Mysuru: Maintaining that Linemen and Engineers play a critical role in the functioning of Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) and other power companies, Minister of Excise, Skill  Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood H. Nagesh said that the lives of linemen are always at risk and as such they have to be extra careful while on the job.

He was speaking after  receiving felicitation by the KEB  Engineers Association (KEBEA), Mysuru Zonal Centre as part  of the Association’s 41st General Body Meeting and Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations at the KEBEA building at Kadakola on Mysuru-Nanjangud Road this morning.

Recalling his own service as a KEB engineer at Mysuru and several other places, he said although he is a Minister now, he will always remain indebted to the KEB for the launch of his career as an engineer, before he quit the job to become a politician. Pointing out that he was ready to extend all possible help to linemen and engineers now that he is a Minister, Nagesh said that his office in Vidhana  Soudha will be open for KEB staff after 3pm on all working days and wished the Association all success in it’s future endeavours

Calling upon the engineers to  achieve all the tasks set by the department, he said that fortunately, the State was not witnessing any problem on the power front now as power generation has exceeded the demand.

Referring to Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations, Nagesh  noted that everyone should understand the sacrifices of all those who fought for the cause of Kannada and Kannadigas. Stressing on the need for everyone in the State to learn Kannada, the Minister recollected Dr. Rajkumar’s Gokak movement in the 1980’s. Recalling his student days in Bengaluru, Nagesh said that he considered V.K. Gokak and G.P. Rajaratnam as his gurus. While  Dr. Gokak taught him English, G.P. Rajaratnam taught Kannada, he said and added that he cannot ever forget the moments he shared with the two great literary personalities of the State.

Stating that Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Hassan districts formed the hub of pure Kannada speaking people, the Minister regretted that Kannadigas were becoming a minority in the State capital Bengaluru, which has become a cause of great concern for crores of Kannadigas. He exhorted the association to extend all it’s help for the promotion of Kannada.

Earlier, Nagesh laid the foundation stone for the three-floor Samudaya Bhavan (Community Hall) of the KEABA  at Dattagalli in city.

The community hall being built at a cost of Rs. 3 Crore, features a dining hall at the ground floor, a 300 seat capacity hall on the first floor  and six fully equipped rooms on the second floor. The community Hall is coming up on a site measuring 100mtx100 mt.

M.T. Manjunath, Chief Engineer, CESC and KEBEA Mysuru Zonal Centre President, presided.

A. Shivanna, Chief Financial Officer, CESC, Mysuru, T.M. Shivaprakash, President, KEBEA, Bengaluru and Director of all Escoms and KPTCL, K. Thippeswamy, General Secretary, KEBEA, Bengaluru, D. Kodandapani, Chief Engineer, KPTCL, K. Jayaprakash Rao, former Public Relations Officer, DRDO, CESC Superintending Engineer Munigopalaraju and others were present.