N K'TAKA GIVEN STEP-MOTHERLY TREATMENT BY GOVTS, SAY REGION MLAS IN ASSEMBLY

Rue North Karnataka does not have a single public enterprise; Call for longer winter session

- SUNIL PATIL @Belagavi

CUTTING across party lines, MLAs from North Karnataka raised several major issues concerning the region and questioned the "stepmotherly" treatment meted out to the area by successive governments as far as development is concerned.

During a special discussion on the development of North Karnataka in the Assembly, ruling party MLA Prakash Koliwad said, "The per capita income in North Karnataka is Rs 1.2 Lakh, while it is Rs 4.7 Lakh for South Karnataka. North Karnataka is far behind in GDP, literacy rate, employment and number of industries. Haveri has only nine industries, but Bengaluru has 7,000. North Karnataka does not have a single public enterprise, while the South has HAL, BHEL and many others. South has two international airports, while plans are being made for another one in Tumakuru. But the North does not have a single such airport."

He said, "When I see this situation, I remember late minister Umesh Katti's demand for a separate state for North Karnataka. None of the governments have thought of resolving this difference and bringing equality across the state."