The State budget presented by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday received lukewarm response in the coast with many terming it not the one encouraging industrial sector even as the Opposition BJP said it has nothing for the coast.
Mangaluru South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath in a communique here said that Mr. Kumaraswamy completely neglected the fisheries sector, the lifeline in the coast. Instead of providing budget copies prior to its presentation to legislators, he completed the budget speech before providing the copies thereby breaking a seven-decade-old tradition. Mr. Kamath also said that Mr. Kumaraswamy enacted a drama early in the morning by holding a press conference against his party chief B.S. Yeddyurappa to divert attention and smear aspersions on the Speaker. He said that there was “murder of democracy” on the day of budget presentation.
Kanara Small Industries Association General Secretary Gaurav Hegde said that there was nothing great for the industries in the district and the only solace is ₹ 7 crore for tourism development at Sasihitlu. The coir industry may get benefited, he added and welcomed considerable allocation for lake rejuvenation.
Canara Plastic Manufacturers Association president B.A. Nazeer termed the budget “average”, though it was encouraging for the MSME sector. The promise to bring in a new Industrial Policy should be implemented, he demanded.
CPI (M) District Committee secretary Vasanth Achari said that though allocations towards agricultural and irrigation sectors were a welcome move, the budget did not allocate enough for the industrial sector.