Karnataka Minister criticises Kerala govt. for offer to IT firms

The water crisis in Bengaluru has triggered a row between Karnataka and Kerala. Following Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeeve’s overtures to Information Technology (IT) firms in the city to relocate to his State against the backdrop of the water crisis, M.B. Patil, Minister for Commerce and Industries, and Infrastructure Development, hit out at the Kerala government saying, “attempts to take undue advantage of the water scarcity situation is detrimental to the federal structure of the country.”

“Many parts of India, including Kerala, have been reeling under water scarcity due to drought and severe summer. In such a situation, the offer extended by the Kerala Industries Minister for the Bengalurubased companies to shift their workspaces to that State does not depict the healthy competitive spirit,” Mr. Patil said.

Mr. Rajeeve had recently said the government of Kerala had written to IT firms in the city offering them all facilities and water.

“Though there has been water shortage, it is not precarious in regions where IT companies are located in Bengaluru. Moreover, the Minister should also remember that the companies here have provided jobs to thousands of people hailing from his native Kerala. As a State, Kerala has all the liberty to make efforts to attract investments. However, it should not resort to petty politics,” Mr. Patil said.

He also emphasised that the State government had been working on facilitating a dedicated system to provide riversourced water from nearby places for industrial areas and had held several meetings about facilitating Cauvery water for industrial areas in Bengaluru.