George: Am I a receptionist to take all calls?
06:47AM Thu 28 Jan, 2016
BENGALURU: City in-charge minister KJ George on Wednesday told reporters he is not a receptionist to respond to every telephone call from mediapersons. The minister, who of late has earned a reputation of being unavailable to the media, claimed: "I have a lot of work to do and if I keep attending to calls, half of my day will be wasted. I am not a receptionist. If you send me a text message, I will call back."
George was asked by reporters why he does not answer their calls. This was when he was attending a meeting at Town Hall to review infrastructural works in Mahadevapura zone.
Earlier, accompanying chief minister Siddaramaiah on his city rounds, George told the CM that new development work was taken up at a cost of Rs 1,500 crore.
When a reporter asked him why things on the ground have not changed, despite the media bringing to light the city's crumbling infrastructure, the minister replied, "Will you give money from your pocket for government work so it can be expedited?" RK Misra, civic expert and resident of Whitefield, said major roads in the area have been asphalted, barring some stretches. However, members of Whitefield Rising, a citizens' group, said they are concerned about the quality of work. "While about 20% of work on some roads is yet to be done, BWSSB drainage work is also not complete. The question is whether these roads will remain motorable and if so, for how long?"said a member.
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