Date:18/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/18/stories/2005111818480400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

All-party meet on airport, metro projects sought

Special Correspondent

Yediyurappa alleges Government is going slow on the projects

Bangalore: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday demanded that Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh convene an all-party meeting to provide details on the status of the Bangalore International Airport and the Bangalore Metro Rail.

He told presspersons here that it is unfortunate that the Chief Minister has pleaded his helplessness over the two projects, apparently because the coalition partner, Janata Dal (Secular), has forced their stalling on various grounds. There are also reports that Janata Dal (Secular) President H.D. Deve Gowda has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Chief Minister on October 14 last seeking a rethink on the two projects on the ground that they are economically unviable.

Mr. Yediyurappa said rather than hasten the completion of the two projects, the Government is going slow much to the chagrin of the people. The land required for the Bangalore Metro Rail has already been notified for acquisition and in some areas has also been acquired. The Centre has handed over 136 acres of its lands to the metro rail and the Government has also parted with 64 acres belonging to it. For the 26 acres of private land required for the project, the authorities have set apart Rs. 286 crores. Further, for the Rs. 1750-crore project, the Government has already collected a cess on petrol totalling Rs. 800 crores from 1990 and the High Court has directed that the proceeds be utilised only for the metro rail.

Mr. Yediyurappa hit out at the Government for the inefficient implementation of the flood relief works and said even after three months, the execution of relief works is yet to commence in some of the northern districts, which were battered by the heavy rains. Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, who has been holding a review meeting with the Deputy Commissioners over the past two days, should have pulled them up for the poor implementation of the relief works. Of the Rs. 570 crores set apart for the works (including Rs. 470 crores provided by the Centre), the authorities have so far spent only Rs. 270 crores, which reflected on the flawed implementation, he said.

On the October 27 resolution passed by the Belgaum City Corporation on merger with Maharashtra, he said, the Government served the notice on the civic body only on November 10. It is quite apparent that the Government was not aware of the resolution until Mayor of Belgaum was attacked at the Legislators' Home, here, he said.