Mysuru: Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) review meeting has not been held in Mysuru district for the past nine months, despite norms mandating it once every three months. The last meeting was held on Nov 10, when the then CM Siddaramaiah chaired a marathon 10-hour session.Guidelines require the district-level meetings, headed by the district in-charge minister, to review department-wise progress, assess setbacks in the implementation of govt-sponsored schemes, address obstacles, and find solutions to people-centric and development issues in the presence of officials, MLAs, and MLCs.In the last three years, the then district in-charge minister HC Mahadevappa regularly reviewed development works and departmental progress through these meetings.However, changes in state leadership and delays in appointing district in-charge ministers, among other factors, stalled further meetings.The gap comes at a time when there are no elected bodies in 275 gram panchayats, taluk panchayats, zilla panchayats, Mysuru City Corporation, and other urban local bodies in the district, making KDP meetings crucial for guiding officials, monitoring welfare schemes, and expediting infrastructure projects.Though Yathindra Siddaramaiah has been appointed the district in-charge minister to oversee disaster management and coordinate monsoon relief, confusion persists among officials and MLAs over who should chair KDP meetings.At least three meetings should have been held by now, but none have taken place, casting a shadow over the implementation of development works.Several MLAs and MLCs from the district have urged the govt to convene the meeting. “As MLAs have no control over officials, there is an urgent need to hold KDP meetings to review the development works initiated in the district,” said Krishnaraja MLA TS Srivathsa.District Congress president BJ Vijaykumar said party MLAs and MLCs have also prevailed upon the govt to urgently convene KDP meetings to direct officials and expedite local infrastructure projects.
