IT firms contest Dharam's claims

BANGALORE: Chiefminister Dharam Singh seems to have touched a raw nerve among the IT community.His cursory dismissal of their concerns over the slow growth of infrastructurehas evoked strong responses from the industry.Dharam Singh had in aninterview to The Times of India published on May 21, said about the state ofinfrastructure in the city: "I released Rs 135 crore for road improvement. TheIT CEOs are happy and have not come back to me."The Bangalore Forumfor Information Technology (BFIT) -- an association of over 20 leading IT firms-- which met over the weekend has expressed grave disappointment over the CM''sremark. " We are still waiting to hear as to what the progress is -- there hasnot been a single word from the government regarding the status and we weregetting worried as to whether this has again been put on the back burner," saysthe CEO of a leading IT firm.Says Bob Hoekstra, CEO, PhilipsSoftware, "We wanted a commitment, but nothing has come forth till date. Eventhe plan we had asked for -- outlining the projects that are going to be takenup -- has not been drafted. So where is the question of being pleased and notgetting back to him?"Most of the IT firms are disillusioned with theway things are today. "The government said that there would be no truck trafficduring peak hours on Hosur Road but there are always exceptions and you see somany trucks hurtling down that road," says a software engineer atInfosys."Moreover, the government had said there would bere-tendering of projects. Till date nothing has been announced." Even the UttarPradesh State Bridge Corporation has not really been disengaged -- you see awhole lot of equipment lying around still. When is that going to be cleared?"asks J. Veeraraghavan of Novell India.Interestingly, during abreakfast meeting, deputy CM Siddaramaiah had mentioned that over Rs 300 crorehas been sanctioned for the improvement of roads. Now what is this Rs 135 crorehe is talking about?"Was this Rs 135 crore a part of that or is thisall that is going to be spent on the infrastructure? There is no clear pictureand nobody has any idea what is being done on the infrastructure front," lamentsanother IT firm CEO.