Call centres soon to handle RTI requests Special Correspondent http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/26/stories/2010022653590400.htm Bangalore: The State Government, in an effort aimed at better administration and governance, has said that e-governance initiatives will be implemented on a large-scale, and towards this end call centres to handle requests for Right to Information will be set up across the State shortly. The computerised facilitation centres with a 24X7 helpline will handle requests from citizens for information and filing of applications under the RTI Act. In his address to the Joint session of the State Legislature, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj said the State Government seeks to convey to the people that the law and order situation here is well under control and that there have been no incidents of police firing or a terrorist strike in the last calendar year. On the e-governance front, Mr. Bhardwaj said akin to the BangaloreOne centres which render a host of services to the people under one umbrella, 20 KarnatakaOne centres will be operational in the district headquarters by next month. The Governor said retired judicial officers will be appointed on a contract basis to assist in expeditious disposal of long-pending cases. The milk incentive scheme wherein Rs. 2 a litre is paid to the milk producers has helped in raising the milk production by 4.5 lakh litres a day and Karnataka is now the second largest milk producer in the country. Over 120 new milk cooperative societies have been established. Further, to enhance the productivity of the State Horticultural farms, 19 of them will be developed in collaboration with the private sector partners. In the field of higher education, the Governor said, the University of Mysore and Karnatak University, Dharwad, will be restructured to serve as model universities. The Karnataka Knowledge Commission has given a set of recommendations to the Government to restructure the two universities. In the meanwhile, admissions, conduct of examinations and announcement of results of all other universities in the State will be governed by a common calendar. On the electricity generation front, he said, acquisition of land has commenced for the 4000 MW NTPC project at Kudagi in Bijapur district while the civil works for the 1600 MW venture of KPCL and BHEL at Yeramaras will commence shortly along with the 800 MW project at Yedlapur. Both these projects have been granted environmental clearance by the Centre. However, a mega infrastructure project with far-reaching impact on the State’s energy scenario will be the gas grid, being developed between Dabhol and Bangalore by the Gas Authority of India Limited. “We expect to augment power generation by 7900 MW by taking up four gas-based projects in the private sector and one by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited at Bidadi near Bangalore”. The Global Investors’ meet to attract investment and to create additional employment opportunities will be held on June 3 and 4. Maiden address The address by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj to the joint session of the Legislature on Monday was his maiden address to the legislature after taking charge of the gubernatorial post in the State in June last, and interestingly it was after nearly 40 years that a Governor’s family — in the present instance his wife — sat through the address by the Governor. Prafulata, a well-qualified advocate who is also partner in the law firm of her husband, was present at the distinguished visitors’ gallery. The last time a Governor’s family which accompanied the Governor on most occasions when he delivered an address to the two houses of the State legislature was that of Mohanlal Sukhadia, who was Governor of Karnataka between 1972 and 1976 when D. Devaraj Urs was Chief Minister
