Wrong, Mr Gowda!
We urge the Karnataka legislature, the BJP and the Congress, to unanimously reject the Streamlining of Karnataka Infrastructure Development and Land Reforms Bill, 2006. The bill — which has been drafted at chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s behest, and which the state government reportedly wishes to table at the ongoing special session of both the houses — is meant to enable the state to take over the Bangalore-Mysore Corridor Project (BCMP) from its private developer, the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE). That would undermine all efforts to gather private investment in infrastructure. All political parties must ensure that the JD(S)-BJP government is not allowed to undermine the development of modern economy and good governance in the state. The draft bill is nothing but continuation of H D Deve Gowda’s political shenanigans by other means. Though the Framework Agreement for the BMCP was signed in 1997, it had been clinched by Deve Gowda in 1995. To that extent, the JD(S) accusation that NICE took over excess land for the project by defrauding local farmers rings hollow. Which is confirmed further by the fact that the state government passed 18 pieces of legislation to acquire land for the NICE project before it was signed in 1997, without any objection from Deve Gowda and his party.
Rehabilitation programmes should enable traditional communities, which give up land for more modern and productive uses, to become viable stakeholders in modern economic activity that their land would subsequently foster. To that extent, some villagers might have genuine grouses, and the government should certainly step in to make amends. The latter has, however, only sought to grind its political axe by trying to pander to vested interests. Development of physical infrastructure, especially roads, must be the main focus of all governments if economic liberalisation has to be fruitfully sustained. Private investment in infrastructure projects is, therefore, critical. And Deve Gowdas, who claim to protect the interests of traditional communities while doing everything to prevent them from joining the modern economy as equitable stakeholders, must be junked.
-- The Economic Times Editorial
Rehabilitation programmes should enable traditional communities, which give up land for more modern and productive uses, to become viable stakeholders in modern economic activity that their land would subsequently foster. To that extent, some villagers might have genuine grouses, and the government should certainly step in to make amends. The latter has, however, only sought to grind its political axe by trying to pander to vested interests. Development of physical infrastructure, especially roads, must be the main focus of all governments if economic liberalisation has to be fruitfully sustained. Private investment in infrastructure projects is, therefore, critical. And Deve Gowdas, who claim to protect the interests of traditional communities while doing everything to prevent them from joining the modern economy as equitable stakeholders, must be junked.
-- The Economic Times Editorial
posted by Loco at Tuesday, June 06, 2006
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