Deshpande demands probe into Universities scams

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 22, 2017: Minister for Large and Medium Industries R V Deshpande on Jan 21, Saturday demanded action against those involved in irregularities worth Rs 500 crore at 17 universities in the state as alleged by Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy.

Desphande, who was earlier holding the additional charge of Higher Education Department, said, "Being in a responsible position, the minister has made the charges. He may be having related information and investigation should be conducted into the issue."  When sought to know, whether any such irregularities had come to his notice during his tenure in the department, Desphande said, "Whenever such complaints were brought to my notice, I have taken action by suspending a few people and also serving notices on others."

MRPL issue
To a query on a section of the people against acquiring huge tracts of land for the expansion of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) here, the minister, who said the final notification for acquisition of lands from Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) is yet to be issued, put the ball in the court of the locals.

"The locals have to decide. Earlier too during 1990’s, there were opposition from the people. No such industries should be established amid opposition from people, affecting farmers and also environment," the minister said.

The land losers will be suitably benefitted with adequate compensation and jobs will also be provided according to the industrial policy, the minister said. MRPL is investing Rs 25,000 crore for its expansion works.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Desphande described the recently concluded Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD 2017) in Bengaluru as a successful event.

He said he has also received a letter in this regard from Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

Deshpande said, "It was an event organised to ponder over the problems of tourists and allied matters, with every state competing with each other to attract tourists in the highly competitive 21st century."

Somanna issue
On the reported possibility of BJP MLC V Somanna planning to return to Congress party, Desphande pooh-poohed any such developments.

"If Somanna had met the Congress high command, he would have spoken in a different tone," he clarified.