up.
Belagavi City Corporation Commissioner G. Prabhu, Mayor Sarita Patil and Sanjay B. Patil, MLA, were present.
