K'taka offers to help Chhattisgarh in IT, BT

Raipur, Sep 8 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said his government was ready to cooperate with BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh in the areas of information technology, biotechnology, technical and medical education.

Speaking after signing an MoU, which envisages the southern state build its own 1200 MW pit-head thermal power plant at Godhna in Janjgir-Champa district in the coal-rich state, he said Karnataka was in the forefront of IT and BT as well as technical and medical education.

''I want to tell my brother Raman Singh that we are ready to help Chhattisgarh in all these fields apart from sericulture. I invite you to feel free to seek our cooperation,'' he said.

Today's tie-up between the two BJP-ruled states was a 'small' beginning in the cooperation and collaboration for development between the two states. ''Chhattisgarh is rich in coal and minerals.

We also have something to offer. Karnataka is the leader in IT and BT and we are ready to cooperate,'' he said.

In his reply Mr Singh said Chhattisgarh had remained backward in IT, BT and higher education and it could use the strides made in these fields by Karnataka.

''We need to make our people e-literate as it is very important.

We also have to improve the standards in medical and technical education. We are happy that Karnataka is ready to help. Today we have made a start. Let's sustain it,'' he added.

UNI RS-AS SP AKJ KN1516