The Hindu : Views vary on relocating bus-stand in Madikeri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Views vary on relocating bus-stand in Madikeri

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI MARCH 1 . The issue of relocating the private bus-stand in Madikeri town is in the news again. A proportionate increase in the bus-stand area did not materialise with the ever increasing number of private buses, which were given permits to ply on various routes in Kodagu.

The cry for shifting the private bus-stand had reached such an extent that a committee of citizens was formed to deal with the previous Government.

The probable places to relocate bus-stand also have been mired in chaos. The committee of citizens urged the State Government to release the wetlands of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), off Race Course road. The issue came under scrutiny by the then Agriculture Minister, T.B. Jayachandra, the then district in-charge minister, M.C. Nanaiah, and M.M. Nanaiah, district in-charge minister.

The UAS refused to part with the land stating that the paddy field area was one of the best research stations in the country.

The recent decision taken by the district administration at the instance of Mr. M.M. Nanaiah to shift the private bus-stand to the areas covering not only Bal Bhavan but also the offices of the departments of Horticulture and Fisheries, and the Cardamom Society, appears firm.

A taskforce has been formed to steer things forward. The taskforce is headed by the Deputy Commissioner.

The administrative body of the Bal Bhavan opposed the move to shift the private bus-stand to the Bal Bhavan area. It said that it amounted to insulting Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, who had nurtured the Bal Bhavan when he was the Chief of the Army Staff.

But Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa (retd.), son of late K.M. Cariappa, does not like his father's name to be dragged into what has developed into a controversy. He says the Bal Bhavan site is an ideal site to relocate the bus-stand.

The argument of the Bal Bhavan authorities that relocating the bus-stand there would amount to insult to late Cariappa was not correct, he said.

Mr. Cariappa said his father would have been the last person to stand in the way of the interest of the public of the town. It would be proper to be practical and not hamstring ourselves through a misplaced sense of emotion, he added.

A broad-minded view must be taken by the Bal Bhavan authorities in the interest of the public.

He said that in the absence of the proper fencing around Bal Bhavan, people used the area for public convenience, depriving the inmates of privacy and decent living.

The President of the Kodagu District Congress Committee, M.G. Kuttappa, has appealed to all the political parties not to block the moves to shift the bus-stand to the proposed areas.

He said Mr. M.C. Nanaiah, the Somwarpet MLA, Appachu Ranjan, the then ZP president, and the President of the Madikeri Town Municipal Council had extended their support to the cause when the taskforce was constituted at the KDP meeting, which was presided over by Mr. M.M. Nanaiah.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Congress routs rivals in Humnabad bypoll

Dedicate to service of humanity, judges told

Move to shift bus-stand opposed

Views vary on relocating bus-stand in Madikeri

Students given tips on facing exams

Win due to good governance: Cong.

Trust helps poor patient