KRIDL does not float tenders, but is preferred by elected representatives: Karnataka Minister U.T. Khader

Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader speaking at a press conference in Mangaluru on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH District In-charge Minister U.T. Khader on Wednesday said he does not know much about operation of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL) as none of the development work in his Mangaluru Assembly constituency are executed by KRIDL.Speaking to reporters, Mr. Khader said: “The bane with the KRIDL, formerly Karnataka Land Army, is that that the agency carries out the work without floating tenders. There are not enough personnel in the agency to ensure quality work. I do not know why elected representatives hanker to get the work done through KRIDL. None of the work in my Assembly constituency are done by KRIDL. Work recently done, using rain damage grants, in my constituency, were done by Engineering wing of Panchayat Raj and the PWD,” he said.Reacting to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre ordering an inquiry into allegation of corruption made by Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai against two KRIDL engineers of Dakshina Kannada, Mr. Khader said the inquiry will bring out the truth. “Instead of bringing the allegation to my notice, the MLA has thought it fit to bring it to the notice of Chief Minister. If officials are found to have misused our names for the corrupt practices, they will not be spared,” he said.Mr. Khader said the raids on eateries, hotels, catering units, hostels and PG centres will continue. Those found providing contaminated food to people will not be spared. When pointed to poor quality of “Kandy” fish sold in fish markets in frozen form, Mr. Khader said food safety norms regarding frozen fish were being prepared.Mr. Khader said he was holding meeting with stakeholders to work out demands of cKarnataka from the first Cabinet meeting of D.K. Shivakumar’s cabinet in Mangaluru on September 18. Published - September 02, 2026 06:48 pm IST