Legislator Varthur Prakash strongly criticised former CM H D Kumaraswamy and former MLA Srinivasa Gowda for their ‘pretense’ of giving their go-ahead to a project, while not sanctioning any funds.

He was speaking after being felicitated by the Gold and Silver Merchants’ Association, in the city recently.
“The then Chief Minister Kumaraswamy commissioned the Yargol project - estimated at Rs 240 crore - without sanctioning funds for the same. As a result, the projects have been put on the backburner. And because you have supported the BJP, a sum of Rs 50 crore has been released for the project,” he said.

Many big companies - some of them from outside India - expressed interest in the Yaragol project, he added.

Tender

“The preparations have all been done. The tender process will be begun soon, and within three months, work on the project will begin,” Prakash said.

The Member of the Legislative Assembly also said that gold and other merchants had been facing problems from the police and other authorities for a while now.

“I will discuss the matter with the respective departments and see that the merchants are given adequate protection,” he promised. Legislator Y Sampangi urged the owners of gold and silver pawn shops to be united in tackling this problem.