Date:16/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/16/stories/2006061606810500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rift in coalition over BMIC project termed minor

Special Correspondent

Kumaraswamy, Yediyurappa will iron out differences, says Naidu

LIDKAR to come under Social Welfare Department
Silk units at Chamarajanagar and Kollegal to be revived

Handicrafts exhibition-cum-training centre to be set up

BANGALORE: Minister for Small-scale Industries and Sericulture Katta Subramanya Naidu on Thursday said the difference of opinion between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party on the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project were minor and would be sorted out soon.

He told presspersons here that different views on the project would not affect the stability of the Government. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa would hold a meeting in a couple of days to iron out the differences, the Minister said.

Asked whether he would participate in a function being organised by project promoters Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise to inaugurate a 9-km stretch of the expressway on Friday, Mr. Naidu said he had not received an invitation.

He declined to comment on the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's warning that the BJP should either accept the proposed legislation to acquire "excess land" acquired by NICE for the project or face the consequences.

He said the Department of Commerce and Industries had decided to shift the Leather Industries Development Corporation of Karnataka (LIDKAR) to the Department of Social Welfare.

The move would make it easier for the corporation to provide benefits to people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

LIDKAR, which had incurred a loss of Rs. 11.78 crore, would be revived. Earlier, the Government had decided to wind up the corporation on the grounds that it had become economically unviable, he said.

Mr. Naidu said silk units located at Chamarajanagar and Kollegal would be revived at a cost of Rs. 4.75 crore. They would provide employment to nearly 300 people.