Date:31/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/31/stories/2007053112860300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Confusion over status of project

Special Correspondent

MYSORE: The protest against land allocation for a private company for the proposed ropeway to Chamundi Hills has brought the project under sharp focus once again.

But it has also created confusion in the minds of the public on an issue over which there is no consensus.

However, the Mysore City Infrastructure Improvement Committee, comprising officials from different departments, has made it clear that the project has not been accorded the green signal and is "not on". According to the minutes of the meeting held on March 23 under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, the Government has not given permission for the project and hence the Committee ruled that no projects could commence on the land, which was allotted by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board to the private company. It has also been made clear that the land cannot be used for any other purpose and in case the project is rejected, the KIADB should take steps to reclaim the land and revert it to the Revenue Department. Thus it is clear that the ropeway project has not been given Government approval, though elected representatives like Minister for Housing D.T. Jayakumar have tried to steamroll the opposition to it.